Aerolatch install write up

[1jzjoey]

I'll be showing you guys how to install your Aerolatches on your carbon fiber or fiberglass hood.
If you have a metal hood not sure why you would need these besides to look gay. So here it goes.

Heres what your going to need, you will also need a dremel or file. Remember to use safety gear
when your working with carbon fiber or fiberglass you will need a mask and eye protection, gloves are a good idea as well.
http://i45.tinypic.com/2cnfg92.jpg


This is what's included in your package
http://i46.tinypic.com/179t6p.jpg


Now First thing you're going to do is find a spot to put
your pole latch thing in.
so in my case I'm doing silvia front on my s13 so I'm going to use a hole from the pop up lights.
http://i47.tinypic.com/fyphc4.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/35m1h0m.jpg



The next step would be drilling a hole for the pole to go through, best way to do this is to put
some peanut butter on the end of if and press the hood down on it.
http://i45.tinypic.com/11trhnr.jpg

http://i45.tinypic.com/1y1jqt.jpg


Now that you have your points ready to drill, go ahead and drill a hole, but keep in mind that when
the hood fully closes the pole will set a little further back so drill a little towards the back as well.

This is what you should end up with
http://i45.tinypic.com/2v3poit.jpg


Next step is to outline the Aerolatch, best way to do this is to latch it on the pole and trace around the latch.

http://i45.tinypic.com/x65hx.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/ix3the.jpg


and heres your chode outline
http://i49.tinypic.com/2wo91n8.jpg

What I did next way drill some reference points around the inner part of the tracing.
http://i49.tinypic.com/5mlgu9.jpg


now heres where the dremel comes in hand, I put a special bit on the end of it so i could cut
through the fiberglass effortlessly.
http://i47.tinypic.com/28ji9zo.jpg



So this step is to connect the dots.
http://i47.tinypic.com/2vxkcgp.jpg

http://i45.tinypic.com/5fkyzc.jpg


Heres where you want to put on a sanding bit on the dremel and smooth it out.
http://i48.tinypic.com/2im9maq.jpg


Now put your Aerolatch in and drill the screw holes, I
drilled just enough to get a marking so I didn't hit the latch with the drill bit.
http://i45.tinypic.com/2570i6c.jpg


Then go ahead and drill your holes through.
http://i50.tinypic.com/htvgjr.jpg


Now, the hardware they give you was too short to go through both layers of my hood so I cut
out the bottom (I know its not pretty but it does its job)
http://i48.tinypic.com/2qn0eb5.jpg


Heres where you just bolt everything up only bad thing about this product is the lack of hardware,
they include everything in it but nothing extra in case you drop a nut into your hood like i did in
which case you're pretty much screwed. But yeah just bolt it up.
http://i48.tinypic.com/nna7io.jpg

http://i46.tinypic.com/28hgdba.jpg


Now the final step is just to fine tune that pole latch and put the rubber stopper back on it.
http://i45.tinypic.com/34qp9pi.jpg

http://i49.tinypic.com/23mrn88.jpg

Boom, you're done.

[ILoveJDM]

came in here expecting to see them facing the wrong way..

good job on install

[1jzjoey]

came in here expecting to see them facing the wrong way..

good job on install

haha, thanks man!

[JonathanPrem]

Thanks for the write. Will be doing this on my metal hood for the "gayness"

[1jzjoey]

Thanks for the write. Will be doing this on my metal hood for the "gayness"

Lol no offense to you

[omgRWDgoodness!]

Metal hood or not, these look gay. Any half-decent carbon fiber or even fiberglass hood should have a latch on it.

[KiLLeR2001]

Nice write-up. Maybe its my eyes but the pass. side catch looks a little more angled than the driver side... I also did a mini write-up which can be found in my build thread. http://zilvia.net/f/builds-builds-only/378665-s13-5-daily-driver-build-thread-2.html#post4518787

[1jzjoey]

Metal hood or not, these look gay. Any half-decent carbon fiber or even fiberglass hood should have a latch on it.

it has a latch on it but if you have ever owned a carbon fiber or fiberglass hood, you will notice it flapping when your going around 65mph. These lmake it more secure.

[Matej]

came in here expecting to see them facing the wrong way..

good job on install
In my opinion they look better with the fatter part facing the front.

[MADE]

I thought you were joking about the PB. But good choice, next time bring Jam and Bread and make a sammich while you admire your work. lol

[enkei2k]

We also already have one here in the FAQ section already, although not as detailed:

http://zilvia.net/f/archive-faqs/170299-aerocatch-hood-pin-install.html

[1jzjoey]

Nice write-up. Maybe its my eyes but the pass. side catch looks a little more angled than the driver side... I also did a mini write-up which can be found in my build thread. http://zilvia.net/f/builds-builds-only/378665-s13-5-daily-driver-build-thread-2.html#post4518787

I made sure they lined up but it does look like that in the picture, kinda making me want to check again lol

[punxva]

great write up, also the package for the aero catches has a template on it as well for the latch as well

[1jzjoey]

great write up, also the package for the aero catches has a template on it as well for the latch as well

Yeah I know, just wanted to be 100% sure everything lined up

[AFSil80]

The only problem I found with using the included template is that it doesn't give much edge distance for the 6 fastener holes. I had one of them almost crack to the cutout for the assembly, so this method seems a lot better for preventing that.

[conrad_s13.5]

hows your' guys' experience with the allen bolts they supply?

Ive heard theyre not worth a shit, and to just use rivets (which seems like a downgrade to me)