Even more flippin' bonnets
Discussion
Just been to see mine at Surface & Design... looking good, now to see if we can get some gas struts in, otherwise we'll use small struts in the same place. Don't ask for the price...it's not been calculated yet. I've used Peter Brems design.. he kindly sent me all the dimensions that he'd used.... http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
But mine will be the first convertible with a lifting bonnet...I think???
But mine will be the first convertible with a lifting bonnet...I think???
Edited by glow worm on Wednesday 28th January 19:10
Where exactly are S&D?Andy, they're at the TVR Business Park, Bristol Avenue,Blackpool.... renting the TVR development area from Peter Wheeler. They comprise Andy Windsor (ex TVR designer), Dave (not sure of his surname) Fabrication Specialist (GRP and metal), Mick (Fabrication), and Malcolm Ashworth (TVR paint sprayer Potato Muncher on here). Top lads.
Edited by glow worm on Thursday 29th January 14:19
Good point Andy, I must say that's something I meant to check on Wednesday and forgot about, in all the excitement..... Think I should be able to take the panels off with the bonnet raised, I'm pretty slim...It will be a question of how high the bonnet is , in relation to gaining access to the panels. With Peter's design , you don't loose anything... the worse thing is that you just take off the whole bonnet as before...but I must say access to the lights is one thing I would like to be able to do with the hinged bonnet (maybe Peter can comment ???)....especially since my sidelights (both) finished up the the front wing void, after they fell out.
We've decided to keep the inspection bonnet attached to main bonnet at the centre point (just release the end push in ends), so both bonnets are lifted together. If you were to raise it higher then it would start to foul at the top. This way the inspection bonnet stay can be left un-touched, and no change if you just want to open the inspection bonnet. Now S&D have used mine a guinea pig, get away with minor paintwork... and I'd guess anything cut away would only be visible with the inspection bonnet up.
The main bonnet is pretty heavy when coming down and I think without gas struts it could be a handfull. They were original pressurised for 400 Newton Metres...and you couldn't move them....Dave said he's let a lot of the nitrogen out through the bleed screw...You want then stiff enough to support the bonnet, but soft enough so the fibreglass doesn't get stressed.
I've got spare inspection bonnet,front grill and spliters si I want them sprayed up at the same time as the rest of the car... plus a few stones chips.... and S&D are going to give the bonnet an extra special smoothing. I find if the bonnet is really shiney , I can see fibreglass "pull"/sanding marks in the curves of the bonnet...Hence the front end respray.
Opens high enough to get at the light panels, so OK I think... Plus my TVR Service man has OK'ed it for access...If necessay you can still take the whole bonnet off as before...just undo the hinges at the front and disconnect the struts.
The main bonnet is pretty heavy when coming down and I think without gas struts it could be a handfull. They were original pressurised for 400 Newton Metres...and you couldn't move them....Dave said he's let a lot of the nitrogen out through the bleed screw...You want then stiff enough to support the bonnet, but soft enough so the fibreglass doesn't get stressed.
I've got spare inspection bonnet,front grill and spliters si I want them sprayed up at the same time as the rest of the car... plus a few stones chips.... and S&D are going to give the bonnet an extra special smoothing. I find if the bonnet is really shiney , I can see fibreglass "pull"/sanding marks in the curves of the bonnet...Hence the front end respray.
Opens high enough to get at the light panels, so OK I think... Plus my TVR Service man has OK'ed it for access...If necessay you can still take the whole bonnet off as before...just undo the hinges at the front and disconnect the struts.
Edited by glow worm on Monday 9th February 20:18
Very nice indeed, good job S&D! Will they be putting a "package price" together for this conversion perhaps? I'm interested in possibly getting my motor up there for a front-end respray at some point anyway so might see if I can tie this in with that,
You must be dead chuffed Keith,
Andy
You must be dead chuffed Keith,
Andy
Been to look at progress on the respray today, and to give the oil tank etc. a bit of spit and polish.Carbon Airbox on order... Here are the pics... Well chuffed Andy 
.... Malcolm (Potato Muncher) has done a brilliant job matching... and Dave & Mike have given the bonnet a perfect mirror finish... far far better than when TVR supplied the car new...All my "spare" front end panels sprayed at the same time to match (I'll soon have enough spare bits to build a 2nd car!!)
A understand there's now a waiting list for "flippin" bonnets at S&D... and at a very good price.
.... Malcolm (Potato Muncher) has done a brilliant job matching... and Dave & Mike have given the bonnet a perfect mirror finish... far far better than when TVR supplied the car new...All my "spare" front end panels sprayed at the same time to match (I'll soon have enough spare bits to build a 2nd car!!)A understand there's now a waiting list for "flippin" bonnets at S&D... and at a very good price.
Edited by glow worm on Thursday 5th March 19:30
I'm not in any rush, so I told them to take their time. I also kept away, 'cos I would have had a nervous breakdown, seeing my P&J down to raw fibreglass. The whole of the front end has had ALL paint removed and re-surfaced. Just waiting for plateing of bright steel hinge components to ensure no rust, everything else is stainless.
Edited by glow worm on Friday 6th March 00:02
Hi
Can you tell me how the main bonnet is held down on the S&D conversion as Speed Culture have just finished designing a bonnet hinge system and it allows the use of two bonnet latches and a pull cable like on a normal car I will post pictures very soon if any one is interested message me. The reason I ask about how S&D's is held down is Speed Culture had concerns about the bonnet staying down under high speed and hard braking and found the best way around this was two latches on the bonnet.
Can you tell me how the main bonnet is held down on the S&D conversion as Speed Culture have just finished designing a bonnet hinge system and it allows the use of two bonnet latches and a pull cable like on a normal car I will post pictures very soon if any one is interested message me. The reason I ask about how S&D's is held down is Speed Culture had concerns about the bonnet staying down under high speed and hard braking and found the best way around this was two latches on the bonnet.
Just picked my car up and paid the bill (wasn't too bad), and I must say I'm chuffed to bits. Time to start polishing the engine bay. I'll be taking it to Chatsworth, so if anyone wants a look they can see it there in the flesh. I must thank Peter Bremm in Switzerland for his idea and the diagrams/measurements he sent me, and Surface & Design (Andy,Dave,Malcolm and Mick) for the superb job they have done. Sorry if it sounds like an advert, but I suppose it is.
I've been driving my Chim 450 for the last two months and had forgot quite how quick a Tuscan is!!!!
I've been driving my Chim 450 for the last two months and had forgot quite how quick a Tuscan is!!!!
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