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Post by themorgster on Mar 29, 2020 19:55:52 GMT
Ouch! Send me over a piece of the original bonnet and we’ll see if we can colour match for you. Will do, cheers Stuart.
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Post by bewgy on Mar 30, 2020 8:25:04 GMT
Ouch, I have used bonnet poppers had no problems, mine are at the very front of the bonnet. Were you further towards the driver maybe why they gave way more load. Maybe time for me to up grade to bonnet pins.
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Post by themorgster on Mar 30, 2020 8:27:33 GMT
Ouch, I have used bonnet poppers had no problems, mine are at the very front of the bonnet. Were you further towards the driver maybe why they gave way more load. Maybe time for me to up grade to bonnet pins. My poppers are the pupils of the eyes...
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Post by bewgy on Mar 30, 2020 13:58:33 GMT
Very similar to mine, except mine are out towards the edges of the bonnet. I think maybe you had quite a bit more flex in the bonnet where yours are located which is maybe why they popped out. In any event best safe than sorry time to upgrade to Aerolatches i think.
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russhowell
Full
2004 1.8 Euphonic Mk 2.5 Arctic Blue 75,000Miles
Posts: 141
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Post by russhowell on Mar 30, 2020 15:30:56 GMT
Crikey. I had expensive bonnet poppers, but one still pulled out and lost its bearings inside. Shudder to think what might have happened. I was thinking to add something coming in horizontally through the sides as well, but thought it too much faff.
But worth thinking about...
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Post by themorgster on Mar 30, 2020 15:33:27 GMT
Worth noting that the bonnet landed upside down on the road (I.e. on the aero screens) and they are fine, bit scuffed at the top, but not cracked at all, in fact it actually cracked the grp, so both screen & fixing method are good I’d say!
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Post by browno on Mar 31, 2020 14:55:19 GMT
Sorry to hear about this - the car was looking so good! Unfortunately, this sounds a lot like the experience I had with the poppers too - my bonnet had aerocatches at the back and poppers at the front originally (no hinges, just lift-off), but I found that the mechanism in the poppers kept coming loose and the front was lifting. I ended up replacing mine with a second pair of aerocatches (initially some cheapies, but now replaced with genuine aero catches (so much more secure than the ebay specials, which tended to lock up when trying to open/close them), and it is now solid and fits in place nicely (see my build thread for more pics: here). Hope you manage to get sorted and back in action without too many issues.
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Post by browno on Mar 31, 2020 15:05:47 GMT
I am now joining the G* EXO crew... having debated for a while, I have ordered G8 for the green machine (my initials are GB, so it seemed quite fitting!). Will add pictures as soon as I have the plate transferred and fitted... definitely need to get them together for a photo at an event! I’m all registered and on the road! - a ray of sunlight (for me at least) in otherwise somber times. I wonder how many G??EXO numbers we can get in a row in one picture somewhere?
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Post by themorgster on Mar 31, 2020 18:34:30 GMT
That would be good to see! So how many G* EXO’s have we got now? 3? Due to backlog and Coronavirus lockdown I don’t expect to see my new bonnet anytime soon (Stuart: sample bit for colour in the post) so I’m going to have a go at fixing the old one in the interim. I haven’t worked with fibreglass in years (since I was 15, repairing my sailing dinghy’s) so it won’t be pretty, but it should hold up! I’ve also invested in some (genuine) aerocatches and am in the process of fitting them down low either side of the number plate. It looks close to the edge but they are not flush-fit and the cutout is actually 1” from the edge. Eventually I’ll wrap that lower bit in black so the catch will blend in. The pins can go in the side of the catch and I’ll make up a bracket to bolt to the radiator mount. When it’s fixed I’ll also be driving around for a while with a ratchet strap over the top and around the frame!
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Post by camspeed on Apr 1, 2020 7:06:51 GMT
That would be good to see! So how many G* EXO’s have we got now? 3? Due to backlog and Coronavirus lockdown I don’t expect to see my new bonnet anytime soon (Stuart: sample bit for colour in the post) so I’m going to have a go at fixing the old one in the interim. I haven’t worked with fibreglass in years (since I was 15, repairing my sailing dinghy’s) so it won’t be pretty, but it should hold up! I’ve also invested in some (genuine) aerocatches and am in the process of fitting them down low either side of the number plate. It looks close to the edge but they are not flush-fit and the cutout is actually 1” from the edge. Eventually I’ll wrap that lower bit in black so the catch will blend in. The pins can go in the side of the catch and I’ll make up a bracket to bolt to the radiator mount. When it’s fixed I’ll also be driving around for a while with a ratchet strap over the top and around the frame! I am seriously thinking the same. I actually bought more poppers to fit in the same location as I notice the nose flexes at speed and this would take the stress out of it. Cosmetically I prefer the G type bonnet but practically the old shape nose and top panel is probably better. Its a pain to work under the bonnet with it hinged up in the open if there is any wind. I wonder if the gas struts you fitted may have been putting pressure on the poppers as you drive? they are powerful things. I asked the question on facebook about using similar setup but I don't think the bonnet is strong enough for the point loading. I know you spread the weight well but even so....I just wonder? I agree the lower mounts you are fitting will cure the issue for you and I will do the same. I look forwards to seeing you mount them. Great posts as usual.
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Post by themorgster on Apr 1, 2020 7:29:08 GMT
I think you’re right about the struts putting pressure on the poppers, they won’t be going back on! I think I’ll just make something more in the traditional line with a bit of stainless steel rod as a prop.
Word of warning to those in mid-build reading this: don’t buy cheap bonnet poppers, go for genuine aerocatches or splitpins or bolts, or anything seriously secure and think carefully about placement. When the bonnet came off I shat myself and it hit me in the head, but I was wearing a helmet, it was on a straight empty road and the hinges gave way so it literally flew off very quickly. I was very, VERY lucky.
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Post by themorgster on Apr 6, 2020 13:22:12 GMT
Repairs have begun... Had to up clean up the underside, remove all the PU etc. I then bonded the two pieces together with GRP resin. Then layered on GRP. I’ll see how strong it is soon...
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Post by themorgster on Apr 7, 2020 15:54:18 GMT
Belt & braces... literally!
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Post by themorgster on Apr 10, 2020 13:30:56 GMT
Even though you used PU adhesive, isnt' it only the vinyl wrap sticky back holding the screen on? presumably the PU is between the vinyl and the body? If correct couldn't you PU direct to the screen to get the black effect? I’ve been thinking about this... I’m quite glad I did use vinyl wrap because it meant I could peel the undamaged screens off the broken bonnet without too much agro. However it did pull some of the vinyl off in places so I came up with the solution: garm (technical term) a load of PU onto the screens with a Johnson’s dry cleaners loyalty card (other loyalty cards are available) and let it go off before fitting them.
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Post by themorgster on Apr 16, 2020 17:59:47 GMT
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