Ok, i am really, really confused on what to do here

As you all know, i put my CF hood on... but ive been reading through alot of threads, and online reviews and shit.... and its like a 50/50 on the hood pin thing
Some people say their hoods have been good for years, and some people said the hood flapped open on the parkway on them or they've seen it...


Before you vote, remember, they dont look good.. but its a safety thing... $45 ugly pins, or like $5k in damage or worse when my hood flies open on the parkways

Should I or Shouldn't I get hood pins??



No Pins



Sparco #1 location




Sparco #2 location



I gotta check tomorrow if i can even find a mounting spot for Option #2.... i dont think the radiator support would be over there, so i might be stuck with something like Option #1.. sparco pins dont have cable, i think pins with cables might be a little tacky and tooo `69 GTO or Mustang or some shit...

what do you guys think?

 

no hood pins looks cleaner IMO ...

EDIT: I didn't even read that it was a safety issue before i voted, if its for safety then I would say position 2

 

No hood pins.

 

HOLY MOTHER OF FUCK!! Excuse me I seriously have to go pick up my jaw off the floor After the UNC loss tonight you've given me a reason to smile.

Keep the hood pins towards the outer edge.. Maybe paint them black? Either way I'm loving it

 

Just for safety reasons I voted for pins torwards the edge, but not matter which one you choose your car is going to look unique, good way to modify your TL, I can't stop looking at the pictures

 

+1

 

outer edge. I agree, black hood pins. do you need 2?

 

yea, two is a must

check out what i just found... hood "latchs" a little pricey, and require some larger holes to be drilled into the hood.. but they look bad ass!! found this on a Z forum







they cost more, and the install will probably cost more than traditional pins being installed (i REFUSE, REFUSE to install these myself) and i am a big DIY'er

 

As much as it looks tremendously alot better without hood pins, I have seen many accidents resulting in the hood flying up and damaging the windshield, etc. And flying off the car and causing accidents for other vehicles. I vote if you can get them to be on the outer part it would still look decent.

 

the main reason why i think the hood would fly up, is that the latch would break...

granted, that its in the fiberglass portion, which is stronger then CF, its still not as strong as the OEM steel... the hood isnt even THAT lightweight, but i feel like since its fiberglass, its weaker then steel.... so i am going to have to get hood pins... ill probably end up with the Sparco silver ones, unfortunately, it looks like that "outer" portion everybody is leaning towards, might not be feasible.. as there is a metal part there, but the headlights are directly under it.. and im not putting a hood pin into my headlights

i will most likely end up having to put them in the center portion like photoshopped in option #1.... by the way, i think i made the pins a little too big in that photoshop, so they will most likely be alot smaller in retro-spect to the car

The sales rep @ VIS said i dont need them, and he had their hood on his civic for like 3 years, without a problem. ACCURATEin and MichealBenz dont have hood pins either.. and they havent had a problem... but then why would VIS put a disclaimer on their website/invoices saying these hoods require pins for safety... it must happen often enough that people or insurance companies are looking to go after VIS for hoods flying open.... such a tough decision


until i put hood pins in... no parkway/expressway driving for me...better safe than sorry

 

i probably should have just painted my OEM hood black or gotten a CF overlay

 

can't you rig something up. When I had my old car I put some steel cable through where the hood latch was and wrapped it around the the thing the latch locks into.

 

have to look into getting then anodized black?
the only thing with the you have to be very careful due to it will scratch off easy

 

I voted no pins after reading. I have had 4 carbon hoods and have never had a problem. Lot's of very fast driving too.

 

No offense, no hood pins and IMO personally don't like the 2 tone look on the TL either. Then again I'm an old fart and you guys are much younger.

 

at what speeds do you actually need to be going to require hood pins for these hoods? A lot of 'ricer' stuff is not really needed until you hit professional racing speeds...like spoilers and defoilers...but they have them for looks regardless...

 

What fails causing the hood to fly up? Does the "U" shaped thing that the OEM hood hold down mechanism attaches to fail and pull away from the hood?

Is the "U" metal and imbedded in the fibergalss?

Is the hood a carbon fiber layer over fiberglass because I thought CF was stroger than steel ( or was that pound for pound? ) ?


Couple of things would have scared me off right off the top;

1) All fiberglass or carbonfiber parts have no warranty.

2) All hoods cannot sustain any force or weight on the surface. Do not put weight on the hood surface as it could crack the hood.


The sales rep @ VIS said i dont need them, and he had their hood on his civic for like 3 years, without a problem. <------- They are salesmen and will tell you anything to make a sale . I looked at the VIS site and it didn't list one for the TL .. gave up looking at it .. hard to navigate.

 

hood pins would definitely not look good... but safety first.. if its likely that the current setup is not secure enough, then put pins on and paint black at option 2 if possible..

 

for safety issues definately option 2.
but if you can get those hood latches then thats the way to go.

 

no hood pins!! but the latches would be nice and more safer imo, i have had CF hoods in the past and i would say 2 out of 3 they ruined my windshields!!

 

I like the Z car solution. Seems to be the best of both worlds.

 

Find another way of securing the hood.

 

Can you take some pics with the hood open to see how it's bolted to the car??

I think the hood latchs like the Z are the best way to go.

 

These look easy to install. Price is not to bad either.

http://www.deftracing.com/aerocatch_hood_pins/index.htm

 

I always told myself if I got a CF hood this would have to happen, and I think your just the person to pull this off black...........

 

I've owned Honda's with CF hoods and many of my friends as well. In fact, probably all of us had VIS hoods as well. Not one of us had hood pins. Never had any issues besides fitment, ha ha.

Don't do it, it just doesn't look right on a TL. The only thing that should have a hood pin should be capable of shaking and rattling the car to peices from too much horsey power IMHO.

 

latches! love the new hood!

 

No hood pins

 

Next you should get the carbon fiber vinyl inlay for the roof.

 

I don't like the look of hood pins but it's a must for safety. The CF hood needs 2-3 attachment points. One in the center isn't enough and it will break eventually. I'm sure you could get away with it for some time but I wouldn't want to do any high speed runs without pins.

 

C'mon Al, no turning back now. No regrets, no negative thoughts, lol.

 

Yeah I agree! I know bluebatmobile has a black overlay...wonder if he can do CF, cause im in too!

 

if u really feel that insecure bro then try going for the latches , at least they blend with the the hood...

 

yea i've made up my mind. Im going for the Aerocatch hood latch... but i can only find black, i cant seem to find the CF ones like in the picture of that 350Z

 

it might be a little cheesy but u can always add the CF triming for the black latch , like the one they use for the interiors.

 

Just an idea ... if worse comes to worse i mean.

 

Hood pins towards the edge

because two of my friends had their hoods open when they were on highway... better safety first.... believe me

 

seems like your decision is made, and I think the CF is sick!!! i like it alot- but u know thats the NBP creepin back up on ya

 

Velcro?

 

Just ask yourself...

Am I a ricer?

If not, then go with the clean look; no hood pins

If so, then go with the second setup of the hood pins