XR2/Beemer E30 style bonnet....

[matt_vaughan]

Bare with me here.......(as I seem to be trying to copy a Ford lol)

I've currently got bonnet pins attaching my "lightened" bonnet to my car. However, it rattles like hell, and is a pain up the preverbial when the wind's blowing and I think i've pi55ed all the brake fluidlol

So, I thought about doing something different and having a look at an XR2/E30 beemer style front tilt bonnet.

Anyone know of anyone trying this before, or anyone an XR2/E30 genius that could explain the method behind how the hinges work on those cars?

Cheers

[L33 LEG]

iv often thought of doing this. surely it cant be that hard Lol. however, it will be massively inpractical, imo. saying that tho, R5s and XR2s get away with it.

[Pistol Pete]

Wouldnt have thought you would be able to do this without serious bodgery pokery with some hinges. Will need to clear the grill/headlights and indicators (if its a mk1).

[loggyboy]

mk1/m2 fiesta is a simple hinge with the geometry aranged so that it clears the grill and lights.
The e30 arrange ment is MUCH more complicated, when you pull the bonnet release (or stick a screwdriver in the secret hole in the grill) the bonnet springs/slides forward about 6 inches, allowing you open the bonnet and not only clear the front panel, but give more access to the front edge of the car.

[L33 LEG]

[quote=loggyboy] (or stick a screwdriver in the secret hole in the grill) quote]

lol thats what iv got to do

[matt_vaughan]

I was thinking some sort of uber long bracket from the bumper iron, then up through a "modified" grill and have the hinges located in the grill.

I'll try draw something up and see if it'll work.

By the way it'll be going on a mk2

[loggyboy]

Just get down a breakers and whip the hinges of an older car, its not just mk1/2 fezzs and e30s that have them

[Jack]

Saloon boot hinges...? Remove the springs (wouldn't be strong enough to lift the bonnet anyway) and they should be ok - they lift the bootlid up and away from the base of the rear window too so could be good for lifting the bonnet over the front grille

[philly]

you will need some form of 2 stage hinges i would imagine like the BMW ones.

first ones would be to raise the bonnet up a few inches or slide it forward.

the easiest way for you to do this is to buy 2 lengths of wood, use one as a guide for the top of the front frame and the other as the bonnet and play about with some hinges from a scrap yard.

if you can find out where the hinges fix onto both the fiesta and bmw then it shouldnt be to hard to replicate with them brackets but may have to make up some fixing brackets to accomadte the difference in the cars body shapes and lines.

[AlexW]

Clio Mk1. enough said

[matt_vaughan]

Clio Mk1. enough said

Genius!

[matt_vaughan]

Had a look at how Clio mk1 bonnets fix on, and found a pretty poor pic of a williams with bonnet open.

http://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t336/matt_vaughan_2008/maci3.jpg

It would seem they hang off with a strut and two hinges and kind of hang off the front.

Perhaps making the grill and bonnet one piece means I could do it this way(would be pretty individual!)
NOT SMOOTHED, just attached together behind.

[matt_vaughan]

http://www.car-accidents.com/pics/carphotos/8-22-01-a.jpg

Hinges?

[L33 LEG]

if its any use to you i could take some pics of my e30 bonnet hinges...

[L14MNP]

I'll see if I can find any of my old mk1 xr2, as Loggy says it's simple as the way they attach. Problem with front hinging bonnets on Fiestas/Clios etc is access though, hence people always removing them lol My 360 hinges forwards too but thats fine with it being RWD.

*edit
Cant find any decent ones of mine. Here's a lads I sold some parts to and my mates though. As you can see it bolts to the slam panel via two hinges on the bonnet, there's also the spring/stay thats bolted to the bonnet and inner wing - easy to adapt (he's removed it though, you can see where it bolts to the wing in front of the battery.
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s247/eurojdmp11/mk1%20xr2/T45%2018%20Zetec/DSC00402.jpg?t=1232583174
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s247/eurojdmp11/mk1%20xr2/BKN%20495Y/DSC00160.jpg?t=1232583268http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Con2K/Fiesta%20Mk1%20XR2/DSC03196.jpg?t=1232583839
and a random one for you lol
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Con2K/Fiesta%20Mk1%20XR2/DSC04292.jpg?t=1232583983

[L14MNP]

Had a look at how Clio mk1 bonnets fix on, and found a pretty poor pic of a williams with bonnet open.

http://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t336/matt_vaughan_2008/maci3.jpg

It would seem they hang off with a strut and two hinges and kind of hang off the front.

Perhaps making the grill and bonnet one piece means I could do it this way(would be pretty individual!)
NOT SMOOTHED, just attached together behind.

That's a bonnet stay/rod dude not a strut.

Also your grille would have to be pretty strong to support the weight of the bonnet IMO.

Check Austins RWD machine, full flip front clamshell job FTW lol

[bai1ey]

cud you not find a slim line hinge that bolted to the top of the wing where its bolts to the car in the gutter and the bonnet.
i now this my sound daft and you carnt use one but like on a kitchen(sp) cupberd(sp)

[L14MNP]

Just reading back through, the E30 setup sounds the same as my Volvo, they 'float' after you release the bonnet catch. Needlessly overengineered IMO lol The XR2, mk1 in particular will be just the job as the leading edge of the bonnet is pretty much the same as a Nova.

[matt_vaughan]

if its any use to you i could take some pics of my e30 bonnet hinges...

That would be great cheers mate.

Going to go have a scour through passionford and other ford forums to try find some piccies of xr2 bonnets and their hinges.