Bonnet Off for the First Time

[Gerald-TVR]

Following on from the 'Leadking Radiator' thread I'll have to have the bonnet off for the first time so I need some guidance please. I've found an radiator repairer half a mile away Clarkson Auto Rads has anyone used them please.

1 Hinges - I have found the following photo so am happy with hindges
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll191/gerald-tvr/070613Bonnetremove.jpg 
2 Inner wings, wheel arhes - Do I need to remove to get to the hindges, if so how
3 Electrics - As far as I can see multiconnectors so they should be OK
4 Fresh air ducts - I guess I need to disconnect at the bonnet can anyone tell me how
5 Any other issues

[tvrgit]

You can change the radiator without taking the bonnet off - get the front wheels a couple of inches off the ground and then lift the bonnet vertical.

Worked for me (twice!)

[Gerald-TVR]

Great thats a help thanks

[Barkychoc]

Norman, when I did mine I opened the bonnet with some carpet layers under the front edge so the carpet was pretty much taking the weight of the bonnet, and secured the bonnet stay with a cable tie so it didn't come off.

I removed the wheelarch liners, it just seemed too difficult with them in place.
Remove the indicators and put them in your safety deposit box!
Disconnect all the wiring (just a couple of multiway connectors on mine, one at each end).

• edited to say having read the other replies above don't forget the fresh air tubes!

I then placed carpet on my garage floor, and screwed some carpet to the back wall of the garage.
I then undid the bonnet hinge bolts, if you get the thickness of the carpet right under the front it hardly moves when the bolts come out.

I cut the cable tie off the bonnet stay and lifted the bonnet - its resting on the carpet now without the hinges.
Don't lift it too high till you're near the back wall of the garage or it will try to flip over - its reasonably heavy but not that hard to manouvre if you are careful about where the weight is.
I 'walked' it across the carpet to the back of the garage.

I then lifted it and leaned it against the back wall of my garage against the carpet on the wall.
I screwed a luggage strap to the wall across it to stop it falling - but it is pretty stable if you get the weight right.

Don't ask for any advice about putting it back on - I haven't got that far yet!

If you can get a couple of bodies to help you it will be really easy.

Hope it helps.

Chris

Edited by Barkychoc on Thursday 1st May 15:05

[ketvrin]

Gerald-TVR said:

Following on from the 'Leadking Radiator' thread I'll have to have the bonnet off for the first time so I need some guidance please. I've found an radiator repairer half a mile away Clarkson Auto Rads has anyone used them please.

1 Hinges - I have found the following photo so am happy with hindges
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll191/gerald-tvr/070613Bonnetremove.jpg 
2 Inner wings, wheel arhes - Do I need to remove to get to the hindges, if so how
3 Electrics - As far as I can see multiconnectors so they should be OK
4 Fresh air ducts - I guess I need to disconnect at the bonnet can anyone tell me how
5 Any other issues

Its pretty easy to remove the bonnet... as you say disconnect the lighting wires at the connectors - mine has seperate side light connectors... no need to remove inner arches.
the air duct is held in place on the inlet duct at the front of the nose by jubilee clips so could be awkward to reach without long arms. I would put the front wheels on blocks so that you can get the bonnet right up to get access to the ducts.
remove the hinge bolts (bonnet back down again) and get a mate to help lift the whole bonnet away... no trauma's here...

If your alignment is good now, to retain it when re-fitting, only remove the main hinge bolt from the chassis and note the spacing used.

K

[Gerald-TVR]

Great thanks for the help appreciated

[clarenceboddiger]

Barkychoc said:

Norman, when I did mine I opened the bonnet with some carpet layers under the front edge so the carpet was pretty much taking the weight of the bonnet, and secured the bonnet stay with a cable tie so it didn't come off.

Edited by Barkychoc on Thursday 1st May 15:05

This is a good idea but remember to use axle stands, if you leave it on a jack and do this, the jack can creep down and put the weight onto the bonnet leaving lovely stress cracks(just like mine, I wonder how those happened)