Seibon CF Hood/Aerocatch Latch Install

sandersd

After the hood was painted I attached the seal with the provided pins. BTW I purchased an OEM replacement for the seal and the washers. I left the originals attached to the factory hood in case I ever wanted to sell or reinstall it.

Here is where the Seibon hood provided for the attachment of the washer hose clips:
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Here are the washer hose clips:
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The clips are designed to fit into a square hole. Unfortunately I couldn't find my square drill bit and Home Depot was out so I had to find another way to attach them. After scheming for a couple of weeks on how to cleanly install the clips and coming up with nothing that satisfied my standards of excellence, I just happened to find a package of adhesive wire tie clips on my workbench. The bells started ringing and the lights started flashing and I realized it was the perfect way to attach the clips.

I'll add a pic tomorrow for clarity.

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2014 370Z NISMO -- HKS Hi-Power Exhaust -- Swift Springs -- BC ER Coilovers -- SPL Suspension Components -- Nismo R-Tune Intake -- Seibon BD CF Hood

sandersd

The washers were designed to snap into a square hole in the OEM 22ga sheetmetal hood but the cf of the Seibon was necessarily much thicker. The latches would not engage properly to hold the washers securely in place and they would fall out with a gentle nudge.

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So I fabbed a set of plates from 22ga sheetmetal purchased from Tractor Supply. I cut them out with a grinder, used a drill and Dremel for the square openings and did the final fit with a file. There is not much room from too tight to it falls right out so make the hole a little small and file it up to size, checking often. I had to toss one and remake it. Then I painted it with self-etching primer and several coats of enamel.

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After carefully locating and drilling the holes I used a pop rivet gun to install the plates. Make sure the angle the plates are installed at matches the angle the OEM hood uses or the washers will not spray in the right spot. I had to redrill to adjust the driver side to the proper angle.
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__________________
2014 370Z NISMO -- HKS Hi-Power Exhaust -- Swift Springs -- BC ER Coilovers -- SPL Suspension Components -- Nismo R-Tune Intake -- Seibon BD CF Hood

sandersd

Before paint for those that prefer the all CF look:

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After paint for the custom look:

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__________________
2014 370Z NISMO -- HKS Hi-Power Exhaust -- Swift Springs -- BC ER Coilovers -- SPL Suspension Components -- Nismo R-Tune Intake -- Seibon BD CF Hood

sandersd

Added a set of Z1 hood struts. No worries about over stressing and cracking the CF because they don't attach to the CF - they attach to the metal bracket the hood attaches to and the body panel.

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__________________
2014 370Z NISMO -- HKS Hi-Power Exhaust -- Swift Springs -- BC ER Coilovers -- SPL Suspension Components -- Nismo R-Tune Intake -- Seibon BD CF Hood