Hood pin (yes another)

Not only can they be picked easily, but if somebody is going to go to the trouble to bring tools with them and steal parts off your car, they can bring a key for the hood pins too, as they are fairly common. Also, the locking style ones (the cheap kind anyways) are not sufficient to hold a hood shut and still require you to use your factory latch, which to me really defeats the purpose of hood pins. They can also be difficult to get to engage properly, due to the poor tolerances one would expect from $20 pins.
I drive with hood pins on mine, because I don't trust the latch, and I don't like scalping myself on it while working in the engine bay. The way I see it is you have two options. Buy cheap non locking hood pins that will hold your hood down, or pony up the money for quality locking ones. Cheap "locking" hood pins are just asking for trouble.

I would suggest something like this-

 

I guess that's true. Didn't think about it that way. Maybe in a month or so ill get a good pair. Still have to question of where to mount the locking style?

 

Edited above for pin suggestion.

Where to mount them will depend entirely upon the style you buy. Once you get them its not too hard to figure out. The hardest part is drilling the holes, and even thats pretty easy.
1-Ensure the hood is properly aligned
2-Install the pins slightly tall and put grease/toothpaste/chrome polish etc on the tops
3-Gently allow the hood to rest on the pins and you will have a transfer mark
4-Drill a small (1/8") hole from the bottom of the hood through the transfer mark
5-Close hood again and check alignment by looking through your pilot holes
6-Put masking tape on top of the holes and step up one bit size at a time to the appropriate size. The masking tape is to help prevent the paint from chipping. Warm weather, or a heat gun helps as well.
7-Set the scuff plates over the pins and mark the holes for the screws. Drill these undersized and install with small machine screws. Due to the multiple layers here this is the best option as opposed to putting machine bolts through with nuts on the back side.

 

You initially stated that you wanted to protect your parts, I guess if you want to install a $10 lock to protect it that is your perogitive.
Kind of like buying a helmet. Buy a $10 helmet for a $10 head or invest some money to protect what is important.

 

Have you used those latch style locks on your mac? Curious to see how they look

 

Those are by AeroCatch by the way, lost the text when I posted the image.

 

These are the same ones I purchased out of England

 

Do you have photos of them installed

 

yeah.. I'd like to see some pic's of those particular latches installed too.

Seems to me that's a flush mount style latch(mounts from underneath).. and the slight curvature in that area of the hood.. not to mention any bracing underneath.. may not allow such a design to be easily implemented on these cars.

Even if you got it in place.. there'd be two damned big holes in your hood from there on out.. and a not so complementary looking flat spot.

If it had some slight rise/bow over its length to better match the contour of the hood.. it'd be pretty nice and I'd even contemplate using one on a glass hood.

As for location for these types of devices.. most are located on the top corner of the radiator saddle. Or custom brackets spanning the radiator support to inner fender will allow more latitude for pin location.

 

Not yet. My plan is to install them at the rear of my both front fenders to secure my tilt front end to the cowl. I don't have my front end sheet metal finished yet.

Here is the link for the Aerocatch

http://www.aerocatch.com/

 

A very inexpensive way to protect your underhood stuff is a piece of chain, bolted to the underside of the hood, that locks to the radiator support. Leave enough slack so that you can open the hood a bit and unlock the padlock.

No holes drilled through the hood, nothing rusting on the outside of the car a couple years from now.... If you are buying cheap hardware, it won't look good for long.

 

I have the Key locking hood pins on my 75. i installed the pins into the holes that the rubber stops where in, im going to relocate the rubber stops or make some rubber rings to go over the lock pin,s. Not sure witch way im going yet. i cant show you a pic, I just finished paint and clear coat Sunday and i have to do some buffing and polishing before i put the chrome back on. ( clear coat did not lay down very smooth in a couple of spots).
Now IMHO put what ever you want on you car, weather its a $15 or $150 lock, you only put these on your car for 3 reasons #1 you like the way they look #2 to keep honest people honest #3 Safety. if a thief wants whats under your hood, a thief is going to take it no mater whats trying to stop them. not trying to step on any toes. Like my dad always said "everyone has A** holes and opinions and both usually stink"

 

Do you have some close ups of how you installed them?

 

No, but i will try to take some today after work