Hood pins

[roverthen]

Anyone install hood pins on their RRC? The release cable broke and even before that it's been a problem to open the hood. I have a few ideas from searching the other forums but nothing on a RRC. I was thinking about installing the ones that have the built in lock. Post up pictures if possible.

Thanks.

[RageRover]

Try using pins off of a Jeep CJ, YJ, TJ, or JK Wrangler, those I have seen on a RRC before, but I lost the pic. I was about to do the same thing to mine before I got another hood from PPR, cause my other hood was "Michigan Winter-ized" all along the front lip of the hood.

Honestly Jeep hold down pins/straps will look good other than those chrome style pins you see on like 69-70s Dodge Challengers.

[roverandom]

Why not just replace the cable? Then you dont have to drill holes in your hood. Hood pins are a racing idea to save weight. They can also be a pain in the ass. The Jeep type straps could work but why go to the cost and bother of this mod? A new cable ( or you can retro-fit cables from different makes/models) and a can of penatrating oil for the latch and you could back on the road again.

[roverthen]

Originally Posted by RageRover

Try using pins off of a Jeep CJ, YJ, TJ, or JK Wrangler, those I have seen on a RRC before, but I lost the pic. I was about to do the same thing to mine before I got another hood from PPR, cause my other hood was "Michigan Winter-ized" all along the front lip of the hood.

Honestly Jeep hold down pins/straps will look good other than those chrome style pins you see on like 69-70s Dodge Challengers.

Thanks for the idea Patrick. For some reason those Jeep straps just don't appeal to me.

Originally Posted by roverandom

Why not just replace the cable? Then you dont have to drill holes in your hood. Hood pins are a racing idea to save weight. They can also be a pain in the ass. The Jeep type straps could work but why go to the cost and bother of this mod? A new cable ( or you can retro-fit cables from different makes/models) and a can of penatrating oil for the latch and you could back on the road again.

I thought about replacing the cable, it's only about $17 new, but here's what I thought:
Using hood pins will secure the hood in two places instead of one. No more bouncing or vibrating hood. I won't have to worry about breaking anymore cables or handles. This would also avoid those accidental hood opening incidents I read about. I will be able to finally consider removing that safety spring hook on the hood, the damn thing has made it's mark on my head so many times! Maybe it's because I am tall?! Last but not least, I think pins just looks cool.

Now I just have to figure out how to open the damn thing without a handle.

[roverandom]

I once installed hood pins on a 69 Camaro. You still need the factory hood bumpers ( little adjustable threaded screws with rubber ends ) adjusted correctly or the hood will still bounce. Then I had to beef up the metal in the hood at the area of the hood pin to prevent it from work hardening and cracking. The main problem was I am securing the hood in a area that was weak and not designed for this use. Anyway long story short, the owner liked to close the hood by grabing it with his right hand and slaming it ( as he did with his hood before ) this operation missaligned the pins that have to be dead on perfect to close correctly. So after doing this a few times and a few passes down the drag strip he had made a real mess of all my hard work. when he upgraded to a cowl induction hood a month or so later he had me put the factory latch back on. I have neaver done one on a 4+4 before but all the bouncing around cant do much for alignment of the pins. Having said that I have seen them on Baja and Dakar race trucks so it cant be all bad news and then there is the head banging issue, it is hard to drive if you are seeing stars ! Oh and yes, they did look cool on that Camaro.

[Cris_RRC]

Hi Abe ,in my RR I have the same problem the striker unit is worn and won't stay close I try fixing it and works but I dont trust it so I just use one heavy duty rubber bungee at each end until I'll get a new striker unit ,how ever the guy that sold me the RR gave me a set of hood pins new in the bag just for that ,I dont need them so you can have it free if you want ,but keep this in mine ,I think that with hood pins you will not pass inspection I heard this somewhere years ago but Im not 100% sure. Let me know if you still want the pins.

[roverthen]

roverandom- thanks for sharing!

Cris - I'll take you up on that offer.

[Cris_RRC]

[quote=Cris - I'll take you up on that offer.[/QUOTE]

no problem I have them in the truck so just when ever you want to get together they are yours