slownrusty Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 Hi Gang - I had an *interesting* day...I decided to finally get the hood fitted on my car. The hood is a nice piece custom made by John Coffey from Beta Motorsports, the hood is CF and weighs about 8 or 9lbs (stock hood is close to 40lbs) and I bought it quite some time ago from him. The hood requires hood pins and I wanted to get some cool pins, that were not only cool but functional. All roads led to Aerocatch Pins so I bought a set for $100 (shipped) and installed them yesterday. The Aerocatch hood pins are really sexxy, low profile and stealth, nicely made as well (I purchased the locking model). I was excited to install them. Sadly the templates that come with them are awful and you have to make your own and my first attempt I totally screwed it up and installed them about 1.5" off where they should be (insert choice cuss words here). I kept thinking I had ruined my beautiful CF hood and I was so disappointed with myself....After walking away and some deep breathing, I went back and pulled out my fiberglass and actually did a very good repair on my blunder and re-installed the hood pins in the right place. Luckily I can work fiberglass quite well, so my screw-up is not noticeable and was able to get it right second time around... Installing hood pins are not as easy as they look...LOL! As an aside, I used the stock OEM locations for the pins close to the cowl, but required drilling them out to 3/8" and re-tapping for the anodized aluminum Aerocatch pins. Luckily the factory locations are beefy enough to be drilled out and tapped. I also had enough time to install the hood vents and cowl and all mounting holes, so all I have to do now is paint the hood. Hopefully this week I will take it in to the Body Shop. So I am making progress on the car. I like the look and the fit and recommend these Aerocatch Pins to anyone considering Hood Pins, just take your time. Here are the pics... Stock hood pins on the ZX: Drilling and tapping for the Aerocatch Pins: Aerocatch Pins installed and mocked-up: Done (pls ignore hole on front right..soon to be repaired), hood all fitted and ready for paint: Pretty slick: The mechanism: Regards - Yasin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RB26powered74zcar Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 Love it Yasin!! Looks awesome. So, they were around $100 for the pair? Thats not bad... Are they all alum? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hughdogz Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 Yasin, I think this is WAY better than my idea of using Solex locks. I some ways, I'm glad I'm such a procrastinator...I can wait for you and frank280zx to come up with good ideas for these hoods. Thanks for the tip! Looks Awesome Man! [Edit] So I take it that the "low profile" ones might have interference issues? (top surface mount "Plus-Flush") (below surface "Flush") http://www.aerocatch.net/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
proxlamus© Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 was this just a mock up on an old hood before you cut holes in the C/F hood?! or did you prime the carbon fiber hood in flat black?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 The CF hoods I sell come primed. I don't make then clear unless someone special orders it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
240hoke Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 Looking good!!! Ive got a set of these on the shelf waiting to be installed. They are sweet pieces. Ive never liked hood pins and when I finally needed a set these fit the bill... well made, lightweight, flush, and lockable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 Super-nice, Yasin. Those truly rock and they're not even common yet I think they're the best idea in hood pins yet, being strong, functional, and lockable. Worth the price of admission Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
280Zone Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 I am still saving up for a set of those for one of my cars. They have been very popular around SEMA and road race cars for quite some time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slownrusty Posted July 1, 2008 Author Share Posted July 1, 2008 Hi Gang - Thanks for all the comments and feedback. I do recommend these Aerocatch pins to anyone, and granted they are more expensive than your typical $20 Mr.Gasket set, they are a millenium advanced in mechanism, fit, finish, functionality and aesthetics (I sound like a salesman..LOL!). Hugh - The under mount flush ones are iffy on clearance, so I went with the top mounts instead. Regards - Yasin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
torynich Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 Anyone got a set installed on a 240/260/280 yet. It looks like I am going to have to space them out from the firewall farther than the Mr Gasket ones which will interfere with my battery. I should probably re-locate the battery to the rear anyway, but I kind of dont like the idea of using up any of my limited interior space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonZ Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 I installed these on my 76 this weekend. Give me a day or two to post up some pics. I really like the way they look on the car and as everyone has said already, lightyears ahead of the good ol hood pins. Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polarity Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 If you don't mind me asking, what's the cost for one of those hoods. Might turn out to be a better option than trying to get the hail damage out of mine. -polarity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 If you don't mind me asking, what's the cost for one of those hoods. Might turn out to be a better option than trying to get the hail damage out of mine. -polarity Yasin's first post stated that it was about $100 shipped. For the quality and uniqueness factor, that's a decent price. I already have some sparco pins, so I have to think long and hard about replacing functional parts when the money can go elsewhere. Hmmmm. Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reintr0ducing Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 Yasin's first post stated that it was about $100 shipped. For the quality and uniqueness factor, that's a decent price. I already have some sparco pins, so I have to think long and hard about replacing functional parts when the money can go elsewhere. Hmmmm. Davy i think he was asking about the price of the cf hood, not just the pins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polarity Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 Yeah I was asking about the cost of the hood -polarity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 http://www.betamotorsports.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polarity Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 Hey thanks John, I most likely be contacting you about one of these hoods when I get finished up with my interior. -polarity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WizardBlack Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Moar piktures!!! I know it's a sad addiction, but... how much do they weigh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 280ZForce Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 very nice Yasin, I really like the look of these hood pics too. Good to see some progress on the ol' Z. I'll eventually go this route with hood pins now as well 1 day whenever I get around to installing my fiberglass hood or maybe 1 of John's cf hoods someday. *cheers* - J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slownrusty Posted August 31, 2008 Author Share Posted August 31, 2008 very nice Yasin, I really like the look of these hood pics too. Good to see some progress on the ol' Z. I'll eventually go this route with hood pins now as well 1 day whenever I get around to installing my fiberglass hood or maybe 1 of John's cf hoods someday. *cheers* - J Thanks brother...appreciate it..car is making some steady progress...finally! I was a girl that soaked ALL my time, when that did not work out got back to work on the car, you of all people know how that works out! Yasin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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