Shell Valley Daytona heavy bonnet (hood).

[Daytona Dek]

The bonnet (I think you guys might call it hood?) anyway the opening bit on the front, is very heavy which means it’s very difficult for one person to lift. Attempting to do it on one side by the bonnet catch means that the bonnet is twisting which is cracking the paint. If it could be raised in the middle and not by the bonnet catch at the bottom it would not put stress on it. Has anyone used a spring system that’s used on conventional cars? Or any other system? Needing a second person to help lift it is slightly inconvenient. Thanks.
Dek

[Tommy]

Dek,
I faced the exact same problem with my Cheetah tribute. My unconventional solution was to install two 12v linear actuators to lift the nose about six inches. That allows me to grab it closer to the center when lifting and allows the pneumatic lift springs that hold it in the open position to begin to help. I also did this because I was having trouble finding a suitable system to secure the nose in the down position. By putting push-button latches on the tops of the actuators, I solved both problems. So far so good. Here's a video of it closing after I had manually lowered to nose to rest on the actuators.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01LHMXKJ5Ew

[Daytona Dek]

Hi Tommy, that looks neat! Could you pm me some more details of all the bits required and some photos of the under bonnet fixings?
Loving that Cheetah by the way!
All the best.
Dek

[Tommy]

PM sent.

[Daytona Dek]

Originally Posted by Tommy

PM sent.

Hi Tommy
I don’t appear to have anything in my Inbox.
Dek

[Daytona Dek]

Originally Posted by Tommy

PM sent.

Thanks Tommy. Received and replied.
Dek

[Daytona Dek]

Since posting I’ve received a very helpful reply from Dana at Shell Valley who has sent me a photo, closed and open lengths of the gas struts together with the pressure (75 pounds). They are mounted at the front of the bonnet and their primary purpose is to prevent the bonnet from dropping closed. They do give some assistance to fully open when the bonnet is open a certain amount. What I need, however, is to get the bonnet open a couple of inches initially to get a hand in the centre to lift to fully open without any twisting action. I’m doubtful positioned at the front gas struts will do this but I may be wrong. That’s why Tommy’s idea interested me.
Dek

[krausewich]

Are gas struts off the table? That should give you the right amount of assist..

[Daytona Dek]

Originally Posted by krausewich

Are gas struts off the table? That should give you the right amount of assist..

No I suppose I instinctively ruled them out because of the very heavy weight but perhaps I should look more closely at the gas ratings that are available. Of course it will require some bespoke fixing method to the bonnet that will also have to be heavy duty. Thanks.
Dek

[55312]

Wide range of lift cylinders at McMaster-Carr. Both length and pressure. I used mounting hardware from an Escort "pony". They used to be common at local junk yards. Just some thoughts.

Tim

[Tommy]

Originally Posted by 55312

Wide range of lift cylinders at McMaster-Carr. Both length and pressure. I used mounting hardware from an Escort "pony". They used to be common at local junk yards. Just some thoughts.

Tim

That's where I got mine. .. Note that for the gas struts to be fully extended when the bonnet is open, they have to be compressed when it is closed. That means they will push the bonnet in the direction of the strut when it is closed. I had to account for that when setting the gaps for the nose on my Cheetah.

[55312]

Had the same problem with my "Boot". There is only a single strut there. My "Bonnet" has struts on both sides and there is no problem. Have you seen John Chestnut's Cheetah tribute? He's a member of our Cobra Club and it is a beautiful piece of work!

Tim

[Daytona Dek]

Originally Posted by 55312

Wide range of lift cylinders at McMaster-Carr. Both length and pressure. I used mounting hardware from an Escort "pony". They used to be common at local junk yards. Just some thoughts.

Tim

Thanks Tim, I’m in the U.K. but there is a very good supplier of gas struts I’ve used here before for my Cobra. They also supply gas adjustable struts where you can bleed gas out until the correct pressure is achieved.
Dek

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by Daytona Dek

No I suppose I instinctively ruled them out because of the very heavy weight but perhaps I should look more closely at the gas ratings that are available. Of course it will require some bespoke fixing method to the bonnet that will also have to be heavy duty. Thanks.
Dek

Struts work fine. If they can hold up the clamshell on a Ford GT they can hold up yours. You just need to find the right length and pressure (load limit).

[jknich]

A spring in center or street rod type door popper.

[Daytona Dek]

Originally Posted by jknich

A spring in center or street rod type door popper.

Thanks Jim. Excuse my ignorance but what’s a door popper? Any link?
Dek

[jknich]

Dek, Here you go:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2PCS-New-St...-/271526543846

[Daytona Dek]

Originally Posted by jknich

Dek, Here you go:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2PCS-New-St...-/271526543846

Now I understand. Neat. Could be a simple solution if I can find somewhere to mount it (them). Thanks Tim.
Dek

[jknich]

Dek, on the poppers you should replace the nuts with nyloc's.

[55312]

Started my education on British vernacular when I bought a 1963 Austin Healy Sprite in 1966. Sheeze that was a long time ago. That car $5 dollared me to death....



Tim