Leather Hood Straps

[KalaniFo]

Does anyone have experience using leather hood straps with their build?

Are the holes in the hood and trunk pre-drilled?

I would like to install something like this - https://www.ebay.com/itm/22603550847...xoCxqoQAvD_BwE

[egchewy79]

hood is not predrilled. for some reason, I remember the trunk latch hole was drilled, but might be mistaken.
You could probably ask FFR not to drill the trunk lid latch hole or just fill it w/ body filler if it does come drilled.

[JohnK]

I seem to recall someone saying that the pre-drilled hole option was an all-or-nothing deal but I might be wrong. If it's possible to request the trunk latch hole not be drilled, I'd recommend that regardless of whether you're using leather straps or the FFR-provided latch. The hole is, for some unknown reason, always drilled off-center, requiring your painter to get creative with stripe layout if going with stripes. My Mk4 was a pre-25th anniversary kit. I decided to order a 25th anniversary style trunk lid to get a better license plate fit and asked them not to drill the latch hole, which made overall layout and latch placement much better. I have no idea why FFR continues to drill the hole in the wrong place.

[Mbufford]

I seem to recall someone saying that the pre-drilled hole option was an all-or-nothing deal but I might be wrong. If it's possible to request the trunk latch hole not be drilled, I'd recommend that regardless of whether you're using leather straps or the FFR-provided latch. The hole is, for some unknown reason, always drilled off-center, requiring your painter to get creative with stripe layout if going with stripes. My Mk4 was a pre-25th anniversary kit. I decided to order a 25th anniversary style trunk lid to get a better license plate fit and asked them not to drill the latch hole, which made overall layout and latch placement much better. I have no idea why FFR continues to drill the hole in the wrong place.

That is correct. When I ordered my kit last year, I asked them if they would cut everything except roll bar holes (I’m going no bars), and they said it’s all or nothing. So I have to cut everything myself.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Think looking at the underside of the buckle they might do a number on your paint.



In the early 1960's had the SS version of this exact car down to the color, main visual difference was an open air scoop on right the side of the hood & roll bar.

The hood strap had an additional piece of leather that covered the underside of the buckle. No metal was exposed to the paint. The other thing you can see if you look close is the sheepskin liner under the main straps.



A set like these from Murray Motorsport might work better long term

[Jeff Kleiner]

I seem to recall someone saying that the pre-drilled hole option was an all-or-nothing deal but I might be wrong. If it's possible to request the trunk latch hole not be drilled, I'd recommend that regardless of whether you're using leather straps or the FFR-provided latch. The hole is, for some unknown reason, always drilled off-center, requiring your painter to get creative with stripe layout if going with stripes. My Mk4 was a pre-25th anniversary kit. I decided to order a 25th anniversary style trunk lid to get a better license plate fit and asked them not to drill the latch hole, which made overall layout and latch placement much better. I have no idea why FFR continues to drill the hole in the wrong place.

Actually John the trunk latch hole IS on center. It’s the license plate lamp blister that’s off center. It’s that way on both the pre and post 25th lids. But when laying out the stripes they have to hit the center of the plate lamp or they look stupid which means that we either move the handle to be equally off or do some tricks to fool the eye into not noticing. Just one of the FFR’s many charms like the off center and skewed hood, the cross eyed headlights, the crooked grille opening…



Jeff

[CraigS]

I don't think the straps would work well on the hood. They need to be able to pull down like old MG straps do. On an FFR they will just be laying out flat so down downward pull. They could work on the trunk but wow, what a pain in the neck to undo two of them to open it.

[KalaniFo]

This is fantastic feedback.

Thank you all so much.

[JohnK]

Actually John the trunk latch hole IS on center. It’s the license plate lamp blister that’s off center. It’s that way on both the pre and post 25th lids. But when laying out the stripes they have to hit the center of the plate lamp or they look stupid which means that we either move the handle to be equally off or do some tricks to fool the eye into not noticing. Just one of the FFR’s many charms like the off center and skewed hood, the cross eyed headlights, the crooked grille opening…



Jeff

Fair enough. I guess it's relative. Having the hole centered on the trunk lid but off-center from the plate lamp is sort of pointless, no?