Installing Bonnet Pins
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Installing Bonnet Pins
Introduction.
Bonnet pins are normally found on motor sport prepared vehicles. They allow a firm method of keeping a vehicles bonnet closed as well as allowing quick access to the engine bay by the mechanics (if the standard latch mechanism is removed)
In an extreme off road environment, the twisting of the chassis over undulating terrain could cause the standard latch mechanism to release the bonnet catch, although with minimal speed, there is little opportunity for the bonnet to fly open , causing windscreen damage and loss of visibility.
Difficulty
Easy
Time Required
1 hour
Availability
Bonnet pins should be available from motor sport equipment stockists, some motor factors and Halfords (amongst others). Prices around £5 - £10 a pair.
Tools Required
- 3.5mm drill bit
- 4-22mm step drill
- Cordless drill
- 22mm spanner
- Gaffa tape
- Rivet gun (hand operated)
- Paint, small brush, thinners
Method
First, locate a suitable place to drill through the bonnet - I chose a pre-punched hole in the bonnet, near the rubber height adjuster:
Drilling up through this hole with the 3.5mm drill until it perforated the outer skin of the bonnet. Once through, I closed the bonnet and using the step drill, bored the hole out to 16mm.
Opening the bonnet again and now working from the inside, the inner hole in the double skin was opened up to 22mm.
The area on the slam panel I thought the stud would fit was covered with some gaffa tape. The bonnet was then closed fully and the stud lowed into the hole. Once I was happy it was in the right position, I gave the stud a sharp tap (with my 22mm A/F spanner which was close to hand) thus making a mark in the gaffa tape. The bonnet was reopened and a 3.5mm hole drilled followed by the step drill up to 14mm.
Due to the location of the studs, the headlamp cowell would not allow the stud to seat vertically, so having measured 5 times, I cut the stud to it's new length - now it would fit vertically and square.
Next, the holes on the driver side were drilled along the same lines as above.
The studs were loosely bolted in to position and the bonnet closed. Once the pin mounts were slotted over the stud, one rivet hole was drilled. With a rivet loosely fitted in hole 1, hole 2 was drilled and finaly with a rivet in hole 2, hole 3 was drilled. All the bare metal edges were now given a lick of paint and allowed to dry over the afternoon.
Before riveting the pin mounts, The connection between the pin and the stud was adjusted by rotating the stud (screwing it in or out), before finally riveting the pin mount plate in position. Then, the studs could be tightened up after final adjustment.
Submitted By:
Trugga, 30th August 2008
Forum Links:
--Trugga 10:51, 16 November 2008 (UTC)
