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Bonnet
GazzaP - 4/1/05 at 04:23 PM

I'm after a bonnet either grp or ally for my locost race car.

regards

Gary

locoboy - 4/1/05 at 04:27 PM

have a crack at making a nice light ally one, there are folks on here who have various successfull methods of doing just that.





Some not so successfull too though

GazzaP - 4/1/05 at 04:37 PM

Sounds like a good idea any one got any tried and tested methods?

Volvorsport - 4/1/05 at 04:41 PM

hmm , i may be able to do a bonnet for you - ive got to wait until i get the bonnet to mold it tho

phelpsa - 4/1/05 at 04:48 PM

I'm gonna attempt an ali bonnet with ratchet straps and 18swg ali. Paper template made, cut out in ali, mark centre line front (nosecone) and back (scuttle) and thenuse the ratchet straps to pull down the sides.

Adam

GazzaP - 4/1/05 at 04:48 PM

Ah another member in Lincoln.

What you going to make the mould from grp or metal??

GazzaP - 4/1/05 at 04:50 PM

will the ratchet straps pull the bonnet down enough to mould the position

locoboy - 4/1/05 at 04:52 PM

Gazza,

Apparently you need to heat the ally to get it to retain its shape, there are tried and tested methods for doing this too its called annealing (sp) do a search for bonnet and annealing and you will find it discussed many times.

Alll the best. IIRC Mark Allanson did his this way and it looks great.

GazzaP - 4/1/05 at 04:54 PM

Sounds good to me Will put that on the list then.

Surrey Dave - 4/1/05 at 05:24 PM

I dont remember it being that difficult , I think I measured the centreline and made templates for the front and rear curve , then bent it over my BOC Mig gas bottle!!!

It came out OK and is still in use, and it would make a great template for my next bonnet..........

http://www.groovy42.freeserve.co.uk

[Edited on 4/1/05 by Surrey Dave]

Volvorsport - 4/1/05 at 05:37 PM

mold will be grp - if you have a specific design in mind maybe i can start from scratch with that in mind .

GazzaP - 4/1/05 at 05:46 PM

would just be after a plain bonnet as it is for racing so will only need a cut out for the air filter

Stu16v - 4/1/05 at 06:57 PM

quote:

I dont remember it being that difficult , I think I measured the centreline and made templates for the front and rear curve , then bent it over my BOC Mig gas bottle!!!

Ditto-except the bottle I used was a CO2 pub bottle...


quote:

would just be after a plain bonnet as it is for racing so will only need a cut out for the air filter

Trouble is, the shape of your bonnet will be dictated by the shape of the scuttle and nose cone. You would be very lucky to have one made, and then fit straight on tidily...

ernie - 5/1/05 at 09:34 PM

I made mine from 2mm half hard. measure slightly oversize by approxx 40mm bonnet & scuttle end & 100mm sides. lay on top of bonnet/scuttle use ratchet straps each end & tighten slowly use rubber mallet & 300x 300 mdf or sim to tap the middle of bonnet flat at various times, eventuly it will work Take your time! When it is in shape scribe line along side panel from inside of engine compartment and this will be your line to bend as per book with 2x2 wood. I did it so anybody can. and if someone hits me on track and dents it beware

DEAN C. - 8/1/05 at 10:22 AM

Hi,I used normal sheet ally which seems quite durable.
Bent mine by hand over large plastic drain pipe clamped to two trestles.
Mark out your centreline at either end, and the centre distance of each curve at the scuttle end and the nose end,and just work away carefully.
After I had cut it to size,I left two inches either side extra, for double folds this was to form the bonnet edges.
Think there are some pics in my archive.

RoadkillUK - 8/1/05 at 01:04 PM

We used some cardboard, 2 straps and a lampost, there are some photo's on my website (Pages 25-26), unfortunately I didn't get a shot of the lampost

I also found that while using the straps they tended to slide to the front of the car due to the shape of the car so I gaffa taped the straps to the body.