CF Hood: To pin, or not to pin...

[ESP]

I just ordered a VIS Racing CF hood today. I'm now wondering if hood pins are absolutely necessary. On most other vehicles I would agree that they are, but since the AC hood is already incredibly light do you guys think it's still a safety concern? The guy I was talking to at VIS (Sonny) said that they're "recommended but not required"...is that the same kind of legal a**-covering as saying that an aftermarket part is "for offroad use only"? Again, I'm just wondering if it's absolutely necessary seeing as our hoods are already featherweights......

Just looking for opinions on the matter (and if Dangeris and Loop could weigh in it, it'd be greatly appreciated!)

[noshift]

i think i read from nissan4life that hes got a CF hood and he could see the hood flexing when driving at higher speeds. i would def get the pins nad not take the chance of it flying open.

[Blackmobile]

I didn't think that the weight of the hood had anything to do with pins. My understanding was that people use pins to keep the hood from flying up when you drive because the latch on CF hoods aren't as strong as on an OEM hood. So if you want to debate if you wants to use pins or not should be dependant on your confidence of the strength of the new latch.

[BlackNWhite]

I didn't think that the weight of the hood had anything to do with pins. My understanding was that people use pins to keep the hood from flying up when you drive because the latch on CF hoods aren't as strong as on an OEM hood. So if you want to debate if you wants to use pins or not should be dependant on your confidence of the strength of the new latch.

Now that makes more sense.

I couldn't figure out what the weight of the hood had to do anything with it opening. Thanks.

[ESP]

You're absolutely right about the latch being the weakest part. It's just that the main defense I've heard for the use of hood pins is "because CF hoods are so light", etc... It makes perfect sense though that the latch is the weakest link.

A few of my Subbie friends have mentioned that their VIS hood latches are built just as well as OEM (and as such don't bother with hood pins)...just wondering if anyone else here on NICO could confirm the quality of VIS Racing's products...

Either way, I'll probably end up with the flush-mount AeroCatch style mechanism. I just can't stand the way traditional hood pins look...

[noshift]

You're absolutely right about the latch being the weakest part. It's just that the main defense I've heard for the use of hood pins is "because CF hoods are so light", etc... It makes perfect sense though that the latch is the weakest link.

A few of my Subbie friends have mentioned that their VIS hood latches are built just as well as OEM (and as such don't bother with hood pins)...just wondering if anyone else here on NICO could confirm the quality of VIS Racing's products...

Either way, I'll probably end up with the flush-mount AeroCatch style mechanism. I just can't stand the way traditional hood pins look...

those are real nice pins. those are the ones i would go with also.

[dangeris]

As everyone know I have the vented CF hood form carbon creations and when I drive at higher speeds, I do see my hood flexing. Scares me since I know AZHitman had a CF hood and the damn latch broke off with him doing 80mph. Obviously, at that speed, a hood flipping over will cause a lot of damages if not, injuries to either driver and or passenger.

Either way, I'll probably end up with the flush-mount AeroCatch style mechanism. I just can't stand the way traditional hood pins look...

These are the latches I bought for my hood but locking from a sponsored vendor here on NICO. I've had them for a couple of weeks now and still have not gotten around to installing them. Still debating on the install because every time I look at my CF hood i try to picture if the Aerocatch pin will ruin the look. My luck I won't install them and the hood latch will break off on my way home and cause more damages. If I install them this weekend, I'll take a lot of pics and do a write up! Maybe I can get a custom title.. Oh wait,..I have one already

[ESP]

Maybe I can get a custom title.. Oh wait,..I have one already

A NICO member has already done a writeup on this (but it's for an S13): zerothread/206359Still, I'm curious as to where you're planning on mounting the pin itself. I haven't taken a look under the hood yet, but would it work properly if you mounted them on the radiator support bar? IIRC, you're supposed to have a 15-degree (or less) angle between the pin an the latch, and the way the front of our hoods dip down it almost looks like that angle is greater... Hmmm...we'll see.

I think that as long as you paint them to match the rest of the car, it'll look just fine.Oh, and by "higher speeds" what are we talkin' about? 60+? 70+? 80+?

[BrianAdams03]

This is why I would get hood pins if I had the CF hood.

NO LINKING TO OTHER FORUMS

But yes, like everyone said it doesn't have to do with weight. It's the latching mechanism that is going to get you into trouble, since it's not as strong as the OEM one.

[ESP]

This is why I would get hood pins if I had the CF hood.

NO LINKING TO OTHER FORUMS

But yes, like everyone said it doesn't have to do with weight. It's the latching mechanism that is going to get you into trouble, since it's not as strong as the OEM one.

Wow...Alrighty then. Hood pins it is.Dangeris, let's get that writeup of yours pronto!

[dangeris]

A NICO member has already done a writeup on this (but it's for an S13): zerothread/206359Still, I'm curious as to where you're planning on mounting the pin itself. I haven't taken a look under the hood yet, but would it work properly if you mounted them on the radiator support bar? IIRC, you're supposed to have a 15-degree (or less) angle between the pin an the latch, and the way the front of our hoods dip down it almost looks like that angle is greater... Hmmm...we'll see.

I think that as long as you paint them to match the rest of the car, it'll look just fine.Oh, and by "higher speeds" what are we talkin' about? 60+? 70+? 80+?

Yeah I saw that link and the mounting of the aerocatch on the coupe will be somewhat similar. I will be mounting the pins on the support where the OEM bumpers are hitting now. I think that is the rad support. As for the positioning, the smallest part of the latch needs to be some what pointing downwards. Since I will be leaving my hood CF and not painting it, the black will suffice for now. Might attempt to do this install this weekend, in between my kitchen remodel project..

[kyle@stillen]

Pin it to win it!

We just installed a bunch of carbon fiber on the GTR race car and we installed the aero catch pins. They look great and in my opinion, they actually add to the appearance of the car.

One thing to keep in mind, it looks a lot better if you make the tear drop look go back across the hood. Make sure that the finger press mechanism is pointed away from you and that the latch flips towards you. This makes it easier to open in my opinion.

[DAAN.]

Protect your investment - Hood pins

[bravey_z12]

A NICO member has already done a writeup on this (but it's for an S13): zerothread/206359Still, I'm curious as to where you're planning on mounting the pin itself. I haven't taken a look under the hood yet, but would it work properly if you mounted them on the radiator support bar? IIRC, you're supposed to have a 15-degree (or less) angle between the pin an the latch, and the way the front of our hoods dip down it almost looks like that angle is greater... Hmmm...we'll see.

I think that as long as you paint them to match the rest of the car, it'll look just fine.Oh, and by "higher speeds" what are we talkin' about? 60+? 70+? 80+?

NICE stuff u gonna get ,good luck and those hood pins r dammn sexy as i seen all posts, u should get it and m sure its gonna look goodgood luck,man

[ESP]

One thing to keep in mind, it looks a lot better if you make the tear drop look go back across the hood. Make sure that the finger press mechanism is pointed away from you and that the latch flips towards you. This makes it easier to open in my opinion.

Great! Thanks for the advice Kyle. Just to confirm though, you mean the narrowest part of the latch should face the front of the car and the bulbous part faces the rear?

[ESP]

Well, I just ordered a set of Aerocatch hood pins and my hood should be here on friday...

Dangeris, did you get a chance to try the install this past weekend?

[DAAN.]

Looking forward to seeing your sweet car

[kyle@stillen]

Great! Thanks for the advice Kyle. Just to confirm though, you mean the narrowest part of the latch should face the front of the car and the bulbous part faces the rear?

You are correct sir!

[dangeris]

Well, I just ordered a set of Aerocatch hood pins and my hood should be here on friday...

Dangeris, did you get a chance to try the install this past weekend?

Sorry no, I didn't. Maybe tonight if the freakin weather holds out. I'llbe racing my bike all weekend too so no chance this weekend to so it's either now or next week

Great! Thanks for the advice Kyle. Just to confirm though, you mean the narrowest part of the latch should face the front of the car and the bulbous part faces the rear?

You are correct sir!

This is also stated in the instructions.

[dangeris]

Ok guys, I did a write up on the install. It can be found here.

http://forums.altimas.org/zero...d=249