Hood prop rod question

[davids2toys]

My car is 17 years old. Has unique updated the prop rod since then? Mine is just a rod end that sticks in a little hole in the hood. There is no safety catch, pin, or anything to keep it secure, especially in the wind. The wind has blown this hood off this rod a couple of time and I am sick of sweating this at car shows that have a windy days. I have seen a few other brands of Cobras have different style rods on their cars that have locking features. What is Unique using these days and is it compatible with what I have now?
Thanks...Dave

[Naumoff]

Not where I can get to my pictures but I did what others have done and put a stainless screw adjacent to the prop hole and used a 1 inch rubber o ring with a small o ring to synch it down on the rod and then hook it over the screw. Simple and it works.

[davids2toys]

Not where I can get to my pictures but I did what others have done and put a stainless screw adjacent to the prop hole and used a 1 inch rubber o ring with a small o ring to synch it down on the rod and then hook it over the screw. Simple and it works.

Interesting, cant really picture it though! How do you get the o rings to hook into each other? I can't imagine how this would look. Does anybody have a pic?

[weaver]

Here are a couple pics of my car, seems to work fine on a windy day.

[Naumoff]

That's it.

[davids2toys]

Oh, I see, picture is worth a thousand words!
a few questions:

Is that a fancy kind of thumbscrew?
Any special procedure or fastener for going into the fiberglass?
Do you leave the O rings attached to the prop rod when not in use or is it something you just carry in the car for a windy day?
Thanks...Dave

[scottysheppard]

I'm also interested in where the thumb screw came from. I'm having the same problem with the wind.

[weaver]

Home Depot, you can find it in the nut and bolt area and it comes with a push in retainer.

[davids2toys]

Home Depot, you can find it in the nut and bolt area and it comes with a push in retainer.

That is where I was, I scoured that aisle, nothing like that at all. I picked up some stainless theft proof license plate fasteners at Advance Auto, but I like yours much better, looks more finished!
Are the threads on yours 1/4", or are they smaller? I know I asked this a couple of posts ago, but do you leave the O rings attached to the prop rod when not in use or is it something you just carry in the car for a windy day?
Thanks...Dave

[weaver]

I leave them attached, you may need to replace them over time because of engine heat. I think the screws are used with screen doors.

[davids2toys]

I leave them attached, you may need to replace them over time because of engine heat. I think the screws are used with screen doors.

Screen doors, I thought they looked kind of familiar! LOL
You also mention a retainer, I am assuming so it does not pull out of the fiberglass? Similar to screwing into sheet rock, correct? If I find something decent but without a retainer could I put something on the threads to keep it in the fiberglass?
The guy at Advance said a wood screw type thread should be good to hold in fiberglass.
I found some real nice ones online but you had to buy bulk for crazy money. they were SS or aluminum choice, built in shoulder, knurled head...they also came with some nylon material as part of the threads to keep it locked in. They were 10-32 or 1/4 -20...would these type of threads be OK in fiberglass?
Dave

[beast]

Same problem. Mine even blew down with the o-ring attached. Here's the fix that worked for me.
I fabricated a clip out of thin stainless-steel. Mount with the same #10 stainless screw and hole, previously used for the o-ring. Make a spacer slightly thicker than the thickness of the clip, which allows the mounting screw to be tightened snuggly and free movement of the clip. I drilled out the I.D. of a piece of 1/4" tubing for the #10 screw, then cut to length (thickness). Note the notch on each side of the clip opening for clearance by the hood rod support flange.
Hope this helps. Gary

[davids2toys]

Same problem. Mine even blew down with the o-ring attached. Here's the fix that worked for me.
I fabricated a clip out of thin stainless-steel. Mount with the same #10 stainless screw and hole, previously used for the o-ring. Make a spacer slightly thicker than the thickness of the clip, which allows the mounting screw to be tightened snuggly and free movement of the clip. I drilled out the I.D. of a piece of 1/4" tubing for the #10 screw, then cut to length (thickness). Note the notch on each side of the clip opening for clearance by the hood rod support flange.
Hope this helps. Gary

Very interesting idea!!!
How thick did you make the SS clip?
Do you just leave this attached all the time? It would think with the spacer there you could not snug it up and will always be flopping around.
So, what kind of # 10 fastener did you use? I am still going back and forth between a wood or sheet metal screw type thread or tapping the hole for a machine screw and using removable strength locktite???

Thanks...Dave

[beast]

The stainless material is about .075" thick. It's permanent and doesn't flop around. Make the spacer so that there is a little resistance when the screw is tight. I used a #10 stainless sheet metal screw.
Gary

[davids2toys]

The stainless material is about .075" thick. It's permanent and doesn't flop around. Make the spacer so that there is a little resistance when the screw is tight. I used a #10 stainless sheet metal screw.
Gary

Great! Tell me this, this clip does move back and forth to lock and unlock the prop rod from the hood?...any marring of the paint?

[beast]

No marring to date. Add a flat washer between hood and clip if concerned.
Gary

[weaver]

Gary, are you going to Panama City next month?

[beast]

No Plans at this time. I'll let you know if I'm going.
You missed a GREAT week at Cruisin-the-Coast this year. 4,854 registered cars and AWESOME weather. Several out of town Unique owners made it (Ronnie Tucker, Kent Berry, and Al Slide). Paul (Slither), Jim (Diegokid), and me are local.
Gary

[davids2toys]

No marring to date. Add a flat washer between hood and clip if concerned.
Gary

Thanks
Whatever I do to correct the falling hood problem I will post when complete. Another winter job!

[Slither]

No Plans at this time. I'll let you know if I'm going.
You missed a GREAT week at Cruisin-the-Coast this year. 4,854 registered cars and AWESOME weather. Several out of town Unique owners made it (Ronnie Tucker, Kent Berry, and Al Slide). Paul (Slither), Jim (Diegokid), and me are local.
Gary

I saw Charlie, the welder at Unique, down here with his Volks out in front of my place on Saturday early afternoon. Tried to flag him down, but I guess he had to go somewhere...