Airdog's 2012 Prerunner Access Cab (slow) Build

will those limit straps work with the stock LCAs?

 

Probably. I think you may have to weld a tab onto the LCA to attach the strap to.

 

tab? it won't work like this on the stock lca ??

 

i want to protect my next shocks and misalignment spacers , they seem to scrape the retainer clips

 

Like everyone else that wheels my core support is cracked and not to spec anymore. Its caused my front end to shake and jiggle like a 300Lb stripper. The hood to fender alignment is a mess. So I decided to do a few things to save it till the future engine caging gets done. First is I stop drilled the cracks and riveted some sheet metal to help the core support from cracking any more. Sorry no pics of that but I'll get some one of these days

Second was new lower radiator support bushings from Energy Suspension



The stock pieces of shit all ripped and torn. They came off like this.


The new ones installed. Though I ended up swapping the thick bushing to the bottom and the thinner one to the top. With the thick one on top it messed up my fender to hood alignment even worse that it already was.

 

I still had body panel alignment issues. I also had my hood trying to lift up at speeds over 50 on the highway and it danced everywhere when offroading and it was driving me nuts. So it was time to do a ricer mod but at least it has a real function on my truck.
Hood latches! Others have done it so I followed their lead.

First I removed the rubber stop that went into that big hole in the center of the pic


I drilled a hole in the support where the rubber stop makes contact when the hood is closed. You will have to cut down the hood catch rod as it is too long and will hit the top of the headlight if not cut down.




The catch will now go thru the hole where the rubber stop use to be


At this point I lowered the hood until the catch rod contacted the bottom of the hood. I gave it a good push so it dimpled the hood. I now know where to drill a hole to help me align the hood latch template. I applied the template and aligned the marks and used a pen to trace out the cut line.


Luckily I have a set of pretty nice hole saws in several sizes. This sure makes it a lot easier to cut the curved areas.


Used the dewalt to cut the center section out. At this point I broke out a small pneumatic angle grinder with sanding discs to fine tune the edges so the latches would drop in.


I dropped the latch into the hole to use it as a template to drill out the attaching screw holes. I also painted the bare metal edges with some MGM touch up paint


In the next few pics you will see how I got the Hood latch backing ring to stay in place so I could get the Hood latch screws installed. In other threads others have used self tapping screws to hold the latch onto the hood because they didn't want to cut the hood supports on the back side of the hood to install this backing ring. As you can see with my method it really is not that hard to get it in there and get the screws started. The backing ring is a molded plastic and it holds the nuts in the plastic to keep them from spinning while you tighten the screws.

Sliding the ring in


Ring inside


Run some wire in the 2 center holes. You can actually do this before you put the ring into the hole to make it easier



Run the wire up thru the 2 holes in the hood


Pull the backing ring up to the bottom of the hood


Slide your latch down the wires. You will have to allow some slack as the hood latch will want to push the wire down some


While pulling on the wire to hold the backing ring to the bottom of the hood install 4 of the screws. Do not push the screws down to hard or the nuts will fall out of the backing ring. Just let them screws themselves in with a light touch. You'll figure it out once one falls out on you. Of course it will be the last screw you are putting in.


Pull the wire out. you may have to help it thru the first hole but after that it should just slide out.


Install the last 2 screws and your done with the latches.


Install your Hood latch catch rods adjust them where you need them and tighten the nuts. The latch kit comes with 2 rubber stops that you can cut to size and install over the catch rods.







I use to have some pretty large gaps between the top of my headlights and the bottom of my hood, not any more now that the hood latches pull it down some.

 

Sounds like a great name for a rock album...or even a Band name.

 

Liking this bushings...mine are cracked as well

 

SICK! I must do this as well, clean as hell man

 

The hood latches look really clean Tom! Just replaced my front bushings last weekend. I couldn't figure out why my hood was off until after fixing it

 

Latches look sweet!

 

Well his truck is a big grey monster so technically its the same thing.

 

I'm really loving those wheels and tires. I'm looking to do something similar like that with mine. Would you share where you got yours from?

 

ProComp Wheel Series 7089 from 4 wheel parts
Hankook Dynapro's 315/75-16 from onlinetires.com

Thanks Gabe. It actually didn't take me very long to do it but like I said with the right tools things move along pretty quickly on most jobs. I'll deal with the dirt as it comes. It's worth the hassle just to stop seeing my hood dance around..it was driving me crazy.

 

Great build Tom. Love the hood latches. Took me a long time to go through your build.

 

Thanks appreciate it!! You have a pretty solid expo build goin yourself. Even if you did just learn what a Mallard is

 

Thanks. Learn something new everyday!

 

Where did you buy the hood latches? Also, did you colormatch them?

 

These are the Latches http://www.aerocatch.com/products I would get the extreme version as the catches are steel instead of aluminum. Search ebay or Amazon for the best deals.
I did colormatch them with duplicolor from the local auto parts store.