Drill Hood Pins
Hood pins are an aftermarket addition to vehicle hoods to hold the hoods down. Aftermarket hoods are often seen on specially made cars such as race cars, kit cars, and muscle cars. Vehicle hoods that are without properly placed or the correct number of hood pins may fly up and block a driver's vision. When driving at high speeds, the hood can rip off and cause damage to the hood and the vehicle. Although hood pins come in many different styles, most hood pin kits consist of a scratch plate, lanyard, pin clip, and a hood pin. Some styles also include a bracket for mounting the hood pin. Besides the correct placement of hood pins, knowing how to drill hood pins holes properly is extremely important because if they are drilled improperly, pin holes can damage a hood.
Contents
Steps
- Wear proper protective clothing, such as long sleeves, goggles, and gloves. The dust and particles from drilling into fiberglass can be very irritating to your skin and eyes. Drilling into metal can also cause sharp metal slivers to fly into your eyes.
- Wear a mask when drilling fiberglass to avoid inhaling fiberglass particles.
- Choose the mounting location for the hood pin, and drill a hole in the frame large enough for the mounting bolts. Refer to the installation manual that was supplied with the hood pins to determine which drill bit size to use.
- If you are using mounting brackets, drill holes in the frame according to the installation's directions.
- Thread the hood pin through the hole in the bracket, and secure with the provided bolt.
- Place painters tape where the hood pins will be installed.
- Dab a finger of petroleum jelly on the top of the hood pin, and gently lower the hood onto the hood pin. The petroleum jelly will make a mark into the painter's tape where you will need to drill the hole.
- Use a drill with the appropriate size drill bit, and drill the hole in the hood. You may also start with a smaller drill bit to make a guide hole, and then drill another with the correct-sized drill bit.
- Common-sized drill bits needed are 17/32 inch (13.49 mm) and 1/2 inch (12.7 mm).
- Smooth any rough edges in the hood pinhole. Use a Dremel tool with a sanding or grinding bit.
- Place the scuff plate over the hood pin, and use a pencil to mark the mounting holes.
- Remove the scuff plate, and drill 4 holes.
- Use the provided fasteners to secure the scuff plate into place.
- Thread the lanyard through the fourth hole, and crimp the eye rivet with a pair of pliers.
- Adjust the hood pin height as needed to hold the hood down securely.
Tips
- Face the narrow end (if applicable) of the hood pin to the front of the car.
- Use drill bits specific for metal drilling to drill hood pin holes for the best result.
- Double all measurements and the placement of any brackets before drilling holes in the frame or hood.
Things You'll Need
- Painter's tape
- Petroleum jelly
- Drill
- Drill bit set
- Dremel tool with grinding wheel
- Pliers
