Not a fan of hood pins...

[1.8LofAWESOME!]

Due to a large dent in my hood, I'm in the market for either a replacement OEM hood or an aftermarket one. Due to the newness of the Sonic, my only option aftermarket is the SEIBON CF hood. I'd be going with the OEM look, but the website says that hood pins are required.

Are there any other options out there that do not require hood pins? I really don't like that look.

 

[laborsmith]

I use the vented Seibon CF hood and do not use hood pins, which pins are setting on my side table as I write. If I did not have the vent I would use the pins as the hood weighs about half what the oem weighs. My perception is that the vent keeps pressure from building up under the hood.

Laborsmith

 

[Eric Smit]

And Laborsmith has been driving around with that hood for a good ten months, IIRC. the OEM style needs them, vented doesn't.


-Eric Smit

 

[corbetts67]

what he said^

 

[1.8LofAWESOME!]

I appreciate the quick responses. I guess I'll either have to hold out for some other options or deal with hood pins if I go this route. That off-center look just isn't for me.

 

[Preloader]

Hood pins are A MUST on CF shell hoods. The seibon CF hoods have fully reinforced fiberglass undergirding. Unless you plan to take yours to Bonneville, I highly doubt that pins will be necessary.

 

[Tommyboy4725]

I do not use hood pins on my seibon hood... Mine is not the vented one

 

[ol_blue]

theres always a what if with carbon hoods, even if they come with an under skeleton they still have a chance of seperating and flying up while driving. never the less my suggestion if you do hood pins is a nice set of aerocatch ones > Aerocatch panel fixing

They are a bit of work to put in but dont look cheap when installed

 

[american_tuner]

Ive had a cf hood come up on me when i was on the interstate before. So yes, i highly recommend them. I will when i get mine

 

[007CobaltLS]

Oh, getting more and more interested in CF...looking at the spoiler, hatchback, and hood....would definitely get a set of Aerocatch locking pins to go with it.

My biggest question is how does the CF handle the cold in the winter? Do I have to worry about anything? I'm thinking the Cobalt will remain the winter car, and the Sonic will be summer only because the stock ride height will scrape the air dam on my driveway, if I go coilovers, I'm screwed, so I'm definitely thinking it will be pretty much summer only.

But now I'm thinking Summit White rather than Jet Black or CGM...the CF contrast on white is SO nice. Then I think my Illusion Purple with flat clear wheels would work perfectly. I've got one BIG ASS list of to do's when I get the damn car...the question is do I use the money I'm putting away for fun or for a down payment? Either way, I will be getting a 5 or 6 year loan and will probably have it paid in less than 4 like I did the Cobalt.

 

[Preloader]

Purple rims on a white hatch = bad-assery

 

[Eric Smit]

obviously keep the money for fun. ;P


-Eric Smit

 

[laborsmith]

CF in winter? My CF hood went on February 2 (off topic, but the birthday of Irish novelist James Joyce) so I had some winter experience and as far as I can tell I had no problem. I do try to Turtle Wax Ice the hood often, at least twice as often as I do the whole car, but doubt that has any effect on how the hood handles winter. How it handles the sun perhaps but not the cold of winter.

Laborsmith

 

[american_tuner]

Oh, getting more and more interested in CF...looking at the spoiler, hatchback, and hood....would definitely get a set of Aerocatch locking pins to go with it.

My biggest question is how does the CF handle the cold in the winter? Do I have to worry about anything? I'm thinking the Cobalt will remain the winter car, and the Sonic will be summer only because the stock ride height will scrape the air dam on my driveway, if I go coilovers, I'm screwed, so I'm definitely thinking it will be pretty much summer only.

But now I'm thinking Summit White rather than Jet Black or CGM...the CF contrast on white is SO nice. Then I think my Illusion Purple with flat clear wheels would work perfectly. I've got one BIG ASS list of to do's when I get the damn car...the question is do I use the money I'm putting away for fun or for a down payment? Either way, I will be getting a 5 or 6 year loan and will probably have it paid in less than 4 like I did the Cobalt.

If you have a white or black car, color wheels look sick as hell. Thats why i am even thinking about going with a color set as well. It dont matter what kind of weather it is just take care of cf as laborsmith stated. Especially in the summer time. Ive seen hoods peel and turn yellowish because of lack of care but that usually takes over time.

 

[MartyH]

Due to a large dent in my hood, I'm in the market for either a replacement OEM hood or an aftermarket one. Due to the newness of the Sonic, my only option aftermarket is the SEIBON CF hood. I'd be going with the OEM look, but the website says that hood pins are required.

Are there any other options out there that do not require hood pins? I really don't like that look.

I'd get a stock hood and use stock hardware.

 

[$ub$onic]

I'll give u my stock of u give me a cf one

 

[laborsmith]

The Seibon CF hood comes with latch hardware, but we did need shorter bolts to attach. I informed Seibon back then, do not know if they made a change.

You do have to use the oem windshield washer apparatus, and do some carving under the hood to have room to install. There are a few other pieces you will need to transfer but they are all plain to see/figure out.

Laborsmith

 

[american_tuner]

The Seibon CF hood comes with latch hardware, but we did need shorter bolts to attach. I informed Seibon back then, do not know if they made a change.

You do have to use the oem windshield washer apparatus, and do some carving under the hood to have room to install. There are a few other pieces you will need to transfer but they are all plain to see/figure out.

Laborsmith

How much shorter do.tge bolts need to.be?

 

[Preloader]

I believe I took one of the bolts that came on the Seibon to the hardware store and bought 4 of them a quarter inch shorter and 4 of them a half inch shorter. Also bought 4 washers.

I don't remember which length was the correct choice, but one of the two lengths was just right.

 

[007CobaltLS]

Only thing I would not be thrilled about is cutting the hood for the washer nozzles...

Otherwise, is putting the hood on and adjusting it pretty simple? Never dealt with aftermarket body parts before...anything else that needs to be done to the hood before install?