Why can't someone design a correct appearing hood pad clip that one can actually install??

Between the ill-fitting molded hood pad, and the clips that are impossible to seat correctly, geez... Why does this have to be so difficult? I ain't removing the hood either... Although it might be easier!

I think I'm gonna use the later model plastic ones... sorry judges!

Anybody got a suggestion?

BTW working on a '69 'Runner...

Thanks

I had to drill the holes bigger in my hood to get them to work.

Thanks, I thought about that, but even with drill stops, drilling that direction on a freshly painted hood just makes me nervous... I tried to grind the barbs down on the clips too, but that just weakens an already inferior design.... ugh!!

Those re-pop clips are below junk. Wear safety glasses when trying to install them - you can poke an eye out when those clips go flying!

the clips flying is urban legend....Ive never had one go "flying" yet. dont know where that one started.

Scrounge up originals? Thats all I even used & they never gave me any problems...

I know what you are going through. Even with original clips they are hard to not keep from popping off. The problem is the repro hood pads are still WAY TOO THICK. I had to shave the backside of the pad down on the backside to take some thickness out of it. I had an NOS hood pad 20 years ago and I remember how thin they were.

I can guarantee the incorrectly designed crap re-pops go flying....Come on over and I'll show you. And that is with an original pad. I had a few original clips missing and thought I'd use the repops on the missing ones...I ended up staying with a couple missing. I bought them about 4 years ago - maybe they changed since then?

I need clips and pad for the 69 Coronet. The YearOne clips rusted the first day. I'll be browsing in Vegas and Van Nuys.

Well folks, I committed the mother of all sins and put incorrect '72 & up flexible plastic pad clips on... FYI: They are soo easy to push into place, hold the pad perfect, and really don't look all that bad.... As mentioned, I too was told that original used clips are mush easier to press into the holes... Maybe I'll scrounge up a handful at Carlise this year?

My repro pad didn't fit very well, and the clips were a real pain. To solve this, I threw it all in the trash.

who makes the best hood insulating pad? I assume they are the molded ones IIRC and not the flat type.. thanks!
-kevin

Shoot me a picture of the clip.

I just had some NICE hood to rad seal clips made, FROM STAINLESS. DeLorean and I would have gotten along real well (no, I don't do coke). These are nice, heavy clips like OEM - not those crappy thin pieces like the rubber companies include in thier seal kits. What crap. I just throw those away now.

Just slightly smash the clip together with pliars/vise, not to much however just enough to go in the hole, it bends the pointed tip a little however it works, just get a few extra for practice, once you figure it out it goes ok.

can someone also tell me what the original finish would have been on these clips? Im assumeing probably something like black phosphate.. thanks in advanse!
-kevin

I wonder how long it took a hung over assembly line worker to install that pad and clips.........let me think; how about ten to fifteen seconds without special tools.....go get and tonight and install it tomorrow morning around 7:15 am