Need help fixing inside hood latch

[LSU Jeeper]

The metal hood latch located inside the engine compartment of my 2002 Wrangler Sport got smashed when my ignorant son bounced on my hood. Now, the small arm of the latch is bent against the underside of the hood. The exterior rubber latches will certainly hold, but I'd sure feel more confident with that metal latch working. Can someone please measure how wide is the gap between the end of that little arm and the underside of the hood? I don't want to go thru a hundred guesses, having to forcibly to pry it open every time I make the gap too small. Thanks in advance!

 

[Boinked]

WARNING****** Mine is a 97. Yours might be different

 

[LSU Jeeper]

The mechanisms must be different. Mine looks like a greater than sign (">") where the lower arm moves up and down when you try to release the hood. Yours looks like a straight rod and must move left and right, instead. If anyone else responds, I need to know the gap between open ends of that ">". Thanks so much for your effort, Boinked!

 

[Edward Turner]

Here is a look at a 98:

 

[LSU Jeeper]

Hmmm ... interesting. Now that I see the whole thing, perhaps I need to "unbend" it at a 90 degree angle. I assumed it would be something like 45 degrees, but seeing your response and Boinked's I think I know what to do. Thanks so much!

 

[Edward Turner]

Mine has a slight angle:

 

[LSU Jeeper]

BOOM! That tells me everything I need to know.