Bonnet lift gas strut - pictures ?

GEEMCB · Post by **GEEMCB** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 8:46 pm

Hi, all

Having done some experimentation on the boot-lid gas strut project, I have
some (potentially) spare gas struts that look like they may be the business
for the bonnet. I'd never intended to bother with struts for the bonnet,
but they're there ...

Anyone got any pictures or advice ?

Regards,
Greg
1990 V Special

Post by **zorruno** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 9:00 pm

Greg wrote:

Having done some experimentation on the boot-lid gas strut project, I have
some (potentially) spare gas struts that look like they may be the business
for the bonnet. I'd never intended to bother with struts for the bonnet,
but they're there ...

just be wary of trying various setups - the bonnet is very easy to bend
or bulge being aluminium. I've seen the results of people's attempts in
the US that have twisted the bonnet (usually over time).

There are usually photos on the various after-market vendors' sites in
the US if you want to have a search.

cheers
zorruno

animalmagic · Post by **animalmagic** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 9:39 pm

There are some fitting instructions here
<http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/instructions/ ... ifters.pdf> though I
would warn you that the hole required is smaller than specified,
5.5mm instead of 6.5mm from memory, so check this carefully. Also
make sure you put a sheet down when drilling, the shavings go
everywhere! (guess who forgot this basic item!)

I didn't tap the hole as the instructions said, but I regularly
checked the bolt was tight for the first few weeks. Now I really
only check them every six months as part of a service, or on odd
occasions when I think of it. They've never come loose.

When you pop the bonnet, you need to guide it up with a hand or it
will shoot up quite violently and shake the whole car. It's much
more convenient than the prop though.

The ones I have rust, despite supposedly being stainless steel, so
check, clean and polish every time you clean the car.

The only picture I have is here
<http://www.miata.plus.com/image024.htm> which doesn't really show
much... This one's not much better
<http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info. ... cts_id/144>

DBM58 · Post by **DBM58** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 10:10 am

Hello Greg

I have some photographs of the bonnet struts that Don McLean fitted to his car. I took them so that I could copy the way he had installed them for my car. I will send them directly to you. They are available to anyone else who would like copies too.

Regards

David Moughtin

GEEMCB · Post by **GEEMCB** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 9:40 pm

Hi, all

Many thanks to David, Terry & zorruno for their comments & pictures.

Having done some weekend testing & ascertained how little support (read gas
pressure) the bonnet requires, I'm going to hasten slowly on this one. With
the ex-Civic gas struts (which seem to have a relatively low expansion
force) it seemed that the bonnet would be held up quite nicely with just a
single strut. Not very symmetrical, but if two were installed I can
certainly see the potential for a re-sculpted bonnet ... definitely not as
the designers intended !

Regards,
Greg
1990 V Special

MX5PWR · Post by **MX5PWR** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 7:26 am

Hi Greg, Don has done his white car, a strut on both sides to stop twisting.
I am going down this weekend so will try and get photos for you.
Nige

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Hi Nigel,

Missed you at the last committee meeting - heard you're waiting on a special
delivery, has it arrived yet Grandad?

D

Nix

Post by **zorruno** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 6:17 pm

on 18/07/2005 9:40 p.m. Greg wrote:

it seemed that the bonnet would be held up quite nicely with just a
single strut. Not very symmetrical, but if two were installed I can
certainly see the potential for a re-sculpted bonnet ...

I'd think two, less powerful gas struts with one on each side would be
be better than one on one side. Better distrubition of the same amount
of force needed for lift.

cheers
H

GEEMCB · Post by **GEEMCB** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 7:10 pm

Cheers, Nigel

David sent through some that he took of Don's car, but more would always be
helpful - especially the hinge bracket components.

An idea of the force exerted by the struts would also be useful (I know, I
know - hard to measure), but I have visions of bent bonnet.

Regards,
Greg

animalmagic · Post by **animalmagic** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 12:50 am

We had two MkIs at a meet, both with a single gas strut. One had
been on for a couple of weeks and was showing signs of the bonnet
standing proud on on side. The other had been on for months and was
fine. I suspect the twisting is more to do with the way the owner
closed their bonnet than just from having a single strut. I would
still go for two, as one looks half done...

--
Regards Terry

Alien: I bring you love!
Larry: It's bringing love, don't let it get away!
Karl: Break its legs!
Lisa: No! Wait! [Shines torch on alien to reveal Mr. Burns]
Willy: Argh! It's a monster! Kill it, kill it!
Smithers: No, stop! It's not a monster, it's Mr Burns!
Willy: Ahhh, it's Mr Burns. Kill it, kill it!!

--

poison · Post by **poison** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 5:34 pm

Not all gas struts are the same, you buy them by length and pressure. Two
could look the same but one could have over four times the pressure of the
other. One would not be able to hold the bonnet up yet another would turn
the bonnet into an item of Origami..

Gazza
"PO1SON"

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