Safety Tip!

[Funracer]

Noticed a lot of guys lately posting new to the ZR1 and or C4. Been in my
engine bay a lot lately (see my other posts) and something happened
yesterday that reminded me of a safety issue that I had forgotten.

My son and I went to Bloomington Gold show around 1999 or so. Not sure of the year but it was just after it changed locale to a golf course outside Chicago.

There was a Z get together and we all parked together in a row just off the fairway on Friday evening and left the cars there over night. Next morning my son and I went out early to shiny up the car. It was quite windy with a lot of gusts. I put the hood up and began wiping down the engine bay while he began working on the wheels.

I have a mini bra on my Z. It protects just the front nose of the car and is
held on by straps that attach to various points under and around the car.
One of them had come loose under the front edge of the hood forward of the air cleaner cover. As the hood was up there was about a one inch gap
between the front of the hood and the front fender piece. I walked around to the front of the car and slipped my left hand into this 1 inch gap to try and reattach the bra strap ( bet you did not see that coming).

Just then a gust of wind from the rear of the car lifted the hood like a sail
and unlatched it from the hold up bar. The hood began to fall and instantly trapped all my finger in the gap between the hood and fender. As the hood
closed further the pressure was incredible. I was sure it was going to break all the fingers on my left hand. In a panic I yelled for my son to grab
the hood. He ran forward and caught the hood about half way.

My fingers were all creased down to bone and hurt like heck but nothing broken. Not sure what would have happened if I were by myself.

Yesterday while bending over the motor my shoulder bumped into the hood
hold rod and unlocked it. It reminded me of why I should always do this when the hood is up:



Later

[scottfab]

This tool works too.

[Racinfan83]

Good tip! (From one of the newbies..)

[GOLDCYLON]

Originally Posted by scottfab

This tool works too.

What size PVC is that Scott. Nice little Safety Mod!

[Mystic ZR-1]

Just the thought makes me cringe...

[scottfab]

Originally Posted by GOLDCYLON

What size PVC is that Scott. Nice little Safety Mod!

It's 3/4 schedule 40.
6in long overall
top part 2in
bottom part (long tab) is 4in x 3/4in.

I had the hood come down on my frigging head once.
I keep it right there in the cavity under the driver headlight.
It clips right in.
It was initially designed to slide up the shaft but tolerances
are off. If I loose it or break it I'll fasten the tab via pop rivets
to the outside of the 2in part. That would make it so it could
stay attached to the shaft and be slid into place when needed.

[DaveK]

The orange locking tab on my hood support has broken so that looks like a great safety addition Scott until I can replace it.

Thanks

Dave

[Fully Vetted]

Isn't that a gas pressurized rod? My hood won't close unless I pull it down. It took me a few minutes to figure it out. I moved the sleeve over and nothing happened. I had to pull pretty hard on it.

[scottfab]

Originally Posted by Fully Vetted

Isn't that a gas pressurized rod? My hood won't close unless I pull it down. It took me a few minutes to figure it out. I moved the sleeve over and nothing happened. I had to pull pretty hard on it.

Mine holds up like that too. The "pull pretty hard" on it can be supplied by even a moderate breeze. Ask me how I know.

[GOLDCYLON]

Ive seen this as well. The surface area of the hood with the shape like a sail. I have seen the wind try to rip and rock the hood while in the up position.