i have the raised bird hood in fiberglass. i called the manufacturer and they told me pins only because theres no metal reinforcment in the hoods. i'd go with pins to be safe as well. if you go fiberglass you'll need spring that rnt so stiff because the hinges wont have to support as much weight as they would with the steels. if you keep the steel springs you'll crack the fiberglass kicking yourself in the @$$ afterwards!