New nicer special hood pins are now installed.
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These ones are full stainless steel, including the lynch pins with big serrated flange nuts. Everything about them is nicer in fit and finish.
The grommets are bolted in place for the first time. I used more of the black stainless hardware I have been using on the fenders to help keep the shiny dots down to a minimum.
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I spent more time on the pin lengths and positioning. And following Blaine's suggestion, I ground out the grommets where the pins rub on their way through. And I removed the spring and safety latch.
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Now the hood will drop onto the pins and fully seat against the bumpers with little to no effort from me. And the lynch pins slide in with just enough resistance to keep the hood snug.
And now I can finally do one last finishing pass on the hood cut, likely with a flat file to remove no more than 1/32" and hopefully eliminate the one small scoop I accidentally made.