Anyone managed to disassemble the hood latches for zinc plating?

[eriknetherlands]

The hood latches, the parts mounted on the firewall, are quite dirty in my car.
I blasted them with glass, and they clean up nicely, but ideally I want to disassemble them and zinc the individual parts.

The internals are sandwiched between the two outer plates. Its held together by two clinch nuts that also have the m6 threads inside.

Anyone dared to open them up? ( and got them functional afterwards)
Just zinc them as a unit?

 

[Gransin]

I did mine as a unit, turned out well in my opinion:

 

[eriknetherlands]

I just wonder how well the plating coverage is on the inside. As the current doesnt really flow i side cavities during the plating proces, i fear that there is little or no rust protection.

How well were they plated inside?

 

[HB Chris]

I have done several sets as is, all look great.

 

[eriknetherlands]

Ok, happy to follow the consensus here, it saves me the dismantling as well.

 

[eriknetherlands]

How about the counterparts, the hooks mounted to the hood?

I've cleaned them (my complete engine bay is blacked out), and found a tough, shiny layer below. It almost looks like they are steel plates, but covered in a metal substance. Like if they were dipped in solder. There is even solidified drop a corner. I can scratch it, and even scrape sharp curls with a chisel of it .

Anyone know if this coating is standard, and what it actually is?

 

[Gransin]

How well were they plated inside?

As far as I could see, they looked great both inside and outside.

 

[Wladek]

I just wonder how well the plating coverage is on the inside. As the current doesnt really flow i side cavities during the plating proces, i fear that there is little or no rust protection.

How well were they plated inside?

It is pretty remarkable for me, because most of parts have problems with zinc plating in inside areas, but that hood latches are pretty well prone for galvanic zinc plating inside, in past i made couple separate sets & all where plated well, without any signs of rust, so you probably don't have to worry if zinc plating is made by someone who know what he is doing.

 

[eriknetherlands]

Ok, ok. I am convinced. In the bin for the zinc work they go!

 

[Wladek]

How about the counterparts, the hooks mounted to the hood?

I've cleaned them (my complete engine bay is blacked out), and found a tough, shiny layer below. It almost looks like they are steel plates, but covered in a metal substance. Like if they were dipped in solder. There is even solidified drop a corner. I can scratch it, and even scrape sharp curls with a chisel of it .

Anyone know if this coating is standard, and what it actually is?

They are standard black steel. I zinc plated mine.

 

[HB Chris]

How about the counterparts, the hooks mounted to the hood?

I've cleaned them (my complete engine bay is blacked out), and found a tough, shiny layer below. It almost looks like they are steel plates, but covered in a metal substance. Like if they were dipped in solder. There is even solidified drop a corner. I can scratch it, and even scrape sharp curls with a chisel of it .

Anyone know if this coating is standard, and what it actually is?

Satin black powdercoat is a great solution, they were originally satin black.

 

[grnder95]

Hi Erik,
This is how they will look after satin black paint. Btw I noticed on one of them a little bent and I thought it was just mine, but yours has it too. Do you think it's normal?
Victor

 

[eriknetherlands]

I had same feeling about the bend. The round bar has a slight bend, and so does the triangle sided plate where it is welded into. I saw it on 1 car too.

Not sure if it was designed like this, or if they just deform to this shape by use.

 

[Luis A.]

I had same feeling about the bend. The round bar has a slight bend, and so does the triangle sided plate where it is welded into. I saw it on 1 car too.

Not sure if it was designed like this, or if they just deform to this shape by use.

That’s the bend of throwing the hood down onto a closed latch... shouldn’t be there.