here's some tips for race only cars. if your car still has the 40 year old hood & trunk latches & they haven't failed yet--they will. for race only--don't even take the chance. remove the latches & use hood pins. i do suggest retaining the safety catch--i've seen hoods blow up goin down the track, because somebody forgot 2 put the retaining clips back thru the pins. you can buy all sorts of hood pin kits. i prefer 2 use lanyard wires so that i'll know where the clips are when i need em. you can buy kits with the lanyard wires or without. i prefer 2 make my own lanyards. you can go 2 the hardware sec of wal-mart & buy the covered wire, then cut it the exact length you want. the soft plastic like covering will be easy on your paint job. you can use elec wire type ring terminal ends with the correct hole size you need, 2 connect each end. i use wal-mart metal key rings 2 attach the hairpin style(my choice) retainer clips. small bolts will secure the other end 2 the top of the radiator support. when you drop em, they'll fall down over the bumper & be rite there at the end of the wire when you need em. lots of guys like 2 make their own parts when possible--some for $ reasons--some just enjoy it. hood pins are easy 2 make if you have the time. just cut the head off a proper size & length bolt & drill a hole in the top for the retainer clip. most dirt trackers make their own. but if you want the nice shiney chrome 1's, you'll have 2 buy--but they're cheap. 2 secure a snug, rattle & flop free fit, you'll need 2 put something over the pin 2 hold the hood or trunk lid up 2 the correct height. i used old valve springs with the steel hoods. for glass boods & lids, you'll want something a little lighter. you can buy light springs or do what most do--just cut off a length of rubber hose & slip it over the pin. you can use large fender washers if needed, 2 shim for proper fit. i like 2 use a similiar setup on the trunk lid. notice on the bird pics--somebody else had rigged these lanyards--i attach the ends 2 the top of the radiator support, so that the lanyards will help you lift the hood enuff 2 get your hands under it--the lid has lite hinges on the outside, but i had'nt got around 2 riggin the lanyard wires yet. if you want 2 remove every bit of weight possible, you can remove the stock hinges, springs, lid bracing &/or buy a glass lid if you have the $. all this may seem like far 2 much detail 2 some--especially if your an old hand & have done this a lot allready. but i can tell by some of the posts that there are several guys tuned in who are just gettin started & don't know all these details. so if i can help 1 guy with one small detail, it'll be worth the time & trouble 2 me. i sure wish i'd had somebody 2 tell me all this stuff when i was just startin out! would'a saved me lots of time, problems, $ , disappointing results & dumb, stupid mistakes!
