SwaintaN
Explorer Addict
- Joined
- March 15, 2008
- Messages
- 2,238
- Reaction score
- 3
- City, State
- Carey, Ohio (Georgia Grown)
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 93 XLT
I got really tired of having to have someone with me to open my hood. Looked for variations of ways, was afraid to mess with hood release in fear it would make it worse so hood pins; now only my self is needed to open the hood.
Tools I Used:
Chalk
Tape
Drill Bit (each hood pin kit is a different size, so what I can tell you, is slightly larger then pin stud)
Phillips Screwdriver
Drill
Locktite for Threads
Black Paint (will vary depending on the color of your hood)
Measuring tape
First is to determine the best place to put them. I decided to remove hood support and put them there (will put hood support else where).
To do this I had to remove the battery. This will give you tons more access to the hood support on passenger side and to tighten bottom nut of the hood pin.
Next step was to eliminate the hood latch since it will no longer be being used.
In place
And now gone.
With that gone I removed the cable and release from under the dash. There are a few ways to do it, I did it by snipping the cord at the fire wall and then removal on inside.
(Im only gonna show the picture of one side, but do it to both!)
Next is to remove the hood support, dont break em, just remove em.
In place
Remember not to break em or lose, the way I did it I reused them in a different location.
Next it to take tape, masking tape or similar. Take it to the furthest edge of the hole all the way to the outside of the fender.
Tape
Measure from center of hole where your going to put hood pint to the inside of the fender. Write the measurement down so you dont lose it. In a perfect world both sides are the same, in my case they were different so dont mix measurements. MEASURE MEASURE MEASURE; unless you have a spare hood laying around you dont want to screw up!
With hood closed you can measure from inside of fender to place on hood and use chalk to mark the hole. this is what the tape is for to make sure you lined up with the tape.
Next is to drill a starter hole on the line. once you have a starter hole. Use your bit that is slightly bigger then the hood pin
This is a good time now that you have both holes drilled, to spray a little paint on the drill marks so you dont get rust. Once your don if you measured right, put the hood down. Adjust the hood pins (by turnin the top nut to the height of the hood pin you want showing above the hood)
Once you have them adjusted you can put on the decoration plate and line holder. This is simple, while hood is down lay the plate around the Hood Pin, screw in your three screws, with the last one loop your line and screw down. This line attaches to the pint its self.
.
Now that you have the hood pin adjusted to show threw the hood as much as you want. Time to raise the hood and put on bottom nuts. This is tricky! It took me and a friend to do this. I added washers (my kit didnt come with them), also this is a good place to use locktite on the treads since it will vibrate. Now that the nuts on top and bottom are all secured and lock tite. This is what it should look like.
Ok one last thing. what about the hood support we sat to the side? Well here is what I did with it. The very front bolt the is in the fender with the washer/nut all in one. I took the bolt out, saved it so if i ever need it.... Put the hood support, adjust as need. Put a nut on the bottom (yes even though you used the nut/washer/fastener thing) of the hood support.
It will look like this.
Now you can enjoy a one person easier to open hood!
EDIT.... ok I just noticed I left something out... yes I have two nuts on the above half.. YOU DONT HAVE TO DO THAT... i did that for extra hood support. Im having a washer welded to the top nut so i still have strong hood support. I needed three nuts per hood pin, kits only come with 2 per kit and no washers at all...
Tools I Used:
Chalk
Tape
Drill Bit (each hood pin kit is a different size, so what I can tell you, is slightly larger then pin stud)
Phillips Screwdriver
Drill
Locktite for Threads
Black Paint (will vary depending on the color of your hood)
Measuring tape
First is to determine the best place to put them. I decided to remove hood support and put them there (will put hood support else where).
To do this I had to remove the battery. This will give you tons more access to the hood support on passenger side and to tighten bottom nut of the hood pin.
Next step was to eliminate the hood latch since it will no longer be being used.
In place
And now gone.
With that gone I removed the cable and release from under the dash. There are a few ways to do it, I did it by snipping the cord at the fire wall and then removal on inside.
(Im only gonna show the picture of one side, but do it to both!)
Next is to remove the hood support, dont break em, just remove em.
In place
Remember not to break em or lose, the way I did it I reused them in a different location.
Next it to take tape, masking tape or similar. Take it to the furthest edge of the hole all the way to the outside of the fender.
Tape
Measure from center of hole where your going to put hood pint to the inside of the fender. Write the measurement down so you dont lose it. In a perfect world both sides are the same, in my case they were different so dont mix measurements. MEASURE MEASURE MEASURE; unless you have a spare hood laying around you dont want to screw up!
With hood closed you can measure from inside of fender to place on hood and use chalk to mark the hole. this is what the tape is for to make sure you lined up with the tape.
Next is to drill a starter hole on the line. once you have a starter hole. Use your bit that is slightly bigger then the hood pin
This is a good time now that you have both holes drilled, to spray a little paint on the drill marks so you dont get rust. Once your don if you measured right, put the hood down. Adjust the hood pins (by turnin the top nut to the height of the hood pin you want showing above the hood)
Once you have them adjusted you can put on the decoration plate and line holder. This is simple, while hood is down lay the plate around the Hood Pin, screw in your three screws, with the last one loop your line and screw down. This line attaches to the pint its self.
Now that you have the hood pin adjusted to show threw the hood as much as you want. Time to raise the hood and put on bottom nuts. This is tricky! It took me and a friend to do this. I added washers (my kit didnt come with them), also this is a good place to use locktite on the treads since it will vibrate. Now that the nuts on top and bottom are all secured and lock tite. This is what it should look like.
Ok one last thing. what about the hood support we sat to the side? Well here is what I did with it. The very front bolt the is in the fender with the washer/nut all in one. I took the bolt out, saved it so if i ever need it.... Put the hood support, adjust as need. Put a nut on the bottom (yes even though you used the nut/washer/fastener thing) of the hood support.
It will look like this.
Now you can enjoy a one person easier to open hood!
EDIT.... ok I just noticed I left something out... yes I have two nuts on the above half.. YOU DONT HAVE TO DO THAT... i did that for extra hood support. Im having a washer welded to the top nut so i still have strong hood support. I needed three nuts per hood pin, kits only come with 2 per kit and no washers at all...
:
)
