Hood pins!! '69 RT/SE J45 code **UPDATED PICS!** 2/16/15

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Yes folks hood pins were a valid option for '69 Chargers but are rarely seen.  Up until now I've only had 6 cars registered with the option BUT only 2 with actual fender tag proof.  I have another car with the code on the original window sticker, but no hood pins were ever installed on the car (car is an unrestored survivor)  Now I have another with tag proof & pics, courtesy of a couple in Canada that purchased the car when it was just 1 year old.

When they registered the car a few months ago & I noticed the J45 on the tag & immediately asked for pics of the car & the hood pins.  The wife responded that she'd have to borrow a camera & then have her husband move the years of stuff that has been piled onto the car in the garage!  The car was brought home about 5 years ago after a 20+ year hibernation at another location.

The car is a built for Canadian export RT/SE in R6 red with black leather interior, black top & stripe.  Also coded for the V21 Hood Performance Treatment (which all the other 6 J45 Hood Pin cars are coded for as well)

The wife sent many cool pics of the car & a few detail shots of the hood pin setup but sadly NONE of how the pin actually mounts to the rad support & where it goes through the hood from underneath.  Sadly this is as big as the pics are that she sent as well.....

Enjoy!!

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

A few more detail pics of the V21 & how its laid out

[Brock Samson]

Good stuff, looks like the tall bumper guards too,.. are these hood pin, performance blackout R/Ts late build dates by any chance?..
                 

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Yes all June-July '69 builds EXCEPT for the one with the J45 on the window sticker but no pins on car.... April build and it was a "Special Order" Y39 coded car as well

[tan top]

  unrestored too !!    still some awesome cars hidden away by the looks of it  
what the plan , restore ? or    
 

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

They have been buying parts over the years & are going to start over the winter restoring it....one of their good friends owns a body shop for 50 years.....guy is 79 & still doing it!!  he's going to start the resto!

[Brock Samson]

 I used to see a green R/T SE round about these parts owned by a Cop in my area, Dark Green & Black  it had the hood treatment   but I don't remember the pins...     Seems i would, i think I once saw it in my travels about four Yrs. ago and posted a pic. on here but I doubt I can find it... I will make the attempt however,..
Some old threads I remember can't be found anymore, like one on the spray painters at Fisherman's Warf from a few years back, and a few others I've looked for...
Anyways, I'll go have a look...  

 

   welp, I couldn't find it, though it might be in the Chargers in the wild thread...
  I did find this however, and thought I'd share...
  http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,59958.0.html

[SFRT]

sweet

[bakerhillpins]

The wife sent many cool pics of the car & a few detail shots of the hood pin setup but sadly NONE of how the pin actually mounts to the rad support & where it goes through the hood from underneath.  Sadly this is as big as the pics are that she sent as well.....

Enjoy!!

That is seriously cool! 

Maybe do some CSI math on the pics to figure out where the holes go through the hood?

Is there any chance you can talk with them and see if they would let someone come over and view/document the specifics on behalf of you/the registry? That's some really important info hiding in that car. 

I have dealt with several older individuals who were selling their cars and I always get under 200k sized pics. They are smart enough to re size them down but don't realize that they should be sending the bigger photos.  When you talk to them about it you can hear they are audibly frustrated with the whole net/email thing. I just keep thinking my day will come where I will be outpaced by technology too. 

[SFRT]

the pins go through the bolt hole next to the one that contains the adjustable rubber hood stop. I think that the factory hoodpin setup would have a small additional piece of sheetmetal welded there for reinforcement....

[SFRT]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

This was the only pic that showed under the hood.....I did reply to the email thanking them for the pics....i tried my hardest not to be a pest but I did ask for other shots! 

[1969chargerrtse]

the pins go through the bolt hole next to the one that contains the adjustable rubber hood stop. I think that the factory hoodpin setup would have a small additional piece of sheetmetal welded there for reinforcement....

I have that piece on my car.   My incorrect fake repro tag calls for hood pins, but my car is Nov 68 at best guess, so that makes no sense?  

That is better than super cool.  A true rare time capsule, hate to see it restored to be honest.  Only original and rare once.

[Ghoste]

That's cool Chris! 

[Patronus]

 
sweeet!

[69chargerrt440]

Nice. I always liked R6 Red. Beautiful color. 

[694spdRT]

That is a nicely optioned Charger. I always like the R6 cars though.   I wish mine would have came V21 and J45 adorned.

Is that window sticker car missing the hood pins you mentioned the one from the Charger registry show? I lost a lot pics when my harddrive crashed last year.

[SFRT]

that extra piece is killer. get some hood pins!!

[stripedelete]

The wife sent many cool pics of the car & a few detail shots of the hood pin setup but sadly NONE of how the pin actually mounts to the rad support & where it goes through the hood from underneath.  Sadly this is as big as the pics are that she sent as well.....

Enjoy!!

That is seriously cool! 

Maybe do some CSI math on the pics to figure out where the holes go through the hood?

I have a hood from a hood pin car.  Picked it up in the early 80's.  Is there anyway to tell if it's original?  Or were they a popular aftermaket thing in the 70's?  Could it help anyone?

[bill440rt]

VERY interesting find, Chris! 

Nice to see there's still some oddball cars out there just waiting to be found.

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

I have a hood from a hood pin car.  Picked it up in the early 80's.  Is there anyway to tell if it's original?  Or were they a popular aftermaket thing in the 70's?  Could it help anyone?

Hood pins were one of the most popular things to do to a car in the 70s and 80s 

Most hood pins were cheap and rusted over their bright finish 

[BigBlackDodge]

Did the factory delete the hood latch when optioned with the hood pins?



BBD

[Ghoste]

Not on Chargers.  Not on most all Mopars for that matter.

[1969chargerrtse]

that extra piece is killer. get some hood pins!!

I can't prove my car had them and I have no idea why those extra pieces are there, and I don't like the hood pin look on a 69 anyway.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Well the owners were nice enough to come through with some more pics!   Mostly of the pin itself.
Looking at these there doesn't seem to be any extra bracketry involved?
Maybe there was no need for anything else because this was more of a "dress up" item?

[Charger-Bodie]

Thats the exact same place they go on a Daytona too. No extra bracing or anything on those either.

[PocketThunder]

what is that black cord for?  block heater?   

[tan top]

what is that black cord for?  block heater?   

thats what i was thinking     

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Quite possible....it is a Canadian export car

[SFRT]

so excellent to have final proof on this!

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Fast forward 4+ years...the car has finally been restored.  The owners have been gracious enough to keep me in the loop and send me some more pics

Also attached is an under hood pic of the 1" hole required for the pins....

[Cncguy]

That's one cool Charger

[MxRacer855]

We're installing these on mine right now. I originally thought the body guy drilled the holes for the retainers in the hood too far back, but that's where the core support is for the pins, and this is just making me feel great about it! 

Looks amazing. 

[bill440rt]

Fast forward 4+ years...the car has finally been restored.  The owners have been gracious enough to keep me in the loop and send me some more pics

Also attached is an under hood pic of the 1" hole required for the pins....

[JB400]

Their car looks great. 

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

We're installing these on mine right now. I originally thought the body guy drilled the holes for the retainers in the hood too far back, but that's where the core support is for the pins, and this is just making me feel great about it!  

Looks amazing.  

Love to see pics when completed....I have a pin kit in my "watched" items on eBay

What length cable did you go with?

[472 R/T SE]

Isn't that your original color Mr. Chris?

[Shakey]

Car looks great - really like that colour! 

[Ghoste]

The pins with the hood paint and overall color really work well together.  Gives the car a very aggressive look.

[Beep Beep Dave]

Thanks for sharing Chris, that is a great looking machine, both before and after. And Canadian to boot

Dave

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Isn't that your original color Mr. Chris?

Yes, yes it is... R6...one day....

The pins with the hood paint and overall color really work well together.  Gives the car a very aggressive look.

I just might tape on a set before I drill

[Ghoste]

Understand completely, it isn't as if you can put the drill in reverse and unhole it afterwards. 

[TUFCAT]

Understand completely, it isn't as if you can put the drill in reverse and unhole it afterwards. 

That's a new hood. 

[tan top]

     looks awesome ! love R6    , good pictures Chris , thanks for posting 

[MxRacer855]

We're installing these on mine right now. I originally thought the body guy drilled the holes for the retainers in the hood too far back, but that's where the core support is for the pins, and this is just making me feel great about it! 

Looks amazing. 

I honestly... can't even remember. I think I bought them like 5 or 6 months back and it's just getting to the point where they're getting installed now. What are the two typical lengths? 23" & 25"?

[bill440rt]

Isn't that your original color Mr. Chris?

Yes, yes it is... R6...one day....

Let me know when that day comes, bro!       

[bakerhillpins]

Fast forward 4+ years...the car has finally been restored.  The owners have been gracious enough to keep me in the loop and send me some more pics

Also attached is an under hood pic of the 1" hole required for the pins....

That Charger is NUTS!   

This is wonderful information to have.  So happy that these guys kept in touch with you Chris!!

[RJS]

Chris I looked at all the pictures from that R6 Charger and see something odd.  Factory hood pins always had a flat round washer under them not the serrated washer that the repro. kits provide.  Now we all know that I don't know a Charger from a Neon but what's everyone's thoughts??
Ron

[hemigeno]

Chris I looked at all the pictures from that R6 Charger and see something odd.  Factory hood pins always had a flat round washer under them not the serrated washer that the repro. kits provide.  Now we all know that I don't know a Charger from a Neon but what's everyone's thoughts??
Ron

While I agree that later years did use a flat washer, '69 was a different animal.

The bottom pic below is from an untouched, 11,000 mile '69 Daytona, just as a "for instance".  Even though the Daytona's hood pins would have been installed by Creative Industries I would have suspected that any assembly-plant installed hood pins from a '69 model would also have the same washer. **



** The REALLY insane crowd -- and yours truly is guilty as charged -- will also compare the width of the "star" locking flange on the washers... we've observed both wide (as on the R6 Charger) and skinny (as on the F5 Daytona) used in '69.  Yes, I already know I'm nuts...  

[TUFCAT]

Let me know when that day comes, bro!      

Sounds awesome....!     So would you spray some LL1 dark turquoise metallic with an all expense paid vacation to the "D"  .... with some comps?    

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Let me know when that day comes, bro!      

What?  go back to R6 or the even sooner day of adding the hood pins?  

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Chris I looked at all the pictures from that R6 Charger and see something odd.  Factory hood pins always had a flat round washer under them not the serrated washer that the repro. kits provide.  Now we all know that I don't know a Charger from a Neon but what's everyone's thoughts??
Ron

While I agree that later years did use a flat washer, '69 was a different animal.

The bottom pic below is from an untouched, 11,000 mile '69 Daytona, just as a "for instance".  Even though the Daytona's hood pins would have been installed by Creative Industries I would have suspected that any assembly-plant installed hood pins from a '69 model would also have the same washer. **



** The REALLY insane crowd -- and yours truly is guilty as charged -- will also compare the width of the "star" locking flange on the washers... we've observed both wide (as on the R6 Charger) and skinny (as on the F5 Daytona) used in '69.  Yes, I already know I'm nuts...  

Nice pics Geno! yup definitely a serrated washer under there.  According to the owner, the pins were never removed prior to these pics taken.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

As a side note, they also mentioned to me that the original cable length was 18"  This time around they went with the 23" length due to the fact that the cables were kinda tight & would rub the hood paint off the edge a lot

Looking at this pic you can see how tight they were & if you look close you can see a slightly different shade of red where he touched up the hood in the past

[RJS]

So then Chrysler aftermarket copied the "one year" hood pin and not the multi-year pin set-up?   Interesting.

Chris DO NOT put that nonsense on your car you'll regret it for many reasons. They look silly that far up on the hood.
Ron

[hemigeno]

Nice pics Geno! yup definitely a serrated washer under there.  According to the owner, the pins were never removed prior to these pics taken.

   

Below is a cropped a photo I took from Jim McCauley's time-capsule F5 Daytona (not the one in the earlier pic), and it has the wider-tab version of the washer which matches the one on that R6 car.  Either would be considered correct for a '69, IMHO anyway.

[TUFCAT]

Thanks for breaking the ice RJS.  I would agree with you on 69's.   For some reason I like them more on 70's.    In my opinion if given the option, I could live without hood pins all together, except for the 1970 and 1971 'Cuda's.    

[RJS]

Thanks for breaking the ice RJS.  I would agree with you on 69's.   For some reason I like them more on 70's.    In my opinion, given the option, I could live without them all together, except for on 1970 and 1971 'Cuda's.    

You'll notice when it comes to Chris I "break" a lot of thing!!!!

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Thanks for breaking the ice RJS.  I would agree with you on 69's.   For some reason I like them more on 70's.    In my opinion, given the option, I could live without them all together, except for on 1970 and 1971 'Cuda's.    

You'll notice when it comes to Chris I "break" a lot of thing!!!!

Yeah yeah.... but while I value your opinion oh wise one, the urge to do something different is great....even though the V21 was done last season I need new change this season!!  

[Charger-Bodie]

R6 red,r6 red,r6 red.....

[RJS]

R6 red,r6 red,r6 red.....

Smart man...

[Ghoste]

Chris, any thoughts as to the timeline when the cable length changed?

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Chris, any thoughts as to the timeline when the cable length changed?

No time line Shawn....the original owner told me his originals were 18"  He took it upon himself to use the 23" this time due to the hood rub...

[Ghoste]

Sorry, I took it as a running change and I was going to start looking for connections.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Some updated pics witth he 23" longer cables...Not sure if Im feeling the longer cable.


On a side note found this sweet B5 blue exmple with the pins & the factory 18" cables

[Ghoste]

They need a length right between those two.

[bakerhillpins]

Gotta say I don't see how the rubbing problem is going to go away with the longer cables.    I would think the rubbing would be more prevalent in the longer cable situations since there is more there to sway in the breeze.

[MxRacer855]

 

I'll post mine very shortly when it leaves the shop after some nice, pretty, black paint. 

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Gotta say I don't see how the rubbing problem is going to go away with the longer cables.    I would think the rubbing would be more prevalent in the longer cable situations since there is more there to sway in the breeze.

I'll post mine very shortly when it leaves the shop after some nice, pretty, black paint.