Hinged at last

[tu51john]

I have eventually had a go at hinging my bonnet. I have mk1 2001. Thanks must go to Peter Bremms for the initial idea and Glow worm for helping with the dimensions. Also to my father in law for his welding skills.

I have taken a load of photos and recorded my trials and tribulations. I have spent about 50 quid so far, I still need to sort out the struts. I have left the middle nuts and top fasteners. Ther bonnet opens fully to allow access to pretty much everything. The service bonnet can either be opened with the main bonnet or separately.
The bonnet takes about 2 mins to open now, I may have a bit of a play about with quick release nuts or Dzus fasteners and see how I get on.

The first job was to make a template. With Glow worms help I was able to work out the exact size needed.

[tu51john]

I\have made a spare set if anyone wants them at cost.... Hinges were 10 quid.The bar was a fiver and the welding was free...

[glow worm]

Well done John, glad Peter's solution works as well on a MK1. If you can come up with a good solution for the mid-point nuts I'd aprreciate it. Currently I'm using shear nuts cut down in height ('cos one side of the bonnet lies much higher than the other) with rubber superglued top and bottom. I only do them up finger tight to pull the bonnet down.
Doing it yourself was a lot cheaper than mine...

[tu51john]

The longer leg is 120mm long, the shorter one is 40mm. The flat bar is 6mm thick. The bullet hinges were bought online at Ironmongers.co.uk and and are 100mm long.

[tu51john]

[tu51john]

The scary bit came next - taking a hacksaw to the main bonnet took a bit of courage.

[tu51john]

[tu51john]

Im crap at IT if you hadn't guessed = photos are all over the place.

[tu51john]

The bolts are M10 x 40mm with nylocks - the corners were reinforced with extra fibreglass to spread the load.

I only had to cut the tinies piece out of the grille.... and only on the nearside.

[tu51john]

[tu51john]

[tu51john]

[tu51john]

The rear of the bolts has been reinforced with additional fibreglass.

[tu51john]

[tu51john]

[tu51john]

It didnt actually involve cutting that much off...

[tu51john]

[tu51john]

I had to cut a small v out of the service bonnet at the fixing bolts to allow it to close around the new hinges.
The service bonnet catch had to come off as it was catching the main bonnet - haven't fathomed that one out yet.
The bonnet opens more than expected- you can easily get to the lights etc...
I know there is an argument that the bonnet gives structural integrity - but its at least as strong as it was. As I said earlier its still bolted at the middle.

Once I get the struts fitted it will be even more rubust.

Thats about it for now.

Glow worm- thanks. Ill keep you posted re fasteners.

[BGB autosport]

You have mail....

[tu51john]