Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Aftermarket Hood Installation

An aftermarket hood can offer superior weight reduction and/or cooler air temperatures in your engine compartment, as well as giving you that "custom" look if you want it. You can have one installed in minutes! Optional instructions: Hood Pins and Re-Installing OEM Wiper Nozzles.

 Mad Props: LuvMyFoci for having a Cervini Hood, and FocusZoomin, for  discussing with me about the details of how her hood got installed.  Tools Needed: Socket Set Torx Bits and Screwdriver Set Power Drill and Bits: Optional  Time Needed: Depends, but you can have it done in 15-30 Minutes if you don't want windshield Washer Nozzles.  Procedure: Prop your hood open.  Remove the hood Latch Loop from the underside front of the hood.  Detach the windshild wiper fluid line from the hood.  If replacing wiper fluid nozzles, Go to the steps at the bottom before continuing with the installation.  Un-Bolt the two bolts on each side of the hood holding it to the hinges.  Remove hood.    If installing hood pins, it's still a good idea to leave the stock latching mechanism intact, but it is not required.  It is a good safety measure to keep snoops from opening your hood and stealing your Cold Air Intake and plug wires.  :)  Attach hood latch loop to underside of aftermarket hood.  If needed, drill pilot holes.  Be careful to place this exactly in the right spot or else your hood will be dangerous (it could not latch properly and flip backwards while driving, blocking your view, and potentially  injuring you and damaging the car at the same time!).  If mis-aligned, it can also cause bowing and un-due stress on the hood and latch.  If needed, Drill Pilot holes in the new hood for the hinges.  Again, make sure the holes are in the correct location if you must drill them yourself.  Attach hood to hinges  Use the hood prop and/or a friend to help hold and line up the hood.  Re-attach the hinge bolts.   Carefully lower the hood and make a quick visual check that it will not hit anything in the engine compartment, and that the latch is properly engaged.  If installing hood pins, find a suitable mounting point on the frame of the car.  Drill pilot holes for mounting the pins, and install pins with supplied hardware.  Carefully lower the hood and mark where you need to drill holes for the hood-pin pass-through.   Carefully drill the holes, and place the anti-scuff protector washers on the hood surface.  (they're usually self-adhesive).  Lower the hood through the pins and latch hood in place.  Install  hood pin retainer clips.     * Steps for re-installing OEM Washer Nozzles:  Remove washer nozzles carefully from the Original hood, or acquire new washer nozzles (OEM or Aftermarket).  Option 1: On the hood (Original Placement) Carefully mark and drill new holes in the new hood for the nozzles.  Place the nozzles on the new hood  Attach mounting hardware to hold nozzles in place.  Re-attach washer fluid hoses.  Continue with hood mounting.   Option 2: Under the hood  Place nozzles under the hood at a location where they can spray the windshileld.  Mount with custom hardware or drill holes in the plastic vent dam in front of windshileld.  Attach Washer Fluid Hoses.  Continue with hood mounting.  

No comments: