Chimaera woes on day one from a TVR virgin.

[wedgebob]

Ok, it's my fault, I wanted a challenge. Having restored countless TR7's I thought that I would test myself and have taken delivery of a non-runner Chimaera. I pulled the bonnet release and it came all the way out, oops. Any idea how to lift the bonnet without causing damage? Is it the driver side front wheel and inner wheel arch off trick or is there something even more ingenious?

[Steve_D]

You will not get anywhere near it from the wheel arch. You will need to get right under the car. The latch is over towards the drivers side so you will need to get something up past the exhaust manifold to release the latch.

Steve

[OleVix]

oh baby jesus that sounds impossible...

[wedgebob]

Thanks for that and bugger!

[Steve_D]

Just been thinking some more on this....scares me that a customer may want me to do it one day.

Anyway..look at this thread... http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... where there is a picture of the bulkhead masked and painted.
If you look at the area just forward of the drivers side wiper spindle there is a bump out on the bulkhead. That is where the latch is mounted.
You can see the latch in this thread http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
which will also show that your release tool is going to have to come up the face of the bulkhead around the brake pipes. I suspect you will need to take the starter motor off first.

Steve

[Alan461]

Drill a hole in the tub next to the bonnet cable (from the footwell)
and operate the catch with a dowel etc. pushed from the footwell.
Work out where to go with the dowel (and hole) with image searches on the web
May take many attempts to do this but you only have to win once.

[s p a c e m a n]

Just try pulling the bonnet up where the latch is, wriggle it about a bit. They're not exactly the most secure latch in the world, I'm certain mine would give way before I did any fiberglass damage, the latch would slide right off the bolts securing it to the bulkhead.

[QBee]

If it's not the tightest fit, you might release it simply by putting your hand against the back edge of the bonnet about a foot in from the edge, driver's side, and pushing it horizontally towards the front of the car. A couple of people flexing the middle of the bonnet upwards, to accentuate the front to back curve, might also help, but be careful - they are very expensive to replace. Until my catch was adjusted hard down, my bonnet would auto-open at 135 mph, purely the effect of the air pressure under it flexing it

The part of the catch mechanism attached to the bonnet is a simple horizontal rod that points straight towards the driver. It is this that you are trying to push forwards out of the catch mechanism that is attached to the bulkhead. Ask if you want photos.

Edited by QBee on Thursday 31st March 06:43

[ChilliWhizz]

Here's one I made earlier... Catch is to the right of the bonnet stay directly under the wiper...

[pwd95]

Happened to me on a previous Chim. Fashion a wire coat hanger in to a hook & get wriggling.....
Won't take long. Hook it under the catch from the passenger side & pull.

[wedgebob]

Superb! Thank you everyone, I am off this weekend and will let you know which one worked first.If you don.t hear from me then I am still underneath the bloody thing!

[Steve_D]

Was working on one today and was taking the starter motor off.
Now have to report my original thoughts of getting at the latch with the starter off will not work you still can't get past the exhaust.
I imagine the fishing with wire may be the next best option.

Steve

[Engineer1949]

then get rid of the catch and fit bonnet pins also handy if the battery goes flat to get a charge in there


john

[bobfather]

ChilliWhizz said:

Here's one I made earlier... Catch is to the right of the bonnet stay directly under the wiper...

Here's mine, very simple and easy

Cable through the return spring hole





Then through the scuttle grill, out of sight when the bonnet is down