hood pins ?s. need expierences.

[joelliott]

I want to get some hood pins on my 85gt. It has the stock hood with a forward facing scoop on it. I noticed yesterday on the HW I would get gusts of wind off semis and stuff and the corners of the hood would raise. If my latch broke, itll be all over. I know guys replaced the bumpers on the corners of the hood wth the pins. Seems to be a good place for them. However, where do you reinstall the bumpers? Seems if you didnt have em, the paint on the hood etc would chip off and the hood wouldnt sit right. Any help.? Im nervous about this now and need help quick. Id hate to loose my hood. (Happened before in a car that was wrecked earlier that day, it sucks when the hood folds on the windshield.) That instance it wasnt the stang. lol. Any help is appreciated. THX
Joe E.

[negusm]

Will a hood lock help in case of a latch failure? Seems like it would be easier to install.

I have never understood why some people seem to have problems with their hood latches. There is already a safety mechanism built into the latch for this very problem.

-Mike

[Travis T]

If you want them, you can install them where the bumpers were, then slip a piece of rubber hose on the pin's post to act as a bumper. This is what I did on my autocross car. The hoodpin becomes the bumper itself.

[yellow351stang]

i left my bumpers where they were and mounted the pins more inboard and adjusted the bumpers up alittle then adjusted the pins so the hood and fenders would line up perfect if there wasn't a bunch of snow on it i would take a pic to show you

[Hissing Cobra]

Mike is right, there should be a factory built in safety mechanism already in place. I understand that the corners might wobble, but if the safety feature is there and working properly, it shouldn't be a problem.

Because you weren't asking for this bit of advice, I'll get to the point of your question. The hood stud and pins will replace the rubber bumpers and then as Travis T pointed out, cut a rubber hose and slide it over the stud. Of course, the rubber hose should have it's inner diameter the same as the outside diameter of the stud for a tight fit. If you plan to do this, I can't stress enough to use stainless steel units. These were installed on a lot of '70-'72 Chevelles and will never rust. You'll pay more for these, but they'll be well worth it.

Good luck!

[joelliott]

Thanks for the info guys. I understand the hood has the safety mech in it but im sure most cars do also. And I have seen hoods go up a couple times and I just decided I didnt want to chance it. I do alot of 85-90mph HW driving and watching the hood flex at the corners is just freakin me out. Its like everything on my stang, its 20 years old now and I dont trust it. So I figured pins would be the best sure solution.

I will certainly get a stainless kit. Im not looking for the chrome pin look on my stang. In fact I really dont care for the look silver pins in my hood and was thinking of maybe painting them black or if possible powder coating them black to match my car. Or some other method to hide them.

The hose idea is ingenious. Damn you guys a smart. Id would have never thought of it. Thanks. It totally clears that aspect of it up.

Anyone have a kit that is recomended? I want a pin thats as near to flat on the hood as possible. no cables or anything like that either.

Thanks guys. Your a life saver...... :D
Joe E.

[Travis T]

Ford Motorsport sells a nice pair of stainless hood pins. Hissing is right, that chrome stuff is crap.

[Marz]

You know, I drive my 78 Fairmont just as fast and have never had a problem even though the front of the hood wobbled like the way you desribe. The same was for my 79 Futura before it was wrecked.... and even after it's hood got twisted... that safty latch worked all too well and was a PITA to get the hood open.

I'd say if your draging... then it's needed. But I don't really think you should worry about it. Just keep your hood lock/latch in good gondition.

[joelliott]

How can I tell if the latch assembly is in good condition? I know its not rusting out or anything but what would you look at to determine its condition? Whats the difference on drag use and normal use? The frame twisting some while draggin? Other than that I cant think of any difference in goin to 90 mph in 12 sec. or 12 minutes. Thanks again guys.
Joe E.

[negusm]

Are your corner hood stops adjusted correctly?

Sounds like you need new ones if the hood is wobbly on the front corners.

I agree with Marz, these hoods when latched right are fricken impossible to get open by "accident". I'm thinking people that have their hoods fly up, have not adjusted things right or just something was screwed up to begin with. I mean, I can "pop" my hood from under the dash, and pull up on it HARD and its NOT going to come open until I reach under and release the latch. My latch is well lubricated and appears to be in good condition. I don't think its going anywhere.

-Mike

[v8only]

I know at least 4 incidents off hand on mustang with the stock steel hoods that flew up and crunched the cowl panel.

while I agree with the rest that if everything is in perfect working order, this shouldn't happen, however, I've just seen it on so many mustangs, that it seems to be a common problem, and that the secondary latch doesn't seem to work all the time. Hood pins are a very cheap piece of mind.

I don't mind hood pins on cowl hoods, but aren't a big fan of them on stock hooded mustangs. Perhaps you can figure a way to chain the latch to the frame so that would catch with a big gust of wind.

[negusm]

I know at least 4 incidents off hand on mustang with the stock steel hoods that flew up and crunched the cowl panel.

Only 4? That's actually a GOOD testament to the reliability of the hood latch. :)

The only case where I may have come close to having a latch problem was on my old 67 Cougar. The latch was "sticking" a bit and would only latch part way. With some grease and a small adjustment that hood latched perfectly again.

You have to make sure they are lubricated and working freely. These cars go 20 years without and proper joint lubrication and people wonder why their hoods fly off and their doors sag.

-Mike

[joelliott]

Sorry for not replying guys. been away for a little bit. Anyways, Im looking for a ford oset of pins. If I find them in SS Ill get em. Ill try adjusting the corner bumps. Up right? To make pressure on the corners? right? I think also a lil of the problem is my front end is slightly higher than my rear end. So i get a scoop effect of air going under the hood. Thanks again all of you for the help. have a god one.
Joe E.

[plstktnkr2]

I have had several Mustangs and out of the 7-8 that I have had , 2 or three of them have had failures

[HiddenGem]

all I did was take the rubber bumpers at the front out, I still have my side one's there good enough. Never had any probs yet.....sorta..

If you are going to go under the hood for the wire's just make sure you buy clear coated wire's or else the uncoated will rub against your hood in the wind and scratch up the paint, Big mistake that I've done...

[Travis T]

All hoodpin wires will eventually rub the paint and mess it up, coated or not. My racecar is proof of that.

[HiddenGem]

So far the coated havn't done damage to my car
And it's been half a year so far

[joelliott]

Ok thanks. I dont wanna use the wires anyway. Too much on the pin. I prefer to have as small a setup as I can up there. So Ill be just using pins, scuff plates, and, well thats it. Small flat pins too. Anyways, thanks for the expierence.
Joe E.

[fordfreak300]

Joe your corners of your hood are flapping becuae yuo cut all the hood bracing out when you put the hood scoop on and c ut a whole in your hood. Now on another note if you want to secure you hood you can get locking hood pics that are barely visable and use a key to lock your hood down with. Do a search for some locking hood pins. they mount almost flush with teh hood and will hold it in place as well and not have a hood pin sticking up in the air. It just helps with teh clean look of the car. Also keeps anyone else opening your hood along the way.

[joelliott]

Hey mark. I didnt cut the support out. I just took the sheet metal off. I didnt wanna make the hood a wet noodle. lol. Im still trying to decide what I wanna run. I hate to cut up my stock hood anymore. But its better than loosing the thing on the HW. I thougt about those locking pins but got worried about the mechanism rusting up and not workin and then when I take it to get serviced having to worry about the locks. Kinda like locking lug nuts and the key you are scared to death to loose. lol. Anyone ever tried these locking ones?
Mark, thanks for the help...
Joe E.

[fordfreak300]

Umm i suggested the locking ones cause when i use hood pins those are what i use :) And i cut teh support out of my hood. It doesnt; move too much at all. try moving the bumps up a hair so the hood sits tight against the latch.

[joelliott]

yeah Ill do that for sure. thanks. So you have the locking pins? Did they hold up well? Thats was my main concern. I dodnt wanna get locked outa my engine bay. lol later Mark.
Joe E.

[Zephyr 351C]

Um, the locking pins I've seen say they cant be used alone, and they must be used with the factory latch or pins...

I never thought of the rubber hose to even the hood up. I just put an extra nut on mine.

[joelliott]

ok. im planning on using the stock latch obviously. just adding reassurance to the no flying hood syndrome. I adjusted the stops yesterday at the corners so Ill see if that helps the secure more. Ill know later today when I get on the HW @ 80mph. Thanks again for your responces.
Joe E.

[fordfreak300]

Umm I am not talking about teh cheap autozone ones. I am talkign abt teh expensivre ones that are made of stainless liek you see holding hoods and one piece front end on serious drag cars. Check Jegs i think that is where I got them from the last time. I had 4 on my hood as it was a lift off hood, with the center cut out for room for the 8/71bds to fit through. But to be honest with you Joe i have the hood supporst cut out of my hood rigth now with teh same scoop you have. I have not noticed my hood moving any more than it did before the scoop. The hoods move around a hair. If you don't have sub frame connectors that is part of your problem. But if it makes yu feel better the hood pins will help hold the front fron being able to come up. I still say for now move the rubber bump stops up a bit to tighten the hood. It worked for me. best part is it is free to do.



Nevermind on the subframe connectors i just read yrou e-mail and i see you already have them :)

[joelliott]

The hood thing hapened to me once in a ( ihate to say it) dodge minivan. :roll: :?
I did adjust the corner stops yesterday and i think it helped. Ill go with that for a few days before i get anything. See what happens.

I left the hood support on the underside of the hood intact. I figured at worse Id have to pull the scoop and recut the support. I gotta paint the scoop anyways. But so far its been ok.

i tried to eply to you email but hotmail has been sketchin out lately. Ill get back to you tho. ttyl
Joe E.

[fordfreak300]

I thikn i got teh e-mail unles it was a reply to my very short e-mail today. i have been busy messing up my wiofes computer, now I hav eto reinstall windows for her. She is not happy. But hey I hope the adjusting teh hood stops helps out a bit. Cut teh brace out it allows more air in.