Hood pins on old beat up 1960s muscle cars?

[JulesMaximus]

I don't get it. You're telling me that we can't make a latch that will keep the hood from flying off at 110mph? What was the top speed of a 1968 Mustang Fastback anyway? 130mph? Maybe? We can make cars now that can go 260 mph stock that don't need hood pins. My 8 year old Maxima can go 120-130mph and it doesn't need hood pins.

Hood pins, ghetto or not?


Moved from OT

Anandtech Moderator
KeithTalent

 

[arcenite]

Not ghetto. It's to save weight.

 

[olds]

Not ghetto. It's to save weight.

Usually holding on fiberglass hoods.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Hood pins are like tail fins, they're a design element rather than functional. You seriously don't understand that things are added to cars based on how they look rather than on what they do?

 

[Tristicus]

You're not smart.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Not ghetto. It's to save weight.

On a 3,000 pound car?

I notice you don't see hood pins on many of Chip Foose's creations.

Maybe it's to offset the amount of bondo in the body?

 

[arcenite]

On a 3,000 pound car?

I notice you don't see hood pins on many of Chip Foose's creations.

Maybe it's to offset the amount of bondo in the body?

Like anything else they can be abused. See olds' addendum to my post. They certainly have their place.

 

[Arkaign]

Maybe the hood latches kinda sucked back then? I'd be more willing to trust a pin that I can verify the secureness of easily rather than an ancient latch. Honestly I don't know though.

 

[foghorn67]

On a 3,000 pound car?

I notice you don't see hood pins on many of Chip Foose's creations.

Maybe it's to offset the amount of bondo in the body?

why can't you get that? Folks put on alloy wheels, aluminum heads, intake, etc.

 

[foghorn67]

Maybe the hood latches kinda sucked back then? I'd be more willing to trust a pin that I can verify the secureness of easily rather than an ancient latch. Honestly I don't know though.

And this. My hinge decided to go south while cruising at 90mph.

Maybe those weren't designed for 90mph.

 

[JulesMaximus]

why can't you get that? Folks put on alloy wheels, aluminum heads, intake, etc.

Yeah, but that stuff actually has a tangible benefit. Reducing unsprung weight, improving engine performance, etc.

 

[GaryJohnson]

Usually holding on fiberglass hoods.

Usually holding down the corners of fiberglass hoods to keep them from flexing and cracking.

 

[RedRooster]

Remember when NASCAR actually raced real cars? That's what people wanted.

And modern cars' airflow actually pushes the hood down. Those old clunkers were trying to rip the hood, roof, mirrors, everything off when you hit 100.

 

[Zargon]

Yeah, but that stuff actually has a tangible benefit. Reducing unsprung weight, improving engine performance, etc.

more reliable than the latch. and weighs less

lots of aftermarket/reproduction hoods dont have the spots for the latch. especially as mentioned, fiberglass/CF hoods.

I was in a friends talon when the hood latch gave way at 65mph for no apparant reason, cost him a hood AND a windshield and put a dent in the roof.

heaven forbid people 'overuse' a safety feature because it kinda looks cool too D:

 

[Zargon]

and why is this in OT anyways?

 

[JulesMaximus]

more reliable than the latch. and weighs less

lots of aftermarket/reproduction hoods dont have the spots for the latch. especially as mentioned, fiberglass/CF hoods.

I was in a friends talon when the hood latch gave way at 65mph for no apparant reason, cost him a hood AND a windshield and put a dent in the roof.

heaven forbid people 'overuse' a safety feature because it kinda looks cool too D:

Well that's just a poor design. It takes what? 2 or 3 tapped holes to accept a latch catch?

 

[96Firebird]

Are we talking pins in the front only, or pins at all 4 corners? It is much easier to remove a hood by releasing 4 pins than it is to unbolt it from its hinges; common for those who drag race and take the hood off after every run.

 

[ElFenix]

and why is this in OT anyways?

rants are always OT imho

 

[AdamK47]

Hood fins?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Are we talking pins in the front only, or pins at all 4 corners? It is much easier to remove a hood by releasing 4 pins than it is to unbolt it from its hinges; common for those who drag race and take the hood off after every run.

Nope, this is just at the front. I'll take a pic of it tomorrow if it is parked here again.

 

[ayabe]

Poll needs moar "Only on my VTEC Civic, yo"

 

[JCH13]

Hood pins can be cheaper than a new hood latch. Especially if the front frame got bent out of place so that the hood latch doesn't work anymore.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Hood pins can be cheaper than a new hood latch. Especially if the front frame got bent out of place so that the hood latch doesn't work anymore.

I suppose fixing it properly is out of the question?

 

[IcePickFreak]

Ummm, it was factory on a lot of the old Mustangs. Particularly on Mach 1s, Boss 302s, GT 350s, etc (note that those are all fast backs.)

 

[Drako]

How are hood pins ghetto?