Securing the bonnet

[davidball]

Do later Caterhams have bonnet locks? My 1987 car does not. Is there any way of securing the bonnet apart from straps and padlocks!

[davidball]

For a couple of weeks I need to use the Caterham to commute to my local train station where it will be parked all day. I fitted a battery cutoff switch for the usual reason but also as an imobiliser. However, if you can remove the bonnet you can bypass the cutoff.

[davidball]

Thanks for your help but, if you can get under the bonnet you can simply reconnect these and have it away with the car. What is an MFRU?

[davidball]

You are correct. A Xflow it is. Next weekend I intend, purely as an academic exersize, to look at ways of securing the bonnet. If it is possible, without too much hassle, I will post photos.

Edited by davidball on Tuesday 10th March 08:48

Edited by davidball on Tuesday 10th March 08:49

[davidball]

Thanks for the info. I will check the website out.

[davidball]

It is about a mornings work fit locks to the bonnet.

Securing the front of the bonnet is quite easy. Drill a hole in the rear face of the brackets that house the Dzus fasteners for the nosecone. Fit a bolt of suitable length.

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/9895/imag0086.j...

The flange on the bottom edge of the bonnet slides beneath the bolt. The front of the bonnet cannot be lifted up when in place and the small lip (arrowed) on the flange stops the bonnet from being pulled sideways past the bolt.

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/6632/imag0087.j...

Securing the bonnet at the windscreen end is not so easy. You need to make a template so you know where to drill the holes for the locks in the bonnet.
I used the clear plastic from an audio cassette case so I could see better.

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/9819/imag0093.jpg

You can see from the photo I had a couple of tries to get the position right. Once done I noted the measurements from the bonnet edges (the edge nearest to the windscreen and the bottom edge). I did the passenger side first because it was easiest to get at.

I used a mild steel right angle shelf bracket for the catch, bent into a z shape as shown.

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/4162/imag0094.jpg

The lock lever engages through the hole in the bracket preventing the bonnet from being lifted up or pulled sideways. Attempts to push the bonnet forward to disengage the lock lever from the hole in the bracket fail because the bottom flanges of the bonnet butt up against the Dzus brackets.

Do not use the type of locks that have a retaining clip like I did. It is much better to use the locks that have a threaded barrel and nut to retain them