modifying hood latch for gt4 hood, Is there a how to somewhere I can't find? Options

[97lestyousay]

I would like to get a LHD gt4 but like the oem riserblocks
I want, it takes months to get. I am going to purchase another
stock latch and modify it for now. Any pics / help would be
great.

[supradog1]

x2!!! how is this mod done???

[97lestyousay]

I have read to extend the hook, but that is just the safety catch
mine doesn't latch on the regular at all, meaning I don't have to pull the
release inside to open it. Once the bumper is on I will have no way to
unlatch at all. I thought about slotting the mounting holes to extend the
whole thing upward but I don't want to ruin the only latch I have.

[supradog1]

I have read to extend the hook, but that is just the safety catch
mine doesn't latch on the regular at all, meaning I don't have to pull the
release inside to open it. Once the bumper is on I will have no way to
unlatch at all. I thought about slotting the mounting holes to extend the
whole thing upward but I don't want to ruin the only latch I have.

which on dosent work???are you talkin abot the safty latch or the hood latch???
i thinke the safty latch is just to keep the hood from flyin back if it is not closed all the way...
and the mane latch (one thats pulled from the inside) is the one you must have, i think this is the one thay are saying you must mod for the gt4 hood to open properly... or maybe its the hook on the hood itself that you must mod for it to work properly??? what do you think???

[97lestyousay]

I read Lagos post in this thread. Mine is just hooking on the
safty latch. It can be opened from the outside, just extending the
hook on the safty latch doesn't help if it wont hook on the main latch.
I need to pull my bumper cover off to see what it is doing. When I
figure it out I'll write a how to article for it and if I have to fabricate
some kind of extension bracket, I'll make extras and a dimensioned
drawing so others can make it or buy one for a reasonable price.
I agree with Mannys statment, I have to much invested in this to
ruin it all because of a hood latch failure.
http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showto...47&hl=latch

[celicaST]

the main latch should work perfect. it works on mine. i was confused when i first put my hood on too because i thought the main latch wasnt working. i would pull it from inside and i wouldnt feel any resistance and nothing would happen. i took the bumper seal off and dropped the hood from bit higher than normal to close it. after i got it figured out it works fine. i can undo the saftey hook first and then pop the hood from inside or the other way around. its just the safety hook that needs to be extended and you only really need to do that after you put the gt4 bumper on.

[azian_advanced]

it seems like you're not using the main hood latch at all, and are only using the safety latch.. which is a big no-no. you may end up having your hood fly back and smash the windshield, damage the hood or cause an accident.
in order to use the main latch, simply adjust the rubber hood stoppers to a suitable level and push down hard on the hood to close.
however, the stock safety latch is too short for the hood that when you pull the hood release latch (from inside), your hood will barely open and you won't have enough room to slide your fingers in to unhook the safety latch, assuming you have the gt4 bumper on.

not only will you need to extend the hood latch about 3/4"-1", but you may want to modify the release handle for the safety hook about 1/2" higher than stock.



This post has been edited by azian_advanced: May 3, 2007 - 1:52 AM

[97lestyousay]

it seems like you're not using the main hood latch at all, and are only using the safety latch.. which is a big no-no. you may end up having your hood fly back and smash the windshield, damage the hood or cause an accident.
in order to use the main latch, simply adjust the rubber hood stoppers to a suitable level and push down hard on the hood to close.
however, the stock safety latch is too short for the hood that when you pull the hood release latch (from inside), your hood will barely open and you won't have enough room to slide your fingers in to unhook the safety latch, assuming you have the gt4 bumper on.

not only will you need to extend the hood latch about 3/4"-1", but you may want to modify the release handle for the safety hook about 1/2" higher than stock.

I haven't driven it except in my driveway, I'll play with it some more it won't
be going anywhere until I get it right. The hood isn't on the car as of yesterday
It is going in for paint soon.

[qatar11]

I actually have the latch from the GT4 the hood came on... the release cable is of course coming from the wrong direction but I McGyvered it with two boby pins, a paper clip and a match... other than that... you might want to go that route?

[Negative]

I actually have the latch from the GT4 the hood came on... the release cable is of course coming from the wrong direction but I McGyvered it with two boby pins, a paper clip and a match... other than that... you might want to go that route?

ROFLMFAO! Can I please get a picture of this setup? I gotta see this.

[supradog1]

it seems like you're not using the main hood latch at all, and are only using the safety latch.. which is a big no-no. you may end up having your hood fly back and smash the windshield, damage the hood or cause an accident.
in order to use the main latch, simply adjust the rubber hood stoppers to a suitable level and push down hard on the hood to close.
however, the stock safety latch is too short for the hood that when you pull the hood release latch (from inside), your hood will barely open and you won't have enough room to slide your fingers in to unhook the safety latch, assuming you have the gt4 bumper on.

not only will you need to extend the hood latch about 3/4"-1", but you may want to modify the release handle for the safety hook about 1/2" higher than stock.

i think i got what you are saying, but could you please still post piscs of yous latch and what you did to make it work???...

[presure2]

all you do is cut the latch, and add a 1/2 inch or so to it.
thats it.
or, buy the LHD GT-4 latch.

[97lestyousay]

The problem I was having was the main latch. I
adjusted my rubber stops down so I think it will work
fine. My hood is at the paint shop right now so I can't try it.
I didn't even know they were adjustable.

[lagos]

yeah, just extent the hook by a 1/2in or so. thats how ive had mine for years with no problems at all. you could also just order a lhd gt4 latch.

[stephen_lee]

where can we get the LHD GT4 hood latch??

[jjbenzo]

Ive been trying for the past year. I dont think we can....Ive tried Champion Toyota primarly. They cant get it.

[azian_advanced]

you'll more likely have to contact a dealer from a country that had LHD GT-Fours like France and Germany for example.. i doubt they'll ship anything overseas.

it's a lot cheaper to cut the latch and weld an extension to it..
but i took another route and just bypassed the whole safety latch thing

[808celica]

wait i'm confused. you have to mod what on the hood?? what doesnt catch and what does?????

[celicaST]

wait i'm confused. you have to mod what on the hood?? what doesnt catch and what does?????

the maing latch catches, the safety hook is very tight. normally when you pop the hood from inside the car, the hood pops up and you put your fingers in to disengage the safety latch. without extending the hook with the gt4 hood, its so tight the hood wont pop up. have several options. best is to extend the safety hook and youre set. or you can do it like azian and only use the main latch. that would work but i like the reassurance of the safety hook. i use my saftey hook but i havnt extended it. to open my hood i first "pop" the hood, and then to disengage the safety latch i remove my center grill to reach the lever (i also need to press down on my hood slightly). not the best, but it just shows that if need be you can use the gt4 hood without doing anything to the latch.

on a side note, if you only have the hood without the gt4 bumper, the gap with the oem bumper lets you get your finger in to disengage the safety latch.

[808celica]

OIC thanks for clearing it up.