Whos has a Carbon Fibre Hood on their MKIII and are you using hood pins?

[phatbimmer]

Hey guys I recently installed my CF hood and I was wondering how many of you guys are using a CF hood and are you using hood pins, if so what brand?

Also if you guys could post pictures of what your cars look like with their CF hoods that would be great as well.

 

[RazoE]

Here's my car a few years back (and dirty).

The hood pins are from autozone I believe, but they rods are welded to my radiator support.

 

[phatbimmer]

RazoE do you think its really necessary to use hood pins? Also did you drill and do the install yourself? Also has your hood cracked around the area where you have them installed?

 

[RazoE]

RazoE do you think its really necessary to use hood pins? Also did you drill and do the install yourself? Also has your hood cracked around the area where you have them installed?

Yes, no, and no

 

[SWD Fredester 3]

I would definitely recommend hood pins. AeroCatch flush mounts are real nice and relatively easy to install. I have a SC300 with a Seibon CF hood and at speed before the hood pin install it was rather unnerving to watch the hood move around, now it's locked down tight-no worries. You could also check out the recent GB on here from Central Composites, Marcus posted a pic of the Aero Catch pins installed. My new hood should be here by the weekend, if I have time I'll post a pic of the raised cowl hood with the pins.
You could also check out Rodel's thread- Notorious MK3- he has a few good pics of the hood pins and one, as I remember, that was flush mounted and round with a smaller profile than the Aero Catch.

 

[RogueCustoms]

I don't have a CF hood but I would like to highly recommend going and having a couple of coats of clear shot on your hood. It will add some much needed protection, more so than just the resins they use to make the hood. Also a plus, it will give the CF some SEDIMENT depth.

Just a thought for you all with Carbon Fiber hoods or any other exterior pieces.

 

[phatbimmer]

I would definitely recommend hood pins. AeroCatch flush mounts are real nice and relatively easy to install. I have a SC300 with a Seibon CF hood and at speed before the hood pin install it was rather unnerving to watch the hood move around, now it's locked down tight-no worries. You could also check out the recent GB on here from Central Composites, Marcus posted a pic of the Aero Catch pins installed. My new hood should be here by the weekend, if I have time I'll post a pic of the raised cowl hood with the pins.
You could also check out Rodel's thread- Notorious MK3- he has a few good pics of the hood pins and one, as I remember, that was flush mounted and round with a smaller profile than the Aero Catch.

Thanks man I'm def. getting the aerocatches. I have the same unnerving feeling when I'm going down the highway, so I will be taking care of this asap. Thanks

 

[te72]

Hell, my stock hood moves around enough to make me a bit nervous (missing the rear firewall seal, highway speeds cause rear of hood to shimmy a bit more than I'm comfortable with), so with a hood I've paid good money for, you bet your ass I'd recommend pins.

 

[Beals]

haha mine has a huge bow on the drivers side (right hand drive though) and yeah I don`t like topping her out it definately feels with the lip on the side sticking up its just one big gust away from going down the highway behind me.

 

[Aku]

Aerocatch all the way, just make sure you get the proper kind since there are a few variations. The larger surface area of the top mounted Aerocatches makes them much less prone to stress cracks and such. Just make sure to lube them, and possibly paint to avoid fading. Oh and this is just extra but replacing the included hardware with stainless is another preventative wear idea. Beware of fake/replica Aerocatches, they are out there.

On my painted Stout replica(mounted angled):

Bare carbon hood(angled):

Sorry for the large pics. As for why I did it, seeing a composite hood bow at speed with just a molded in latch makes me rather uneasy. I know they are safe for the most part, but the added peace of mind doesn't hurt. I was also able to remove the factory hood latch assembly, which was weight saved although not the primary reaspn.

 

[OneJArpus]

Aerocatch all the way, just make sure you get the proper kind since there are a few variations. The larger surface area of the top mounted Aerocatches makes them much less prone to stress cracks and such. Just make sure to lube them, and possibly paint to avoid fading. Oh and this is just extra but replacing the included hardware with stainless is another preventative wear idea. Beware of fake/replica Aerocatches, they are out there.

On my painted Stout replica(mounted angled):

Bare carbon hood(angled):

Sorry for the large pics. As for why I did it, seeing a composite hood bow at speed with just a molded in latch makes me rather uneasy. I know they are safe for the most part, but the added peace of mind doesn't hurt. I was also able to remove the factory hood latch assembly, which was weight saved although not the primary reaspn.

i want your stout hood....

 

[crimson88]

Awhile back Titan was selling stout replicas. Never saw it in there site, just forum posts about it. Might be worth asking about.
Also, on topic, I watched the carbon fiber top layer separate and fly off my friends car at ~120. I'd definitely always run hoodpins on a cf Hood after seeing that happen in person.

 

[atlpd3147]

Do you have close up pictures of the aerocatch install. I like the way you have them set at an angle.

 

[rodel]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/rodel/irvinebbq2009-rodel00.jpg

 

[atlpd3147]

Thanks rodel.. can you send a picture of where on the radiator support you placed the stud

 

[rodel]

Thanks rodel.. can you send a picture of where on the radiator support you placed the stud

Youre welcome. The posts are for the aerocatch locks.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/rodel/TRDstruttowerbar-mk3.jpg

 

[toyotanos]

Similar to Rodel, albeit a less snazzy hood



Pin mounts are bolted underneath the rad support


My solution to keeping the hood open:

 

[hvyman]

I don't think there long enough but I think some Honda hatchback shocks might be soft enough for a cf hood shock. Might require a custom mount tho.

I like how you mounted yours underneith Steve. Do they all come red?

 

[atlpd3147]

Thanks for the info guys