Bonnet Struts

[Belle427]

Has anyone successfully fitted some bonnet struts or improved the existing setup to give better access to the engine bay?
I normally prop it open wider with a brush or similar but it’s not ideal!

[cp81]

There is some on eBay;



It was one of the jobs on my list to do in lock down... be interesting to see what others have done.

[Belle427]

Thanks for the link, not sure I’d buy one though with it only being 10 mm longer.

[Monsterlime]

I have one of those, got one of the first batch when they came up on FB.

They aren’t really for the extra length, but more to do with the ease of getting it on/off and it won’t bend.

Was pretty simple to fit and the chap who made them is very helpful.

[Loubaruch]

Not on a Chimera but I cobbled together a new bonnet stay for my Griffith:

http://www.bertram-hill.com/bonnet-stay.html

[Belle427]

Thanks guys.
Probably a non starter as the strut length and strength is critical, I see looking back at previous threads that not many have tried.

[Zener]

When I did mine gained over 110mm in length .

[cp81]

Nice. Did you make this yourself?

[Zener]

Yes but it's easy enough, I am sure if you ask that guy to make it longer he could, mine is a MK1 car and this much opening is still before the bonnet contacts the grill rubber surround , I would presume he don't go to long on his kit to accommodate the MK2 bonnet opening less maybe etc ....possibly , in all fairness I carry thread taps etc so was not a problem for me raw material easy to source in right spec

Edited by Zener on Saturday 9th May 09:40

[bobfather]

All this talk got me thinking. I'd already replaced my flimsy aluminium tube strut with a piece of 8mm stainless bar but I also find it irritatingly short. A quick look through my stock of random bits and some time later I now have this variable height strut with a maximum over 1300mm but I'm happy at 1200mm. Still needs fettling but it works perfectly well and holds the bonnet solidly. I'm going to look around for a better adjuster clamp as that one looks a bit OTT

Edited by bobfather on Saturday 9th May 17:55

[VerySideways]

Zener said:

When I did mine gained over 110mm in length

Sorry, O/T, what's the ignition setup in that picture?

[Zener]

They are dual Ford coil packs as I run Megasquirt have done since about 2010

[VerySideways]

Zener said:

They are dual Ford coil packs as I run Megasquirt have done since about 2010