Hot Rods 55 Pontiac hood latch problem

I'm reinstalling the front sheet metal getting ready to paint. Have to align the hood but am having problems with the hood latch. It goes into the hole/slot perfectly and the latch and safety catch function well. The problem is when shut and I lift on the hood only it will raise in front 1.5" until the safety catch catches. What keeps the hood down snug? A couple of photos.

 

In your second picture of the opening in the fender brace it looks to me like there is a slot cut on the left side of the opening. I can't remember ever seeing one like that. Is it a factory cut? or did someone cut it to make a misaligned hood close?

 

That's the hole the hood latch goes into. The slot is factory for the latch to go through.

 

that slot is not supposed to be there. my 55 does not have that...john

 

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^^^^ no slot should be there

 

Funny, both the parts car and this one has the slot.

 

Got it to work. Found out I wasn't shutting it hard enough.