I agree with hemicar1971 and your hood is from a 1970. Looking at the piture you provided, there is no provision for the safety latch release / pull rod. You can not use the correct safety release that came with this 1970-style hood since the handle will interfer with the upper grill / header panel.

Your choices are:
1. Weld the angle bracket on to your hood.
2. Fabricate a bracket to allow the use of what you currently have.
3. Don't use a safety latch and just rely on the hood release or run another cable or chain around the latch if you are worried about the hood accidently coming unlatched.
4. Leave it as-is and continue using the zip ties.

I had the same issue and didn't realize that my hood was a 1970 until after I painted the car. Had I known earlier, I would have welded on the small angle bracket that you indicate you have and secures the release pull rod to the hood. I ended up fabricating a bracket to secure and support the release pull rod. Attched is the bracket I fabricated which solved the same issue you are dealing with.

No comment on the trim molding.