Small custom hood latch options

[joeelutz]

What are you guys using for a small hood latches when the radiator to header panel is enclosed and you want to kindof hide the latch. The stock one is too bulky. I've been thinking about using the Legens Hi-Tech but haven't seen any reviews of it and I can't realy tell how big the mechanism is. http://www.legenshotrod.com/products/universal-latch.html
I don't want to use hood pins of any type on this project.
Is there a factory hood latch that would be better? I appreciate any ideas or info.

[raustinss]

Someone one here is using mid 80s vw jetta or golf hood latch assembly....I believe that mark steilow aslo used them on the mule...check them out..they appear to be gold cadmium plated and oval shaped. Best of luck. Ryan

[HotRod47]

Legens does make hi quality stuff. I used their trunk lift system on my 47 Ford coupe. It worked perfect.

[C6Z06]

Screamin Performance makes a nice turnkey hood latch assy. for first gen. F bodies similar to the set up Stielow has used on some of his cars. I did a little research and confirmed it looks like they were using latches similar to those used on the 1990 Jetta.
I also found that the latches made for the old Volkswagen Thing are still available new. Those are a very similar design but looked a little heavier duty to me.

There are pics and part numbers on what I found on page 5 of my thread in the project updates forum on this site. The title of the thread is LSA Powered 69 Camaro Lou's Change.

Hope this helps.

[Richio1]

Here is the set up I am planning to use. They were used on 944s. I got it on eBay for $30 and am using the Lokar hood Cable. I have about $100 into the set up. The Screaming Perf. set is nice but I didn't want to spend $500 and I don't like the big hook.

At SEMA this year I saw a couple first gens that were using BMW dual pin set ups. I thought of that too ans liked the fact that there were 2 connection point, one at each corner, but thought it would be more difficult to align.

On the Porsche set up I like the size of the hook and the release.

If I am not mistaken it is the same set up the Steilow used on Meyham.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

This is the VW set up. Both the Porsche and VW latches use the same base receiver.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

This the the underside

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[C6Z06]

Here's an excerpt from the Lou's Change build thread that has more info on these kind of hood latches.

Hope this helps make your research easier.

....With all that cooling packaging in the vacinity of the core support we decided that a hood latch assembly similar to the one Stielow used in Charlie's JackAss was in order.
The arrangement they used is cable accuated which also offers a little more secure access to the engine compartment.
It also just looks cool.

Here is the hood latch in JackAss. Like the rest of the engine bay, it's a very clean solution:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/08/DSC_2348-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/08/Detroit20Autorama2020082014520Small-1.jpg

When we started our research on where to buy parts to do something similar, we first figured out the latch/lock pieces were similar to those used in some mid 80s-early 90s era Volkswagens.

For instance, here is a Lower hood latch for a 1990 Volkswagen Jetta:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/08/191823509-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/08/191823509Pic2-1.jpg

Here is the Upper hood latch for the same car:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/08/191823507Pic2-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/08/191823507-1.jpg

For these pieces, it appears there are genuine Volkswagen parts and then there are cheap imitations. Even on the genuine VW parts, we were a little hesitant relative to the safety catch design which looks pretty light weight.

Next we found a very nice, turn key solution already customized to drop right into first gens. The kit is made by Screamin' Performance. Here are some pics from their web site:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/08/676920camaro20hood20latch20assy2-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/08/IMG_6746-1.jpg

Not only did Screamin' Performance engineer a total drop in solution, it looks like they also beefed up the safety catch and some other aspects of the latches.

Since we are planning to custom build the covers in and around the core support anyway, we decided to just buy the beefiest latch components we could find of similar construction.

That led us to the hood latches that were used on the Volkswagen Thing back in the 70's. I know, most of you are probably too young to rememeber that vehicle....

These are the pieces we ended up with because they are very similar but considerably stronger. For instance, note how the safety catch is a U shaped, wide claw design vs. a single metal thickness design. The easier to access opening lever/tab is also a nice upgrade.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/08/IMG_3312-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/08/IMG_3311-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/08/IMG_3310-1.jpg

In case you decide to go this route one day, the part numbers are as follows:
Upper latch: VW 175 823 507
Lower latch: VW 411 823 509
They are still available through sites who sell parts to restore the old VW Things.

For a cable, we ordered this Lokar part number XTR1200U

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/09/625XHR1100U-1.jpg

[joeelutz]

Hey thanks for all the info. The VW and Porsche latches look pretty good. I'm just not digging the look of the saftey hook part. The Legens Hi-Tech looks real good on the receiver end (just a small hole), but I don't know that it has any saftey latch.

NapaZ28, I was looking at the 56 Sunliner that won the '11 Riddler while at SEMA and noticed that it also has dual pin latches. Maybe that's the BMW setup?? Anyone have any info on the BMW dual latch system like what year/model it came on?

[joeelutz]

C6Z06, Thanks for the info, pics and part #'s. That is a good looking setup!

[dontlifttoshift]

The Walking Thread.....




At SEMA this year I saw a couple first gens that were using BMW dual pin set ups. I thought of that too ans liked the fact that there were 2 connection point, one at each corner, but thought it would be more difficult to align.

Does anyone have anymore information regarding a dual pin type hood latch? I have a pair of aerocatches but they just do not mount any where that makes sense visually or structurally on my early mustang. Right now I am looking at the Mercedes E320 latch from about 2000.

Here is the latch that would mount to the core support pn 210-880-09-60
118463

Here is the striker part. pn 210-880-10-60

118464

The stuff is relatively cheap and pretty small. It's german engineered so <sarcasm font> it should be bullet proof <sarcasm font> but access to these would be pretty good if I had a cable failure and it wouldn't be hard to build in redundancy if I wanted. Cable would route outside of the engine compartment so it should still work if I'm on fire.

One of each would go in each corner, in front of the core support, right where the factory adjustable hood bumpers mount. Sounds awesome, right?

[dontlifttoshift]

Went to the pick and pull yesterday.....there were no mercedes hood latches left on any of the models I was looking at. I took that as a sign that maybe that wasn't the best set up to use. Also, the merc uses a spring on the secondary latch in the middle to pop the hood.

So I looked at the other bavarian cars and the E36 bmws had a neat arrangement. Two latches, two pins, and two springs. Their secondary latch looked to be adaptable so I grabbed a couple of those as well. The goggle says that most of problems with these are corrosion, steel housing with plastic guts, and the cable likes to break at the inside handle. I will likely run two left side latches and two separate cables inside the car so I can make all adjustments inside the car and eliminate the intermediate cable between the two latches.

If you don't hear back, it didn't work. :)

There was a SAAB latch system that was similar to the BMW, but parts availability was a concern so I left those there.

[BuzzKillian]

Went to the pick and pull yesterday.....there were no mercedes hood latches left on any of the models I was looking at. I took that as a sign that maybe that wasn't the best set up to use.

OR... maybe it is SO popular they have already been scavenged.

I like the looks of what you posted, anyway, you got the wheels in my brain turning.

[Coursey]

The Walking Thread.....



Does anyone have anymore information regarding a dual pin type hood latch? I have a pair of aerocatches but they just do not mount any where that makes sense visually or structurally on my early mustang. Right now I am looking at the Mercedes E320 latch from about 2000.

Here is the latch that would mount to the core support pn 210-880-09-60
118463

Here is the striker part. pn 210-880-10-60

118464

The stuff is relatively cheap and pretty small. It's german engineered so <sarcasm font> it should be bullet proof <sarcasm font> but access to these would be pretty good if I had a cable failure and it wouldn't be hard to build in redundancy if I wanted. Cable would route outside of the engine compartment so it should still work if I'm on fire.

One of each would go in each corner, in front of the core support, right where the factory adjustable hood bumpers mount. Sounds awesome, right?


Old tread i know!. How did these work out for you? I am doing a tilting would bed on a c10 build. Wondering if these have enough spring pressure to pop the floor up enough to get fingers under it? Or, does it need extra springs to assist?

[dontlifttoshift]

Have done BMW latches in other cars and they work well.

You will need a different, much stiffer spring to pop the floor for sure. I would consider that to be a separate mechanism from the latch and design accordingly.

[Coursey]

https://watsons-streetworks.com/product/trunk-lid-latch/

Ran across this one too. Asking watsons about spring stiffness, etc.

[slimjim]

A few people use the old vw style but I found it very weak and poor spring strength, porsche 924 had a better version but it’s hard to find and ofcourse more expensive

[TonyHuntimer]

Here's another hood latch solution ;)

https://www.quik-latch.com/QL-38-Series-Hood-Pins.html

Regards,
Tony Huntimer

[IMPALAMAN1]

for those that have done the VW latch how deep does it sit below the mounting plate? trying to fit above the intercooler and the factory hood latch bracket. any info would be appreciated.

[Rooster67]

I have been fitting the VW latch and you can mount it pretty high. I have this one set as high as possible while still being able to thread bolts in. 219661219662
it seems like you can still get new Porsche latches, they are not a cheap solution at $200.

[Ssgabe12]

I have been fitting the VW latch and you can mount it pretty high. I have this one set as high as possible while still being able to thread bolts in. 219661219662
it seems like you can still get new Porsche latches, they are not a cheap solution at $200.

what guage sheet metal are you using? are the Porsche latches really that much better to go with? we might need to make one for a camaro as we cant get ahold of screaming performance to order one.