I used to always lose hood pins and lugnuts when I worked on a oval-track team. I started keeping extras in my pocket, just in case.
Photography by David S. Wallens, Paris Van Gorder (hood pin))
Don’t want to spend the 12 bucks for hood pins? As Wreck Racing showed at the $2000 Challenge, hood pins can be made for nearly free–assuming you have the tools, of course.
The pins themselves? Just two large bolts the team had around its shop.
Step 1: Remove the original bolt head and machine a new one by lathing a radius onto an end. Repeat on the other bolt.
Step 2: Drill two holes into each pin the size of the desired cotter pins.
Once pin fabrication was complete, the team drilled holes into the chassis and threaded the bolts in, using two nuts to clamp the new hood pins in place.
To tie everything together, they designed small discs in Fusion 360–a 3D modeling software–and used a waterjet to cut them out. Don’t have a 3D software or waterjet? A cardboard template and tin snips will work just the same.
What were the discs made of? Filing cabinet.
[Tech Tip: Find the perfect sheet metal from an unlikely source]
A few rivets later, and the pins had some extra protection.
The final result? Fully functional and adjustable hood pins. Total cost? Free.
I used to always lose hood pins and lugnuts when I worked on a oval-track team. I started keeping extras in my pocket, just in case.
For those that don't have the fasteners at home, many Rural King, Farm and Fleet, etc. type stores have by the lb fasteners. Grade 2 is the cheapest and beyond adequate for this purpose. I'll copy what I wrote about this when I made these for the LMP360. Fender washers can be used for the reinforcement plates and are also typically available bulk.
McMaster sells 25 giant spring clips for $8.86 for 25 of them (Which reminds me, does anyone need 21 springclips?). Bulk “Grade 2” bolts are 1.79/lb. For 4 of them I needed 1.5 lbs including the nuts and 2” diameter “fender” washers that will get riveted or spot welded to the body. I cut the head off the long bolts leaving just the ½” shaft. Using the file and the lathe I carefully rounded off the top. To drill the cross pin hole I filed a small flat on the bolt shaft for the center punch to sit on and the drill to center to. Without this it’s nearly impossible to get the hole in the center. Once your done with that you have a 4” long hood pin for $0.77 each.
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