Closing CF Hood

[jy116]

I bought a CF hood for the weight savings, and becuase ppl say FRP or Fiberglass will crack... but when I close my hood, seems like it's cracking the CF too! The locking spring on the hood latch lock is at such high tension, I have to push down hard for the hood to lock. Yes I have hood pins, but I cant put the pin in w/o the hood latching...

I already see small stress cracks on the clear coat in the general area where I push down! I'm thinking of just painting the CF when I get the car painted so it wont crack so easily... Just seeing if anyone here modified the hood latch or runs pins only? Maybe just replace the latch spring with a lower tension one? thnx for any info. :-/

[!Zar!]

A carbon fiber hood is just as prone to cracking as fiberglass.

And 9/10 your hood is fiberglass with a carbon fiber overlay.

When I had that problem, I didn't care, and had no visible cracks.

You should remove the whole mechanism. And get locking hood pins.

[HalveBlue]

I don't have a CF hood but from what I've been able to gather:

Hood Pins (http://www.seiboncarbon.com/faq.asp#q28)

Not all CF Hoods are built alike, a cheaper, lower quality hood may not have been laid down properly and will more more prone to cracking.

I think the bigger problem here may be pressure being exacted on some spot on the hood that shouldn't. Check to make sure that you have enough clearance underneath the hood. If you don't, see if you can create more clearance by rearranging or tightening down some items.

Good Luck!

[WILDACEX187]

u can also try adjusting the latch up a lil more so u dont have to push down so hard. my seibon hood is hard to latch but its not cracking from me pushing down on it.

[koukimonster139]

^ dammit beat me too it.

i had to do this too, also the rubber stops on the rad. support can be turned in so its not so tight.

[KiDyNomiTe]

I have held FRP hoods that were lighter than Carbon, and both are prone to cracking, CF can be strong but so can fiberglass takes a lot of it.

[sbanzer123]

what brand of hood is it?

[180sx Fan]

i always was told that you are not supposed to use carbon or frp hoods with the stock latch because they are prone to lifting up at higher speeds as they are not as strong as metal hoods. You dont want to be driving down the street and have your hood come flying up at you and smash your roof and windshield.

[180sExy]

u can also try adjusting the latch up a lil more so u dont have to push down so hard. my seibon hood is hard to latch but its not cracking from me pushing down on it.
Seibon FTW!!! I love mine!

i always was told that you are not supposed to use carbon or frp hoods with the stock latch because they are prone to lifting up at higher speeds as they are not as strong as metal hoods. You dont want to be driving down the street and have your hood come flying up at you and smash your roof and windshield.
Thats what happend to my friends integra. We were driving down the 215 in Moreno Valley an he JUST got the car with a type R conversion an had it painted championship white. When the hood just flew up an smashed the windshield!!!! When we pulled over he though he just forgotten to close the hood all the way, but when we checked the hood the latch was broken off the hood.

[cdlong]

i always was told that you are not supposed to use carbon or frp hoods with the stock latch because they are prone to lifting up at higher speeds as they are not as strong as metal hoods.

you're not supposed to use them with JUST the stock latch. using the stock latch with hood pins is fine.

[projectRDM]

Adjust the latch or remove it altogether. Done.

[KA24DESOneThree]

I tossed my latch and hood pull assembly when I fitted my fiberglass hood.

Is this really a big enough issue it warrants a thread?

[jy116]

Its probly a cheap brand, cuz I cant adjust the latch. If i remove the latch, anyone can open my hood. Unless I get those locking hood pins... I tried messing with the springs on the locking mechanism... maybe a lower tension spring. Removing the sping makes it so I'd hafto hold the release and lift the hood at the same time... impossible w/o another person :/

This warrants a thread cuz I wanted to see wut other folks have done... thats what a forum is for. I dont know a lot of ppl w/ CF hoods, so I cant ask them in person.

Thanks for the helpful comments.

[yrk323]

dude anyone can open your door but nobody has (yet)

chunk the latch and risk getting your spark plugs stolen or deal with your ebay hood dying a slow death

[seekanddestroy]

cuz I cant adjust the latch.

the latch on your car, not your hood buddy. :duh:

[GSXRJJordan]

the latch on your car, not your hood buddy. :duh:

lol yeah ~ and seekanddestroy's first post! He could have been lurking here for months, but needed to make a username just to point that out - it's that important =P

[jy116]

Adjust the latch or remove it altogether. Done.

were you talking about adj the latch on the hood, or the latch on the car?

As far as I know after messing with the hood release springs, levers, cable, etc for a good hour or so, I did not see any adjustment on the car.

thnx for any info.

[cdlong]

loosen the bolts holding it down, move it, tighten it again.

[B--RYAN]

this is what i did on my other car.
the latch was really tight just like u say yours is. and me personally i hate hood pins, so i went to lowes and just bought another spring thats as tight. and it work really well i just changed the spings out. it doesnt pop as well some times ill have to lift up on it but id rather lift up on the hood then have a cracked hood.

[yrk323]

hood pins are not a style matter, they are a "i dont want to be staring at the top of my hood while travelling 70mph" matter.

[seekanddestroy]

were you talking about adj the latch on the hood, or the latch on the car?

As far as I know after messing with the hood release springs, levers, cable, etc for a good hour or so, I did not see any adjustment on the car.

thnx for any info.

YOU CANT ADJUST THE LATCH ON THE HOOD UP AND DOWN!

look at the latch on the CAR, there are 3 bolts! loosen them and move it UP a little bit, and tighten them. Close the hood? Better? if not, repeat adjustments till it is good.

[McRussellPants]

Get hood pins.

not locking hood pins, legit hood pins.


those stupid 10-32 screws on your latch are gonna rip out in 6 months, and locking hood pins are just as bad.

[B--RYAN]

if you dont like hood pins do what i did ive never had any probelms what so ever cuz i hate hood pins