10 replies to this topic

[edirty6]

Hi everyone,

I have just bought some bonnet pins from mini sport as my current bonnet does not latch down properly.

She is going for a full respray/restoration in the summer so in the meantime I thought I would use bonnet pins to keep it down.

Only problem is...I have no idea how to fit them.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

[leaky]

Hey mate. I'm fitting them to mine when the front's been redone.

You need to put little plates in the corner to fix them.

Like so.



pictures stolen from ScottyBoi lol.

[edirty6]

Hey mate. I'm fitting them to mine when the front's been redone.

You need to put little plates in the corner to fix them.

Like so.



pictures stolen from ScottyBoi lol.

Hey

Thank you so much for the quick response

I assume your bonnet opens the other way, so can i put the plates you showed at the other end of the engine bay (near the grill) to fix them?

[leaky]

Hey mate. I'm fitting them to mine when the front's been redone.

You need to put little plates in the corner to fix them.

Like so.



pictures stolen from ScottyBoi lol.

Hey

Thank you so much for the quick response

I assume your bonnet opens the other way, so can i put the plates you showed at the other end of the engine bay (near the grill) to fix them?

Yes that correct. What I plan on doing with mine is having 4 plates in each corner and then 4 pins. So I can remove the bonnet completely.

[samsfern]

i done the same, but used rivets to secure the plate, you can do the same at the grille end, i did, id show some pictures but that mini is now in mini heaven sadly, my new mini has those spring things at the front, they make it easier to put the bonnet back on.

[leaky]

Yea quite a few people do rivet them in. If you look though the project pages your find some more pictures that may help you.

[emalee]

I made this guide for our local club forum, when i fitted my pins, (sorry that the pictures don't work at the mo, they should reset themselves soon and get back to pictures!!! )

Emma :


Remove Standard bonnet hinges (if you are fitting 4 pins rather than 2), they are a pain to remove and really tricky to get a spanner and socket on...

then start by making the plates for the bonnet pins to bolt on to.

i've used about 1.5mm thick scrap metal.

Mark on the car where you want the plate to go, i've put mine at 10cm from the corner at the top, and 12cm from the corner at the bottom

Then Mark on the Metal where you want to cut it, remember to leave a overhang to go behind the bonnet gutter to make it a bit stronger

Remove all the paint to allow you to weld it in and the paint on the body to give the welder something to earth to!!




Then Weld in, weld in small sections at a time to avoid burning the paint in the wings/scuttle etc, and take care to move away any wiring etc which could be damaged by the heat



Then trail fit the bonnet and make any adjustments that are needed, if you are using the original bonnet, grind off the old hinge mounts and remove the old spring etc

then put some masking tape in each corner of the bonnet, and mark on the wings and scuttle where the supports are for the pins, then transfer this mark over to the bonnet,

then decide where you want the pins to sit on the bonnet the best way to do this is to get the metal plate for the pins, which bolts to the bonnet and position in the place you want it, then use a tape measure to get both side the same... and remember the chrome trim which will take up quite a bit of space on the front pins


Mark the centre of the hole on the bonnet on the masking tape and DRILL - start off with a small hole and then drill out to the size of the pin



if you are using a stanard bonnet you will also have to drill through the inner skin aswell as the outer

once the hole for the pin is drilled, take a punch and punch the supports underneath where they need to be drilled, and drill

loosely bolt the pins in, and roughly adjust them to the right height

then with the pins in place, put the metal plates on the bonnet where you want them and take the drill and drill the bonnet for the bolts, put a bolt in the hole you have drilled to keep the plate in the same place and drill out the rest




then with all the holes drilled



bolt in the plates

paint the bare metal on and around the new supports



and refit the bonnet





job done

[samsfern]

i think the best way is to fit the brackets, position the bonnet, then drill through the bonnt and through the bracket at the same time

[ScottyBoi]

Haha!

You beat me too it Jon..

If you need any better pictures just drop me a PM!

[leaky]

Haha!

You beat me too it Jon..

If you need any better pictures just drop me a PM!

HAHA yea hope you don't mind me using your pictures. I used them to explain to my dad what I needed to do so I could use the bonnet pins. Just need to get my own sorted now. Just waitng for my fiberglass mk1 bonnet.

[ScottyBoi]

HAHA yea hope you don't mind me using your pictures. I used them to explain to my dad what I needed to do so I could use the bonnet pins. Just need to get my own sorted now. Just waitng for my fiberglass mk1 bonnet.

Nah not at all mate... If you need anymore pictures just ask..

They will look good on a MK1 Fiberglass