to the paint shop

[BLOWN38]

lookin good!

[shoalcracker]

I have have the same problem with latching the hood.

Broke both corner lenses screwing with it and all my banging and slamming.

Tried grinding and adjusting full travel on the latch to no avail.

Pls followup if you find a simple solution. Mine is still complete so getting in there is a challenge.

Paul

[Kurt K]

Originally Posted by shoalcracker

I have have the same problem with latching the hood.

Broke both corner lenses screwing with it and all my banging and slamming.

Tried grinding and adjusting full travel on the latch to no avail.

Pls followup if you find a simple solution. Mine is still complete so getting in there is a challenge.

Paul

There is no simple solution. I welded washers on the lower edge of my hood latch so I could raise it high enough to get it to latch. I also had to notch a slot out of the fiberglass near the hood latch opening of the hood. The reason for the slot is that the factory latch opening isn't big enough to fit over the fiberglass and metal backing plate of my hood.

The trick for me to get the latch lined up was by putting dabs of orange RTV where I wanted to check alignment, as well as making very small adjustments when I got close. When everything was finally lined up, I can drop the hood from about 6-8" high and it closes and latches every time.

[mywhite89]

Originally Posted by Kurt K

There is no simple solution. I welded washers on the lower edge of my hood latch so I could raise it high enough to get it to latch. I also had to notch a slot out of the fiberglass near the hood latch opening of the hood. The reason for the slot is that the factory latch opening isn't big enough to fit over the fiberglass and metal backing plate of my hood.

The trick for me to get the latch lined up was by putting dabs of orange RTV where I wanted to check alignment, as well as making very small adjustments when I got close. When everything was finally lined up, I can drop the hood from about 6-8" high and it closes and latches every time.

Do you have hood pins also or are the welded washer sufficient to keep the hood from lifting? I may do the same type of thing so I don't have to modify the frame of the car.

chris

[Kurt K]

Originally Posted by mywhite89

Do you have hood pins also or are the welded washer sufficient to keep the hood from lifting? I may do the same type of thing so I don't have to modify the frame of the car.

chris

I do not have hood pins. There are pictures of my car in my garage page of my 92.

I have heard about hoods that have separated around the latch area and they still lost their hood (and usually windshield and roof)....hood pins are still probably a safer way to go. Plus, it is possible to retain the safety catch part of the latch and use hood pins. But like you, I like the smooth look of the hood without pins.

[S_Mazza]

The bodywork and paint look very nice!

I would miss the old hood, though ... it's such a smooth design!

[mywhite89]

Originally Posted by S_Mazza

I would miss the old hood, though ... it's such a smooth design!

Tell me about it, I already do. I might have it painted also in case I can go back with the stock hood some day.

chris

[Quik95SC]

Originally Posted by mywhite89

Latching this hood is a big problem, we will need to create and weld a bracket for the factory hood latch that will secure it to the frame at least an inch higher than is possible with the factory bolts. I really don't want hood pins on this car at all.

chris

Chris,
I don't have hood pins on my car and I have the same hood as you. I did have to slightly modify the hood latch and and I can't use the slider bar above the PS headlight but once I pop the hood from inside I can easliy reach up and move the sliding latch by hand.

Like Kurt said I had to file the hook part of the latch itself to fit into the opening in the hood and metal backing plate, but not much else other than that. I have had mine for about 3 years now and have had if off several times and it always bolts right back in place with no alignment issues as far as I can see. May have gotten a good hood and a lucky fit from the beginning, who knows. If you would like further pics on the latch up close let me know and i can take some with my cell and send them to you anytime.

Here is a link to how mine looks:

http://www.sc-shootout.com/Gallery.p...=picture&id=60
http://www.sc-shootout.com/Gallery.p...=picture&id=63
http://www.sc-shootout.com/Gallery.p...=picture&id=61

Good Luck,
Smitty

Color looks great BTW!!

How much pearl did you add to the paint/clear??

[Kurt K]

Here's a picture of my installed modified hood latch. The yellow arrow points to the factory lower edge of the latch.

[shoalcracker]

Hopefully i'm not stepping on the thread.

Tks for the input and followuo Kurt.

I have shims down low on the latch to change the angle more towards the windshield.

I took a second look yesterday and I am going to drill out the existing latch plate in the hood, grind down the fibreglass apprx 1/8" and reinstall.

Pretty sure that will snug things up.

Paul

[mywhite89]

Thanks for the picture, that should help things.

[mywhite89]

heres some before and after pictures from saturday. We made some moves this weekend. Have the top of the hood and the rear spoiler left to paint only. Took a long time to fit the hood and get everything positioned nicely. Starting to look like a car again though.

Chris

[Tim Groth]

Looks great! Nice work.

-Tim

[Jason Wild]

looking good.

[David Neibert]

Chris,

Car looks great ! Are you going to paint the door trim to match the body ?

David