DIY - AeroCatch Install on a CF Hood

[dangeris]

No I didn't notice any snugness but I guess that depends on the height of the hood pin. I'm still using the factory latch, i just have to remember to unhook the latch before popping the hood.

...... but I used the Password JDM backing plates which is waay more solid than just using the nuts and washers and my setup was done exactly like yours. ....

What's the JDM backing plates and where can I get them. I agree that a solid piece of metal that goes around the perimeter is a lot better than a small azz washer.

**EDIT** Nevermind.. just googled it and found it.

[dangeris]

Damn..wish I knew about this before I did the install

an excerpt from the password JDM website:Quote »One of the major problems with mounting just the AeroCatch plus flush hood latches is securing the six mounting nuts underneath the hood. The conventional way of getting to the nuts was to cut a fairly large opening on the underside of the hood leaving you with a messy looking hole when you’re done. Worse is the stock bolts are so small (M4) that we were afraid they might just tear through the hood at high speed. [/quote]This is soooo true. I started out with a small hole like I showed in my install but later enlarged it to accommodate my stubby fingers. and those nuts and bolts are small as phuck too and hard as hell to work with! going from a small washer to an billet aluminum backing plate where the holes are threaded has to be easier.

I think anyone who does this mod SHOULD get these also and defer the install until they get these. Here are pics of the product. Keep in mind with this product, all you'll need to install it is the hole that you cut out at the top leaving you the clean look at the underside of the hood. You'll just slip it in and line up the holes.



Going to edit the OP to advise people to buy this product too!

[ESP]

Nice. I just submitted my "International Account Inquiry" less than a minute ago! It looks like they only ship UPS though...UPS isn't very kind to Canadians when shipping goods across the border. Regardless, I'm getting a set of these!

[Nissan 4 LIFE]

Password JDM also gives a good price on the package if you buy the AeroCatch with the plates and I still ended up cutting large holes on the underside because I didn't have much clearance to slide the plate in through the hole on top in the AIT Hood plus I wanted the rubber bushings that go over the pins to make contact with the underside of the aerocatch so the hood doesn't bounce. I actually have to press down to compress them a bit then I can latch.

Also one other note for you guys is to get the locking AeroCatch so if you decide later to remove the factory hood latch you can still lock your hood up. Its a very nice feature to have just in case. Cheers

[ESP]

Also one other note for you guys is to get the locking AeroCatch so if you decide later to remove the factory hood latch you can still lock your hood up. Its a very nice feature to have just in case. Cheers

I'm probably gonna sound like a complete doofus for asking this, buy why would you want to remove the factory hood latch? Wouldn't you want as many things holding the hood in place as possible?

That being said, is there any way to reinforce the latch on the hood?

[Nissan 4 LIFE]

I'm probably gonna sound like a complete doofus for asking this, buy why would you want to remove the factory hood latch? Wouldn't you want as many things holding the hood in place as possible?

That being said, is there any way to reinforce the latch on the hood?

You don't sound like a doofus but here is my reason and others may have had the same problem in the past.

My hood is actually a prototype hood since I am sponsored by AIT and when it came from the factory the hood latch portion is very loose and not reinforced enough so I have to use a great deal of force to actually latch it down on the factory latch. One time I used just a little too much force and the bolt for the hood latch ended up hitting the inside top of the hood and actually denting the Carbon Fiber and it actually pissed me off a lot so I decided to remove it for now until I actually get a production hood that I can keep good care of it. AIT actually realized that there wasn't enough reinforcement and is going to correct this problem on the production units.I also didn't want to use the factory latch because it is a pain to latch that first and then get the hood pins lined up to lock down since they are soo snug in there due to the angle in which they are installed and I just didn't want to deal with that. These AeroCatch pins really do the job anyways as I have taken the car well past 90 mph with no issues even in windy conditions.

[mikegtr06]

When you get your neW hood I might mhave to take the slightly dented one off your hands .....

[Nissan 4 LIFE]

Uhh yea I will ask John and see what he says on that one lol.