Question about hood pins

[John S]

I'm installing a new Harwood glass Pro-Touring style hood on my Monte. Since the tin work that was done in my engine bay I no longer have the OEM center hood latch on my car. I recieved a set of locking hood pins from the Hoodpin vendor here and in the paperwork it states not to be used without a center latch.
Is this just a liability clause or is there really an issue with using the hood pins alone to hold down the hood?
I'd really hate to put the OEM hardware back on the car.

[Roberts68]

Could be liability, or perhaps they are worried about folks getting "bubble hood" at speed if the air gets under there without an attachment in the center.

I've seen it at dragstrips, I remember an early 80's Malibu quite well that seemed to have a voluntary hoodscoop that opened up at the hood/valance junction at about 50+ mph and grew to about a 2-3" gap in the center. He had hood pins on 4 corners, ala lift off style. Had to be a freaky view from behind the wheel while going down the 1320.

[NOT A TA]

I had 74 Camaro bracket car that the the hood had ballooned up on before I bought it. It had a glass hood/pins and no center latch when it ballooned. Cracked the gel coat and paint, ruined the hood. Dzus fasteners had to be installed.

[John S]

Not sounding too good for just the hood pins, maybe a couple of Dzus fasteners i the center of the hood will suffice.

[absintheisfun]

Weird...I bought an OER Baldwin repro fiberglass hood, but it has hood pin score marks underneath. It even says hood pins recommended on the product page. I guess that different manufacturers have different processes.

[Bryce]

I have a fiberglass hood and I mounted my hood pins in the center. Works just fine.