hey guys i would like to fit bonnet lock downs to the four corners of my bonnet so i can have a removeable bonnet so its easier to work on just wondering if anyone has done it before and how they did it what type of lock downs did you use. any pics would be great to.
cheers

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Cheers Dan

FIRST COMES THE MONEY, THEN COMES THE POWER, THEN COMES THE WOMEN.!!

You might think that it is easier to work on but in reality they are a pain in the arse. You end up chipping the paint off all the corners of the bonnet and when you are doing quick road testing you end up having to lift the whole bonnet off when you would normally just lift the front and give the dizzy a fiddle or the carby or whatever.

The old trick was to cut a slot in the bonnet hinge to make a hook so you could use the bonnet normally or you could lift the bonnet off just as quick as using pins.

A couple of problems with pins...
If they are made from aluminum they will break.
If they are made from die-cast they will break.
If they are made from steel they will rust. (Even when painted because they will wear the paint off where they rub in the holes)
Kids pinch the locking pins.
You forget the pins and your bonnet flies off.
You end up leaning on the pin while you are leaning over the back of the engine and you remove a testicle.

yes, it just neded to be highlighted!

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speed costs....how fast do you want to go...

[quote="Morris 1100"]A couple of problems with pins...
If they are made from aluminum they will break.
If they are made from die-cast they will break.
If they are made from steel they will rust. (Even when painted because they will wear the paint off where they rub in the holes)
Kids pinch the locking pins.

Kids pinch your bonnet!

You forget the pins and your bonnet flies off.
You end up leaning on the pin while you are leaning over the back of the engine and you remove a testicle.
[/quote]

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"Show me the Mini!"

This is what you are looking for mate, somthing like this.

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*Reasonable pricing
*I come to you..
Jay: 0431404607

I did it for looks, and because i got pissed of when first re installing everything back into my car after painting that it would make life easier....NOT AT ALL! yes you get less back aches when working on your car, but for short fixes, like said above, igniton etc, hinges are great. When you do want to remove your bonnet, it's four nuts to undo, not hard at all. Now if it's for looks thats different cos it does look tough but yes, i'm waiting till my pins get stolen, cos they will. I only did two at the back tho, my front is still secured by normal release with safety catch. But it looks cool with only two at the back.

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1964 Morris 850, 1330 Supercharged - 81.8hp atws.
1975 Leyland Mini S 1100S powered - Nice and reliable.
1977 Leyland Mini LS - Project LS-T

ok having a removeable bonnet sounds liike not a very good idea i mainly wanted to do it because i thought i would be easyer to work on and cause i can't find a bonnet latching mechanism anywhere.

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Cheers Dan

FIRST COMES THE MONEY, THEN COMES THE POWER, THEN COMES THE WOMEN.!!

if you have a roundnose get some leather straps....if you have a clubman get some pins.

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real men race downhill - keiichi tsuchiya

yeah i like the look of the black straps but will they pull the bonnet down hard enough to stop it from vibrating without the bonnet latch

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Cheers Dan

FIRST COMES THE MONEY, THEN COMES THE POWER, THEN COMES THE WOMEN.!!

Whats under the hood thats causing so much vibration?

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Roundies Rule !!!

Bonnet straps are better then the latch.. mini bonnets have been known to fly off at high enough speeds.. hence the straps.

a big v8 na i wish i just thought the bonnet would vibrate cause theres no bonnet latch.

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Cheers Dan

FIRST COMES THE MONEY, THEN COMES THE POWER, THEN COMES THE WOMEN.!!

I have travelled from sydney to canberra and back in my hot breathing 1380cc with 4.11 ratio high reving motor and never had any problems, no straps, just the standard dog pin.

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Roundies Rule !!!

i dont have the proper latch either, and ive been using a single leather strap for close to 4 years...take my car rallying all the time...as long as you fasten the strap properly im sure you'll be fine......it worked for the works mini rally cars.......

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real men race downhill - keiichi tsuchiya

cool thats what ill do ill buy some strapes for it
cheers guys for your help

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Cheers Dan

FIRST COMES THE MONEY, THEN COMES THE POWER, THEN COMES THE WOMEN.!!