That Fllippin bonnet thread again

[gonte]

Hi

Just spent the day sorting my Mk1 bonnet as per Petrol Head Pete's idea and it works perfectly. The only annoying thing still is I cant get my sausage fingers in to release the catches. Has anyone had any bright ideas on solving this, or do i just carry on with the plastic spatula?

Thanks

Steve

Edited by gonte on Monday 30th May 20:31

[blueg33]

I carry some thin plastic tube

[nrick]

Any photo's, I may concede that having had the bonnet on and off constantly for the last few weeks, I might be interested......

[gonte]

Have a look at this thread, its got a few different ideas on it. I used petrolheadpete's version as I didn't want to drill the surface of the bonnet. Also I used a section of coachbolt for the side support pin so I could have a litle more adjustment with a bolt and penny washer either side to get the main allen bolt hole in the right place in respect to the service bonnet holes.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... bonnet

Edit ; -Sorry forgot to add the link

Steve

Edited by gonte on Monday 30th May 21:08

[PetrolHeadPete]

Good stuff
Works well doesnt it
And seems a bit, well, less complex than some of the other solutions
Imo

[gonte]

Hi Pete

I like the way you can open either the service or full bonnet. Just got it back with a LS engine in it so it needed to be done to get to the oil etc. What did you use for props, the broom handle looks a bit chunky at the moment:-) Also do you still use the fixing points mid way up the bonnet?

Steve

[nrick]

thanks fellas...

[PetrolHeadPete]

gonte said:

Hi Pete

I like the way you can open either the service or full bonnet. Just got it back with a LS engine in it so it needed to be done to get to the oil etc. What did you use for props, the broom handle looks a bit chunky at the moment:-) Also do you still use the fixing points mid way up the bonnet?

Steve

I use some chromed steel tubes (one each side) that hinge down from the main bonnet. They are held by a magnet up by the push-to-release clips. They fold down and sit into the cup of s/s allen head bolt that I plastic coated (they are bolted in where the old main mounting bolts were at the crest of the wheel arch "mound"). Works a treat. Each prop is strong enough to hold the bonnet up on its own, so you can set it open on one while you walk round to fit the 2nd one.

Word of caution, I dumped the service bonnet metal prop after a tvr garage (whole shall remain nameless) managed to wedge into an position that caused a big scrape of paint to be removed from the inside of the wing when I next opened the main bonnet. Buggar!

I never open the service bonnet any more. No point.

[Robertjp]

PetrolHeadPete said:

I use some chromed steel tubes (one each side) that hinge down from the main bonnet. They are held by a magnet up by the push-to-release clips. They fold down and sit into the cup of s/s allen head bolt that I plastic coated (they are bolted in where the old main mounting bolts were at the crest of the wheel arch "mound"). Works a treat. Each prop is strong enough to hold the bonnet up on its own, so you can set it open on one while you walk round to fit the 2nd one.

Word of caution, I dumped the service bonnet metal prop after a tvr garage (whole shall remain nameless) managed to wedge into an position that caused a big scrape of paint to be removed from the inside of the wing when I next opened the main bonnet. Buggar!

I never open the service bonnet any more. No point.

Pete, where did you get your hinges??

[gonte]

Hi Pete I was thinking along the same lines. How did you fix the rods to the bonnet as I was thinking of the reverse with the rods fixed to the car so to speak and the other ends locating to the top locking pins. Also did you reinforce the fibre glass at the hinge and rod area?

Steve

[PetrolHeadPete]

Made hinges from some s/s bracketry from local marine store
Chemical metal (to set position and fill between hinge and bonnet) + fibre glassed for strength

Yes, re-inforced service bonnet hinge points with fibre glass too (see original thread for pics)

In the image below you can see i've used some rubber tube round the pivot to "hold" the struts...stops them dropping accidentally

[gonte]

Thanks, of to the Welsh Harp Boat Centre ASAP then !

Steve

[Walford]

Would be nice to see some pics of LS and flip bonnet, am doing the same thing myself, but having problems getting it to open enough, it hits the front grill

[PetrolHeadPete]

Cant help you there sorry

The bonnet does touch the number plate if you open it a little higher...but doesnt matter for sp6 cos there's loads of room to work as it is

[Walford]

PetrolHeadPete said:

Cant help you there sorry

The bonnet does touch the number plate if you open it a little higher...but doesnt matter for sp6 cos there's loads of room to work as it is

Thanks am sorted now,

Gave up on simple single pivot hinge, just looked a bit kit-car, with the bonnet half open

Also wanted to be able to do full service, jobs like serpentine belt change and wash out oil tank, i know its only once a year but when i had the half opening bonnet, it became a 2 man job to get the bonnet on/off

[navinf]

Walford: really impressed with your bonnet conversion. Looks great!
From the photo, it does not look like you have followed PetrolHead Pete's idea. What hinges are you using?
Any chance of a close up pic of the mechanism?
How much fibreglass modification did you have to do?
Bonnet modification and front-end re-spray on my priority list of things to get done...

[Walford]

yes had to cut quite a lot off the engine cover, but its under the service bonnet now so can't be seen

woulld not want to fit them to a painted car, not saying it it could,nt be done, just need to be very carfull