Bonnet stay.....

[mikeb]

Can somebody please post a closeup picture of the top of the bonnet stay where it attaches to the bonnet.

Mine does not seem to be attached and simply pokes though a hole in a plate in the centre of the metal rod that goes across the bonnet (with the rollers either end) and hinges around the hole(!?).

Are they supposed to be attached in some way?

MikeyB

[shpub]

Yep pretty much how it is. Some have a grommet over the end or a split pin but that is it. They usually collapse dropping the bonnet on your head if you are unlucky - hence this

[dumbfunk]

What you can do in the meanwhile is to get 2 chunky zip ties and tighten one each side of the bonnet attachment where the stay bends through 90 degrees. This will keep it in place and if you cut them off very close to the zip lock part, doesn't look too horrendous.

Just the burning fingers when it's hot issue to fix now.



dumbfunk

[Barreti]

I think you've got a pre-cat Mike haven't you, so one other option you have is to modify the stay yourself and make it worthy of being on the car.

See here..
TheGriffithPages

I've a further bit to add to that document since I wrote it. Get a 6mm rubberised 'P' clip and attach it to the top centre water pump bolt. Its absolutely perfect for pushing the bonnet stay into to hold the bonnet open.

Somebody will probably have a picture of mine from events somewhere but if not I'll happily get you some if you're interested.

Edited by Barreti on Wednesday 22 August 12:33

[mikeb]

'Yep it's a precat.

Thanks for this, it looks good. Which end of the original stay fits in the bonnet end though? the 90 bend or the less than 90 bend?

Might drill and bung a metal P-clip throught it to hold it on..

When the strut is holding the bonnet open it does look like its on the verge of breaking! So somethings gotta be done.

MikeyB

[Barreti]

You could experiment for nothing MikeyB

Using the end of the stay that goes to the wing, put a thread into it and get a small bolt which will fit into the thread.
Now get a couple of washers with small holes in them, small enough so the bolt goes through but the end of the stay wont. You could make a couple of square washers cut from a bit of ali bar or something.
Then looking from the front of the car, make sure the horizontal part of the stay - thats attached to the bonnet edges - has the plate in the middle pointing down (yours is probably pointing up now) and your new bit bolts to it like this:-
Bolt through washer through plate through washer into stay vertical rod.
If it all fixes firmly you should have a nice T strut and you're experiment is a success.

Perhaps worth a try for an hours work, although you'll have to dismantle it all again if you want to use the stay. Pesonally, I took the whole lot off the car until I got the UJ and completed the mod.

All you need then is a UJ to pop into the vertical rod and you can cut the other end to fit to the wing again (just want a 90deg bend on the end)

Actually, if you get to this stage you should also replace the washer on the back of the plate with a piece of bar thats bent backwards so the bonnet sits on it when its open. This takes the pressure off the horizontal bar and stops it flexing and looking like its about to collapse!

Hope all this makes sense, mail me if you need anything, I'll happily help if I can.

Edited by Barreti on Thursday 23 August 00:42