Just installed stainless hood and windshield latches that are sold by all the major outlets. After putting these on, I have to say I don't really like'em. For one thing the fit isn't so great. The hood latch catches more tightly than factory. It puts more tension on the apron. The windshield latch, on the other hand, is too loose, and requires adding a E-clip to fix the slackness. Cosmetically, these looks a bit tacky to me. The original parts feel a lot bulkier and more solid. I think I'll paint the stock items and put'em back on instead.
Yes I sent my SS hood latches back to CCOT because they did not fit the curve of the hood properly. They wanted to charge me a 20% restocking fee for parts that simply do not fit right. After I "reminded" them of the $2K I have spent with them in the last 3 months they decided to relent and credit my CC for the full ammount. Amazing right???? On the other hand I am really interested in the hood blocks and hooks you are running as my '78 came with none, just the screws and bolts in the holes. What do you mean about needing an e-clip???? to make them fit right?
Yes I sent my SS hood latches back to CCOT because they did not fit the curve of the hood properly. They wanted to charge me a 20% restocking fee for parts that simply do not fit right. After I "reminded" them of the $2K I have spent with them in the last 3 months they decided to relent and credit my CC for the full ammount. Amazing right???? On the other hand I am really interested in the hood blocks and hooks you are running as my '78 came with none, just the screws and bolts in the holes. What do you mean about needing an e-clip???? to make them fit right?
I actually got mine from Spector, but I think these are all made by the same manufacturer. The windshield latch requires the e-clip (see link in my original post) because the reach is longer than stock. As a result, it will not "grab" with any tension. The e-clip solution is very kludgy in my opinion. I don't know if it will hold up if you actually need to lower your windshield.
I hate the rust streaks you get from the original non-stainless ones and in my opinion you can't properly recondition them without hot-dipping and even then you'd still have the problem of the springs rusting inside..
I run the stainless versions complained of here and have been doing so for probably the last 7 years or more... They do take a lot more thumb pressure to unhook the hood latches I admit... But I reinforced the lips they hook onto (with thick stainless rod/wire) to combat wear problems there..
It's actually one purchase of aftermarket gear that I'm quite pleased with compared to OEM..
And my BJ40 is left permanently out in the weather so combating rust is a major issue for me..
And as you can see, I made some "pads" for the "rubber cushions" of the hood hooks to sit on to improve their stance (and again to eliminate rust streaks).
Lostmarbles, can you please show a shot of the "pads" for the "rubber cushions" without the hook rubber bumper in the way? Did you drill a hole and mount with stainless bolt? Thanks, Dan
Lostmarbles, can you please show a shot of the "pads" for the "rubber cushions" without the hook rubber bumper in the way? Did you drill a hole and mount with stainless bolt? Thanks, Dan
Locktite 480 (which well-and-truly bites into paint)
And before that, I made them up by glueing a thick disk of black plastic to a same-size disk of stainless sheetmetal (both of which I made up myself). (And using the same glue.)
Sorry - No other pics right now... I'll take one more and edit it in when I get the spare time
But they have held up without issue and are successful in both making the hooks sit better, and in preventing the paint-wear that would otherwise form there (to produce streaks of rust that tend to flow down the apron panels ... when you live in a wet climate like I do using OEM ordinary-steel hooks).
I do like the looks of the stainless and it appears Blue77 has a nice solution for the window latches. Blue are you using the Toyota blocks to hook them into??
I do like the looks of the stainless and it appears Blue77 has a nice solution for the window latches. Blue are you using the Toyota blocks to hook them into??
I have a '77. There are no blocks on the hood, only metal brackets to hook to - I'm presuming that you're referring to the windshield hooks on the hood? Either way, I had to cut thick washers out of longer nylon spacers, then cut a slice on one end and place them as shown. The thick washers were needed on both the windshield and the hood hooks.
If you search, you'll find the thread where I originally posted this pic that covers stainless hood hooks in greater detail.
The stainless ones are great for the external look and anti - corrosion--the internal springs are NOT stainless, so you need to remember to oil them up frequently
