I just bought a brand new Seibon KS Carbon Fiber hood. Do I really need to install hood pins to keep the hood down?

I'd really rather not drill on the CF, but I will if all opinions are to put them on. Probably the fastest I'd go anytime is around 140-160... My stock hood doesn't move at all at those speeds.

What does everyone think? Better safe than sorry or just for show?

 

Yes, you will need them for added safety. There are some that are flush mount (without the big pins) that look really nice.

The absolute last thing you want is to have the hood fly open while you are driving. Your stock hood is light, true, but the CF hood is still going to be lighter. The latch and everything isn't going to be as secure on a CF hood either.

 

Any links to some really good flush mount pins that look good on CF?

 

http://www.deftracing.com/aerocatch_hood_pins/index.htm

I have the sparco ones which i don't mind at all, but if i remember right a lot of members where getting these.

Rishie from AutoRnD had these listed a while ago

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=640989

 

ive heard that if your gonna go past 80mph with a CF hood without hood pins, you run the risk of having the whole hood flying off your car, id put em in if i were you

 

http://www.racinglab.com/haprhopin.html

Anyone try these? They might go a little better with my CF. Are they quality though?

 

I would NOT suggest getting those. They will look like crap with a quality CF hood. I actually purchased a set of those, did some test fitting prior to installation and it looked absolutely HORRIBLE IMO. The carbon on that piece is of very cheap quality overlay and will not flow well with a CF hood.


Something to consider...

 

Something like this should be considered the same as a racing harness. You should really look at how it performs before worrying about how it looks. Some company does make a hoodpin that uses a circle key lock to open/close. I know someone here must know what I'm talking about...they work and look very nice.

 

If you're referring to my post I think I wasn't being clear when I wrote it.


I actually have used hood pins on all my aftermarket hoods. I was just saying that the Carbon one's the OP mentioned are very cheap quality and that I wouldn't recommend using those on any quality hood.

 

Hood pins are ghey. If the hood is built right why in the hell do you need to now add pins for it to work properly????????? The latch itself is not going to pop open.

And if it did fly up it would shatter in pieces when it hit he A frame.

 

the latch is attached to the CF by the fiberglass skeleton, this is not as strong as the oem hood.

Seibon themselves replied to my email asking about hood pins and said if the car is to be used at high speeds for prolonged periods (100+mph track events) pins are required for safety.

I used moroso low profile pins and they are very small and easy to open/close.

 

So, say I go on a 200 mile trip at 80mph, does that qualify as high speeds for prolonged period of time?

I don't really want to install pins, but if I need to just to be safe, then I guess I will.

The next question is the proper way to drill and cut on the CF hood? Any suggestions?

 

You also have to consider stong head winds. Last year I was driving my 240 acrossed New Mexico in to 50-60mph winds. The winds were so stong it ripped a semi trailer in half and I couldnt stand stright up. Well any ways I was driving 70-80 in the wind and I was watching as my CF hood bowing in the middle(1"-1 1/2"). If it wasn't for the hood pins Im sure it would of ripped the CF hood right off.

 

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...ight=hood+pins

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...ight=hood+pins

All these points have already been addressed. The search function is your friend

Also, read those thread...you'll see that many of those who actually own and run CF hoods (like myself) can actually *see* why they're so important while driving.

~Ramy

 

Definitely use the pins. CF hoods are super light and it doesn't take much force to make them rise. I had them on my RE-N1 hood. The Deft pins above are a great choice.

 

Thanks Ramy for the links.

I'm going out today to buy pins.

Can anyone give me some advice or point me in the direction of a write up to install them correctly? I don't want to mess up the hood.

 

Nice mis-information

 

^ yeah...it's scary that people like that own vehicles.

 

My pleasure Steve Good move!

Best advice... have a body shop do it. They'll prob charge you what...$100 for the install (if that)? But if THEY crack/break the hood, THEY have to replace it. If YOU crack or break it, you're out SEVERAL hundred dollars. Plus making sure the hood aligns correctly is *essential*. So my advice, let the professionals do their job, and assume the risk they're paid to take