Hood pins

[Alky V6]

I recently installed a set of Hotchkis hood pins and thought I'd share the process I went through.

Hood pins are a safety item that should be installed on high mph race vehicles. The underhood pressure that builds at high mph can be too much for the simple attachment devices of some hoods, especially fiberglass hoods, and can lead to the hood opening or completely flying off the car at high speed. Not a good thing.
If the car is a race only car, use a hood pin design that will be easy for emergency personnel to unpin in case of an accident.

First thing to figure out, where to mount the hood pin.
I looked at available areas to mount the pins on the radiator support, then checked how different mounting locations on the radiator support would look with the pin through the hood, and if the support structure under the hood (fiberglass hood) would work with the pin location.
I found one spot on the radiator support that gave me good access to install the pin to the radiator support, went through a good spot of the underhood support structure, and was a good spot on the top of the hood for exterior appearance.

 

[Alky V6]

I used a transfer punch to setup an alignment for the pin and carry the hole on through the bottom wall of the radiator support. Some pins that are not so long may not need the hole through the bottom wall.
Pay attention to the swing of the hood as it opens and closes if you are still using hood hinges. The pin alignment should match the swing of the hood so that the pin doesn't interfere with the pin hole in the hood as the hood is being opened or closed. This will also setup the process of determining where to start drilling the hole through the hood.

 

[Alky V6]

Next, I had to figure out a way to get the pin bottom nut and washer into the radiator support. Luckily, I had picked a mounting location that didn't give me much trouble being able to accomplish this task.

I drilled two holes side by side into the side of the radiator support where the pins were being mounted. Pick a drill bit size that is tall enough to fit the washer and nut through. I then cut the small wall between the holes. Then took a screwdriver and tapped and bent the walls into the support to leave a nice wide opening to get the washer and nut through. Also realize that the opening needs to be wide enough to get an open end wrench into to tighten the assembly, so the two holes you drill should be spaced accordingly. Mine wasn't wide enough and I had to grind an old wrench into a 'special tool' to fit into the opening.

 

[Alky V6]

Pins installed into the radiator support.

A small dab of grease was put on the tip of the pin to mark on the hood where I would start drilling the hole through the hood.

 

[Alky V6]

With the spot marked, I drilled the hole through the lower hood support structure.
After the lower hole was drilled, I again used a dab of grease on the tip of the hood pin and used it to mark the location for drilling the hole through the top surface of the hood.

 

[Alky V6]

I then marked the locations for the attaching hardware for the pin wear plate.
For the wear plate attaching hardware, I drilled one hole first, then mounted the wear plate with that one attaching screw. I then used the plate as a guide for drilling the rest of the holes. Even though I had the others already marked, using the wear plate as a guide for the rest of the holes proved to be more accurate.

 

[Alky V6]

This is how I installed the nuts and washers on the attaching screws for the wear plates. I balanced a nut and washer on the tip of my finger and snaked my finger through the lower hole in the bottom of the hood, lined up the washer and nut with the help of a pick from above and then screwed in the bolt as I held the nut and washer in place with the tip of my finger.

Don't forget to apply anti-seize on the threads of any stainless hardware. Trying to install the hardware dry is inviting the threads to seize on you. If that happens, you'll have to drill the head of the screw out to remove the hardware and get new hardware to try it again.

All done.

 

[Squid4life]

Donnie, were the supplied allen screws/bolts long enough to go through both layers of the fiberglass hood? It looks like the placement is right on one of the support members, which makes perfect sense. Nice work as usual!

 

[Alky V6]

Donnie, were the supplied allen screws/bolts long enough to go through both layers of the fiberglass hood? It looks like the placement is right on one of the support members, which makes perfect sense. Nice work as usual!

The screws were long enough to go through only one of the layers. The washers and nuts were carefully installed through the pin hole in the support layer. You'll notice the nut and washer balanced on the tip of my finger in one of the photos. That's how I got it through the small pin hole. A true test of one's dexterous skills.

 

[Squid4life]

Got it, thanks for clearing that up. After rereading the post, it makes sense now...

 

[Scott Atk]

Hi Don, Are you removing the center latch completely? It looks like the cable is still in place in the pics.
P.S. I installed my Hartline hood today and looking at options. Were you able to mount any type of spring to help the hood pop up?

 

[Alky V6]

Hi Don, Are you removing the center latch completely? It looks like the cable is still in place in the pics.
P.S. I installed my Hartline hood today and looking at options. Were you able to mount any type of spring to help the hood pop up?

I'm using a fiberglass hood that still uses the stock hinges and latching. I am still using the latch and spring, along with the hood pins.

 

[Scott Atk]

Just checked out the Hotchkis kit at Jegs. Wow! sticker shock for sure.
Any pics of your hood spring mounted. Thanks, scott

 

[Alky V6]

Just checked out the Hotchkis kit at Jegs. Wow! sticker shock for sure.
Any pics of your hood spring mounted. Thanks, scott

I'll try to remember to get that for you, tomorrow.

 

[Alky V6]

Just checked out the Hotchkis kit at Jegs. Wow! sticker shock for sure.

Yeah, I know. They obvious are aware they've come up with a nice design. I looked at them and wondered how much time I would spend trying to fab my own of a similar design and decided their price was worth it,... for a classy looking setup anyway.

 

[GNBRETT]

great write up Don

 

[Alky V6]

Just checked out the Hotchkis kit at Jegs. Wow! sticker shock for sure.
Any pics of your hood spring mounted. Thanks, scott

Here you go, Scott.
Thanks, GNBRETT.

 

["Reaper"]

http://autofab.com/hoodpins.htm

I have use these on two of my cars and a few of my friends cars and love them.
They are $30 for the set.

Shaun

 

[HighPSI]

The best hood latches I have seen are the latches that Billy T, Gary H, and Don C use. I will PM Billy to post pics.

 

[hemi8]

The best hood latches I have seen are the latches that Billy T, Gary H, and Don C use. I will PM Billy to post pics.

What do these look like, brand?

Mike