Clip Latches

[Lance]

I'll be installing three clip latches on my car. Two for the rear clip, as in the attached image and incorporating work lights, and one for the front clip.

I'm hunting around for suitable latches now but, to save some time, could other forum members advise me on what latches / source cars they have already used for this purpose? The Australian Commodore apparently has them I've been told.

Any information that will save me running around time would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Lance

[Bill Musarra]

Lance,
You will find several methods to secure your rear hatch. Some are inovative in that they are setup so you can't forget to actually "latch the hatch" so to speak, to prevent opening at speed. I didn't like the setup you show, even though it is close to if not exactly as the originals. It however requires cables, pull handles and mounting pieces to the rear hatch that require some hard to align setups. I went with the Aerocatch system. It can be viewed here.

Bonnet Pin - Bonnet Latch - Hood Latches - AeroCatch

This system can be setup rather easily, but requires some body cutting to place. It is a very good system in that you would be hard pressed to miss the yp position on the locking clip. Even if you did close the locking clip and didn't lock it, it would still hold the clip closed.
It comes in either locking or non locking. I chose the locking to keep the curious from trying to sneak a peak, as happened to one forum member.

You can also set it up as a side catch system as well which could replace the side latches if you so chose.

Bill

[Dutton]

Lance,

When finished, my car will have a version of the simple yet clever secondary rear body lock which Cary Gressinger, the North America DRB representative, installed onto his demo 40. I had the good fortune to see the 40 on it's first day out following completion of the build. This DRB is GORGEOUS - Cary does some damn fine detail work, too.

Basically, Cary secured the rear body to the engine bulkhead by installing a pin (1/4 inch diameter x ~10 inches long) from the area above the fuel tanks through the bulkhead and well into the rear body. Onto one end of each pin is a small knob to ease the removal/installation, and metal guide plates were drilled for the pin and securely installed where ever the pin passed through fiberglass. As a plus, both doors when closed secured the pin from sliding out of the bodywork under hard braking.

Kudos to Cary for this simple yet elegant solution. Perhaps he'd share a few pics of this great design with the rest of the group.

As for the front clip, I'm stuck for offering a suggestion. Whatever your finalized plan shapes up to be, I hope you'll share your solution with the rest of us!

Best,

T.

[Lee]

T.
I'm sure Cary won't mind me sharing the idea with. It is a standard piece of DRB kit - very elegant and simple.

[Lance]

Thanks for the ideas chaps. As it turns out, I've decided to go with the latch arrangement as shown in the posted image. I've hunted around and have managed to find a set of latches that suit my needs. They're off an Honda Legend of around mid 90's vintage. They're fairly small and, for some unknown reason, the Legend uses two to latch the bonnet. This means the spring pressure to latch should be correct.

Regards,

Lance

[Dave S]

Hey Bill
Where did you get your latches from??
I'm keen for a set.

Lance you could go and have a look at Richard Martin Beecks set up, he lives in Perth and is very friendly. He is using bonnet hooks from early commodores I think.

[Lance]

I've have seen Richard's set up Dave. It's funny how hard some things are to find. After talking to him, I was looking for early Commodore latches, but do you think I could find them? I thought there'd be thousands around, but they were all the wrong type or just not available. Amazing! Anyway the Legend latches will do the job beautifully.

I'm going with latches, because I want anyone that looks under the clips to have to open (or break into) the cockpit, rather than be able to access from the outside only.

Lance

[Bill Musarra]

Dave,
They have a nice video of how the system works. You can click on the link in my post and then go to the contacts. But for you here it is:

Graham Leo
AeroCatch Ltd.
Unit D. Seymour Wharf
Steamer Quay Road
Totnes
Devon. TQ9 5AL

Direct dial: 01803 861714
E-mail: graham@aerocatch.com



Graham will get you set up right away. The latches arrived rather quickly. Since I have some paint issues that have to be resolved and some new work as well, I will have them installed at that time. I am building supports that wrap around my cage supports as they enter the cockpit for the pins to rest on.



Bill

[Dave S]

Thanks Bill
Got some ordered and on there way, will post pics in builders thread when they arrive and are fitted.