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GT500 Quik Latch for the GT350R

rick shea

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When I took delivery of my 2019 GT350R I noticed that the radiator support on the 19 had the same cutouts for the base of the Quik Latch QL-50 in the carbon fiber as is seen odd the GT500. The 19 GT350 also has a black decal on the underside of the hood where you would drill the hole for the top piece of the latch. I have since done a little researching and spoken with Quik Latch and Ford Performance. Indeed starting with the 2019 GT350 the carbon fiber support was changed to accommodate the QL-50 hood latch base just to the left and right of the radiator. In the same location as the factory mounted QL-50 latches standard on the GT500. It turns out Ford performance worked with Quik Latch on this product and produces the parts for Ford for the GT500 units. However the difference between the standard QL-50 and the stock units on the GT500 are two fold. The standard QL-50 is designed to be hight adjustable and does not come with the round base that fits and screws into the round cutout in the radiator mount. The GT500 latch rod is a fixed length, engineered by Ford to work with the height of the closed hood on the GT500. The top latch piece is also slightly different to match the thickness of the underside of the hood. Again for ease of installation at the factory.
The unknown is.......is the hight of the hood on the GT350 the same as the GT500 at those attachment points. Well we are going to find out. I purchased the QL-50 kit in black ( about $300) and also contact Ford to see if they sell the bases for latch for the GT500. They do sell the base separately ...but get this, the round stainless base with the fixed latch rod that fits precisely into the carbon fiber support is over $400.00 per side (just for the base and the rod not even the top part of the latch). Well I ordered those also. I can return them if I don't end up using them. Might just use them as a template to have the bases fabricated using the rod with the QL-50 kit and cut to size a stainless steel base. I am have this work done at my local shop in two weeks. I will report back;
1. if the GT500 latch base works with the GT350?
2. if not the process we go through to fit the QL-50 to the 2019 GT350R.
I know we can make it work either way and I like the location of the latches on the GT500 and believe to will look good and function the same on the GT350.
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buggy whip

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Ask Honeybadger , about those Quick Latch.
He installed them on his car last year.
 

Hamster

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In for the results....
 

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honeybadger

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I installed the QL-38s along with some (okay, alot) of hood vents. Very happy with the setup. Fairly confident you could remove the hood latch and not worry about it. Zero movement from the hood now.

Here's an excerpt from my post about them:


Finally got around to installing my quik-latch hood latches. Chose these over the aerocatch because I liked their cleaner install. Started by installing the rod and putting a dab of grease on it to mark the hood where they meet.
20190303_114505.jpg


Success
20190303_114523.jpg


Pilot hole through the hood
20190303_114911.jpg


Then cut the main hole with a 1 1/8th hole saw
20190303_115539.jpg


I added some massive 1 1/2in fender washers to increase the surface area.
IMG_5910.jpg


Had to cut some recess on the hood support structure on the passenger side. I used a dremel with a sanding wheel. To make sure I didn't rough up the paint on the underside of the hood (above the structual support), I used some 22 gauge sheet metal sandwiched between the (2) layers.
IMG_5912.jpg


I think they turned out great. I'll get better shots once the car is on the ground and I can take pictures with better angles (garage door is in the way).
20190306_112825.jpg
20190306_112846.jpg
20190303_130703.jpg
 

huskeee

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So I asked Quiklatch if the ql-50 receiver would work with the GT500 pin setup and they said it wouldn't, and that the pins won't fit. Whether they are told to say that by Ford who knows, but I took their word as I didn't want to be out of pocket with Ford's prices on the OEM pin setup. Even if the pin did fit the receiver, you are going to have height issues due to the receiver on the gt500 being recessed into the hood. Im sure a few spacers here and there would make it work though.

I ended up installing the QL-50 in the same place as HB did his QL-38 kit. I had to enlarge the mounting bosses to 1/2" for the larger pins, but apart from that pretty smooth sailing. I also added thick spacers(6mm washers 40mmID x 60mm OD) to fill the gap between the two hood panels and prevent any flex in the top layer when tightening everything together.

There are a couple of people that have drilled into the radiator support panel where the gt500 pins are, and either bolted or used a nutsert to hold the pins in that location. I just decided to used the fp350/gt4 location as it was already provided and does the job. Each to their own on that one. View attachment 430459 View attachment 430461 View attachment 430462
82812797_172881970727303_5398038098749685760_o.jpg
82818747_172882200727280_6808639615138791424_o-2.jpg
83797968_172882350727265_5985866688887783424_o-2.jpg
83610732_172882724060561_2581490217814851584_o-2.jpg
 

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Alain

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galaxy

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If...IF, someone dealt with everything and got it sorted to mount the lower piece in the GT500 style radiator support, what would you have to deal with on the hood to drill and mount the receiver in that area? I’m guessing the 500 hood is made with this in consideration? Is the 350 hood in this area full of odd shapes and layers that woulda have to be dealt with? I like it, a lot, and wish that option worked, but I think the mounting location using the non 500 location is too far aft aesthetically.
 

BeastAR

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Very interesting.... If I can muster up the courage to drill into the hood, I think I'd like these. Does anyone have more pictures on where they are attaching the bolts to the frame/radiator structure?

Thanks
 

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rick shea

rick shea

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Very interesting.... If I can muster up the courage to drill into the hood, I think I'd like these. Does anyone have more pictures on where they are attaching the bolts to the frame/radiator structure?

Thanks
Ford Performance is researching this for me. There is a respond that they marked the hood location for the upper part of the latch under the hood with a black sticker. I am having the latches put on next week and hope to get an answer back from them before then. They seemed curious to learn more about it from engineering also.
 

16Kobra

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Jdown

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When I took delivery of my 2019 GT350R I noticed that the radiator support on the 19 had the same cutouts for the base of the Quik Latch QL-50 in the carbon fiber as is seen odd the GT500. The 19 GT350 also has a black decal on the underside of the hood where you would drill the hole for the top piece of the latch. I have since done a little researching and spoken with Quik Latch and Ford Performance. Indeed starting with the 2019 GT350 the carbon fiber support was changed to accommodate the QL-50 hood latch base just to the left and right of the radiator. In the same location as the factory mounted QL-50 latches standard on the GT500. It turns out Ford performance worked with Quik Latch on this product and produces the parts for Ford for the GT500 units. However the difference between the standard QL-50 and the stock units on the GT500 are two fold. The standard QL-50 is designed to be hight adjustable and does not come with the round base that fits and screws into the round cutout in the radiator mount. The GT500 latch rod is a fixed length, engineered by Ford to work with the height of the closed hood on the GT500. The top latch piece is also slightly different to match the thickness of the underside of the hood. Again for ease of installation at the factory.
The unknown is.......is the hight of the hood on the GT350 the same as the GT500 at those attachment points. Well we are going to find out. I purchased the QL-50 kit in black ( about $300) and also contact Ford to see if they sell the bases for latch for the GT500. They do sell the base separately ...but get this, the round stainless base with the fixed latch rod that fits precisely into the carbon fiber support is over $400.00 per side (just for the base and the rod not even the top part of the latch). Well I ordered those also. I can return them if I don't end up using them. Might just use them as a template to have the bases fabricated using the rod with the QL-50 kit and cut to size a stainless steel base. I am have this work done at my local shop in two weeks. I will report back;
1. if the GT500 latch base works with the GT350?
2. if not the process we go through to fit the QL-50 to the 2019 GT350R.
I know we can make it work either way and I like the location of the latches on the GT500 and believe to will look good and function the same on the GT350.
Hey rick any luck finding the part# for the nuts that hold the stainless steel ball end to the radiator support? I cant and neither can the dealer find a part number or picture of them!
20200130_154212.jpg
20200130_154206.jpg
 
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rick shea

rick shea

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I am going to use long stainless screws to go through the under side of the carbon pocket at that location. I tried to order the screws from FORD but couldn't. Here is the part number. maybe you will have better luck. I have attached the part sheet. The screw is HB3.
 

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madlag

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I'm interested in doing the hood pins as well. I like the simplicity of the FP350 ones posted above but I dont like how high up the hood they are... I have a 2018 so I don't have the premade spots for the 500 pins... Hoping to find a good solution.
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