Bad-Boy Bonnet

[Paul]

I am thinking of doing a bad-boy bonnet. I don't want to buy one, but I am thinking of making one myself. Could anyone give me any tips on how to do this, I was thinking of doing the following:

:arrow: Firstly buy the fox-style plastic ones as a guide to depth, then get some metal. (unsure of thickness and wot material?!?)
:arrow: Next I was going to cut out the metal using the eyebrows a s a template but leave a bit more underneath so I could fold it back up on itself at the edges, If you know what i mean.
:arrow: Then I was going to fold it all back on itself, to strengthen it and filler this to make it smooth, like a lip in the back arches when you fold that back.
:arrow: Then I was going to weld this onto the bonnet, and smooth sand etc. (Know how to get that bit perfect/ or near enough)
:arrow: Then came the major problem, I'm unsure of what to do when it comes to actually opening the bonnet, could u slide you hand under and reach the catch or would I need to buy some sort of mechanism to get the bonnet open?

Any hints are much appreciated, and CONSTRUCTIVE criticism on my idea. Many thanks people.

Cheers Paul :?

[privatepie]

use steel about 4-5 mm thick should do the job nicely

[mark_GSi]

u will need 2 remove the saftey catch on the bonnet and just use the catch under tha dash

[ade]

OR drill a small hole in the bonnet catch and run a cable from it to the bottom of the car that you can just pull to release when you need access.

[mikeoxford]

u will need 2 remove the saftey catch on the bonnet and just use the catch under tha dash

thats clever idea

never thought of that

although i think ades way is a bit safer!

itd be possible to wire a solenoid to the saftey catch if u wanted to be really posh as this dont need much force to hold it open, but you dont really need to do that.

u cudnt however use a solenoid for the inital boot pop as it wouldnt be strong enough

[Paul]

Cheers lad, but what do you think about the actual idea? would it work or wud it be wank? i.e. the step by step thing? Just thought it would look sweet, but i dont want to spend ?150 getting one done.

Cheers Paul

[?Marty?]

It's not quite a 'welding the extension onto the edge of the bonnet' mod though mate.

Normally, the two skins are separated, and the extension is welded in inbetween the skins, then smoothed in and etc.

As for opening the bonnet, just use a modified Mk3 Escort catch, or cut a piece out the grille low enough to get your fingers into it, but high enough so the new edge of the bonnet covers it when it's down.

You can get steel bad-boy bonnet extensions from ccm (though i wouldn't wait for delivery as you'll never get it) for ?50, which will need welding on.

Just get a secondhand bonnet (?20) and some steel, and have a go. Don't buy the eyebrows. Not needed (and wrong shape too).

Either make a template (cardboard) or just weld an extension on, mark out where you want the lines, and jig them. Then tidy it all up, strengthen it and smooth it all over etc.

You'll still need to have the bonnet re-sprayed too.