6G Celicas Forums

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

> HOW TO: Extend your hood latch (without welding), An alternative for GT4 front end conversions
post Oct 3, 2010 - 1:18 PM
+Quote Post
Fate



Enthusiast
****
Joined Nov 30, '04
From Atlantic City
Currently Offline

Reputation: 21 (100%)




Converting your Celica to a GT4 clone? Worried that your GT4 hood doesn't close properly which could result in the destruction of your windshield, fenders, hood hinges, and the hood itself? Fear not, provided below is a "How To" for extending your hood latch (without welding, or guessing) so that you need not worry if the hood is properly shut.

Tools:
Ratchet
10mm Socket
Ratchet extension (not really)
Dremel + cutting attachment of your choosing
Punch
Hammer
Bench Vise
Properly sized bolt, 2 washers and a lock nut.

Parts:
RHD Celica GT4 hood latch
LHD Celica hood latch

Estimated Time of Completion:
15-30 minutes

Picture of RHD GT4 latch:
(Front)

(Back)


Now comparing it to the stock hood latch, it looks as if it will work perfect as is: The bolt holes match up and the safety hook itself looks the same. Unfortunately, this is not the case due to the hood latch cable itself mounting on the opposite side.


Time to start grinding; the area circled is what to focus on:







Now take your Punch and lightly tap it with a hammer to knock out the Bolt/Pin holding the latch in place.

Separated:
(Front)

(Back)


Grinding the LHD Celica hood latch:


Side by side difference: about 1" ( also proven in this thread started by nics: http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=71083 )



Now that the latch has been separated, you can now attach the GT4 latch directly to its US counterpart. Put the bolt through with a washer on each side, and then mount the lock nut as snug as possible before hindering the movement of the latch.

*I chose to drill out the hole to be a little bigger in order to fit a thicker bolt through it.

Finished Pictures:





Good luck to all and I hope this helps at least one person!

-Americo

This post has been edited by Fate: Oct 4, 2010 - 11:53 AM


--------------------
 
Start new topic
Replies
post Oct 3, 2010 - 4:45 PM
+Quote Post
diegohiga



Enthusiast
****
Joined May 4, '09
From coral springs florida US
Currently Offline

Reputation: 21 (100%)




woowwww awsome idea!!!!! im gonna start doing that right now!!!! laugh.gif thanks!

30 minutes after.....

alright just finished it!!! came out perfect thanks fate it was very easy! here are mi pics i used a drill instead though!

by the way... if you are going to use a drill be carefull!!! dont hold the latch with your hand while drilling, because the drill can get stuck on the latch and the latch is going to start spinning and can hurt your hand... hold it with something or put it next to a wall (like the pic) in case the latch start spinning the wall is going to hold the latch and it wont spin! wink.gif





This post has been edited by diegohiga: Oct 3, 2010 - 5:52 PM


--------------------

Posts in this topic
- Fate   HOW TO: Extend your hood latch (without welding)   Oct 3, 2010 - 1:18 PM
- - Spider77   Nice crotch shot! Really though, great idea...   Oct 3, 2010 - 1:46 PM
- - diegohiga   woowwww awsome idea!!!!! im go...   Oct 3, 2010 - 4:45 PM
- - Johnnyny   vote for sticky!!!   Oct 3, 2010 - 6:24 PM
- - mkernz22   STICKYY!   Oct 3, 2010 - 6:52 PM
- - KAOS   Please sticky!! Dude you're a genius.....   Oct 5, 2010 - 12:38 PM
|- - diegohiga   QUOTE (KAOS @ Oct 5, 2010 - 1:38 PM)...   Oct 5, 2010 - 8:29 PM
- - Fate   QUOTE (KAOS @ Oct 5, 2010 - 1:38 PM)...   Oct 6, 2010 - 8:14 AM
- - njccmd2002   whats the difference in lenght for them?   Oct 7, 2010 - 10:09 AM
- - Fate   QUOTE Side by side difference: about 1" ( als...   Oct 7, 2010 - 10:20 AM


Reply to this topicStart new topic
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 



Lo-Fi Version Time is now: July 11th, 2025 - 9:14 AM