Where to buy or how to make hood latches?

General Composites Discussions Products Talk
#1

I’m trying to find where to get pre-fabbed hood latches. Maybe the reason I can’t find them is because I don’t know what they’re really called. I’m not talking about the actual latch mechanism, I mean the latch’s counterpart that’s part of the hood. If I make a copy of my hood, I could sacrifice the original, but I don’t want to do that. I’m wondering what people do that make several hoods.

First of all, what are they called? Searching for “hood latch” results in finding replacement latches, nothing for anyone trying to make a hood from scratch.

Is there a place to buy them?

Is it better/easier to just fabricate one yourself? If so, what do you use? I don’t have a shop, so I’m pretty limited on the metal work I can do. Could I make a reliable one out of composites? If so, I’d rather do that to save weight compared to high tensil steel, or whatever is normally used.

#2

First think I would do is include a photo of the catch area. I bet a metal fab shop could knock out a set of 4-10 for you for less than you’d spend in time trying to engineer it, the OE manufacturers spent millions likely on that single part…

#3

Unfortunately my car is new and I’m deployed, so I haven’t even seen it in person yet, much less have any specific pictures of it. I would imagine it’s just a normal metal D-ring type hook dealy majig. It would be awesome if I could integrate it into the underside of the carbon fiber hood in one piece.

I’m trying to think of alternate ways to hold the hood down anyway. Like maybe some sort of quick release system, if could be lighter than hinges. So if you wanted to work on the car, you just take the hood completely off and set it to the side. No propping it up or anything like that.

#4

Hood pins, or…

http://engineeredtoslide.com/2013/08/ets-drift-ute-hardlid-times/

QuikLatch. Also, Sparco makes some neat flushmount hood release stuff too.

#5

Try thesehttp://deftracing.com/aerocatch_hood_pins/

#6

I’d second these as well. They are used by OEM raceteams (BMW, Porsche, Nissan) in ALMS/Lemans.

Beware that many of the ‘Aerocatch’ latches on ebay are chinese knockoffs.

In regards to the items used in the ‘Engineered to Slide’ blog link, you can also look into milspec MS4000 fasteners which are pretty much the same thing (except FAA rated) and hold 800#s. Smalled MS2x00 stuff is good for body panels/bumpers.

#7

Or just reuse the original hood striker? Its just a metal bar bolted on most cars. Most glass hoods for street cars just do that or use the basic hood pins. If you engineer your hood properly so that it is rigid enough not to lift the corners, no reason not to just use the original.
Make sure your hood design incorporates good reinforcement at hinges and striker.
Another cool custom mod is to reverse the hood opening. Eliminates the problem of accidental hood release. Especially if you do a whole composite front, it can swing up in one piece, fenders and all (corvette) or slide the whole assembly off the front like a race car.

#8

I’ll likely make a few, so the one from the original wouldn’t be enough.

#9

Probably still easiest to buy a pack of them from the dealer. Depends on what part of the latch is attached to the hood. Some cars it’s just a u shaped bar , everything else is attached to the front clip.

#10

Yeah, and I don’t even know how mine is yet. I’m really leaning towards these though: http://deftracing.com/aerocatch_hood_pins/

I like the idea of using those and having a hingeless hood. So if you need to work on the car you just take the hood completely off and set it off to the side.

#11

Those are cool too, but it sounded like you were planning on selling some as well. Only real racers would buy that set up, everyone else wants a bolt on swap product. But for yours, it would be cool, but kep in mind, its hard to remove the hood yourself.

#12

Oh yeah, you’re absolutely right. Well hopefully it’s a detachable piece that I could get from the dealership. I know on my daily driver it’s tack-welded to the hood itself.

#13

Just get one or several from a junk yard. They are online too.

#14

Do they tend to be universal? Because finding an FR-S or BRZ in a junk yard right now would be quite the challenge.

#15

You might find something workable. A lot of times manufacturers will use a latch mechanism like that for more than one model.
Tuff to do when you are deployed though. A Trip to some FR-S forums could be of value.

#16

Oh yes, I’m on top of the FR-S forums. I’m not that worried about it though. I can’t work on it until I’m home anyway, and as soon as I’m home I will have to ability to just simply look at it.

#17

Any updates to this project?

#18

I use both aero catch and the quick catch items for different parts of the car. Aerocatch for bonnet boot and everything else quick latch.

Could you use a BMW 3 series bonnet catch they are very simple

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-3-SERIES-E90-LCI-320D-M-SPORT-BONNET-CATCH-BRACKET-51237008756-/181408766898?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Car+Make%3ABMW|Model%3A1+Series&hash=item2a3cce1bb2

#19

I was thinking about this some more. What is stopping you using a door catch?