LOOK no bonnet stay!

[shoggyraminator]

Fed up with using the the OEM pin stick to hold the bonnet up and waiting for it to fall down, so changed it to these. Well chuffed, best mod yet!

[jonbarrett]

Love it, I want one. Could you do some more detailed pics of the mounting points and let me have a spec for the rams.

[T_Pot]

my first thought was does the lightweight bonnet need 2 struts? is it possible the stress of closing could damage the glass in any way?

great idea though i have to say

[FarmyardPants]

When you unlock the bonnet does it open by itself?

[Barkychoc]

Just pray the bonnet catch doesn't come undone while you're driving

[greenm]

Love it, I have a LW and with the one up its all a bit twisty and unsafe and in any wind just dangerous were do I get them can you spec did you just epoxy them on or bolt to the car and epoxy to the bonnet?? Details please please??

[shoggyraminator]

Barkychoc said:

Just pray the bonnet catch doesn't come undone while you're driving

Not a problem as when the bonnet is down the rams are horizontal effectively pushing the bonnet backwards and not up. You have to lift it to about 30 deg before the rams really push the bonnet upwards. Took ages planning the right position and angles etc etc. It was a bit of a gamble but it paid off. Now the bonnet lifts straight up and there is no twisting action as you got with the tooth pick job the car comes with.

I'll take more photos and write up the process later as some of you appear to be interested in doing this as well.

[JensenA]

I like it

[Gazzab]

I was asking Raceproved about doing this to mine a few weeks ago. I hate the oem bonnet stay. I love the idea of one like yours and if it doesnt lift the bonnet either then it sounds perfect. So long as I dont have to cut or drill anything...? (oop edited to state that I see you do need to drill holes....)

Edited by Gazzab on Thursday 24th June 23:51

[Gazzab]

T_Pot said:

my first thought was does the lightweight bonnet need 2 struts? is it possible the stress of closing could damage the glass in any way?

great idea though i have to say

The lightweight bonnet is the same weight I think as the standard bonnet?

[T_Pot]

Gazzab said:

T_Pot said:

my first thought was does the lightweight bonnet need 2 struts? is it possible the stress of closing could damage the glass in any way?

great idea though i have to say

The lightweight bonnet is the same weight I think as the standard bonnet?

which being fiberglass is much lighter than a normal metal bonnet, which doesn't need 2 rams and doesn't stress and crack with the pressure of the rams/ my thoughts are unless the rams lift that perfectly throughout the angle arch, then it could easily apply force to the fixing points of the glass, which will crack it

[Gazzab]

T_Pot said:

Gazzab said:

T_Pot said:

my first thought was does the lightweight bonnet need 2 struts? is it possible the stress of closing could damage the glass in any way?

great idea though i have to say

The lightweight bonnet is the same weight I think as the standard bonnet?

which being fiberglass is much lighter than a normal metal bonnet, which doesn't need 2 rams and doesn't stress and crack with the pressure of the rams/ my thoughts are unless the rams lift that perfectly throughout the angle arch, then it could easily apply force to the fixing points of the glass, which will crack it

Sorry you are referring to fiberglass as lighter than metal not an LW model. I think you are suggesting one ram might be better so as to avoid stresses on the mountings during the 'arching' during opening and raising. Good question.

[morebeanz]

You may have a point, but the existing set up already stresses the mounting points and bonnet hinges due to twist.

I've had to have the drivers side hinge on the bonnet repaired three times now, so I'll be keen to see a good result from this...

[Gazzab]

I guess the boot lid mech and struts etc isa reasonable comparison?

[shoggyraminator]

Gazzab said:

T_Pot said:

Gazzab said:

T_Pot said:

my first thought was does the lightweight bonnet need 2 struts? is it possible the stress of closing could damage the glass in any way?

great idea though i have to say

The lightweight bonnet is the same weight I think as the standard bonnet?

which being fiberglass is much lighter than a normal metal bonnet, which doesn't need 2 rams and doesn't stress and crack with the pressure of the rams/ my thoughts are unless the rams lift that perfectly throughout the angle arch, then it could easily apply force to the fixing points of the glass, which will crack it

Sorry you are referring to fiberglass as lighter than metal not an LW model. I think you are suggesting one ram might be better so as to avoid stresses on the mountings during the 'arching' during opening and raising. Good question.

One ram would not lift the bonnet or hold it up. Also having one at each side of the bonnet raises it without twisting it or putting side stress on the hinges as you do when normally lifting. The ram is attached to the bonnet with large rubber nuts like the rawl nuts and the wing end attached with large penny washers to distribute any load more evenly onto the fibreglass area. But look at it like this. The original pin stick forces all the weight of the bonnet onto one small bracket on the wing held down with a few small bolts. My rams half the weight to each side.

[Gazzab]

what car are the rams from? Nothing german I hope! ;-)

[shoggyraminator]

Gazzab said:

what car are the rams from? Nothing german I hope! ;-)

Well depends on your view Omega as they have the essential bracket on them. Full instructions to come over the weekend for thoes who are interested in doing this.

[morebeanz]

Thanks, chap. Definitely interested given how often I have had to repair twisted hinges...

[markh1]

I have an omega, will have a butchers at the brackets when i get home!

Looks a great mod btw!

[julian64]

Sorry, but don't do this.

I ended up with terrible problems on the Cobra due to the boot and bonnet rams, and eventually took them off.

The Cerb will likely suffer from the same problem.

The bonnet is fiberglass, and when closed the rams will be pushing on the fiberglass of the bonnet. Eventually the paintwork above will craze with the contant flex and you will see fine cracks in the fiberglass that will slowly extend over time. The damage is difficult to repair, can't be filled, and usually requires a section replaced, which is what I eventually had to have done.

Fiberglass can be damaged by contant pressure/flex in a way that metal can't. Metal either withstands it or bends in the first five minutes. Fiberglass will slowly destroy progressively over a few years.

Unless the rams are very clever. I believe the rams they use in BMW's actually stop pushing when they are collapsed beyond a certain point. I would advise looking for these sort of rams if they exist.