Sneek peak of the new Leven Bonnet stay

[MPoxon]

For those of you at the Growl this year you may remember some discussions around new bonnet stays. Now Steve Heath has shut up shop there does not appear to be anyone making a decent replacement bonnet stay.

Paul & Jill at Leven expressed an interest in creating a new product to fill the gap in the market as there were a number of us who needed replacements.

Jill has just sent me a sneek peak of the new product. Price is expected to be around £52 + VAT & P&P



Those that are interested keep an eye on the Leven site www.ppctvr.co.uk

[cp81]

I have the prototype fitted to my bonnet, as part of the winter jobs I am having done at PPC with Paul. It's a lot better than the original stay.

[Pete Mac]

Can't see it on my work computer, it blocks the picture but am very interested so will contact today. I was thinking of getting them fabricated myself but probably won't bother now. Will look at picture tonight.

[Pete Mac]

I spoke to Paul of Leven today and he is shipping me one to check it out and if I like it I will order another for my other Griff.

From what I can tell and also from the pic is that it is very similar to the Steve Heath bonnet stay but it doesn't have a bend in it. It supports the bonnet on the nearside but from much previous correspondence this doesn't seem to be a problem.

It doesn't have a silicone rubber hand grip to stop you roasting your hand but again that shouldn't be a problem as I will buy some 8mm ID silicone tube.

The L shaped hole in the bracket fixed on the inner wing will need filing slightly but again that doesn't give me a problem as I will be drilling out the rivets, powder coating it and then fixing it using rivnuts in the fibreglass and stainless, button head machine screws.

If none of this makes sense then have a look at the following site for the old Steve Heath and it should be a bit clearer.

http://www.shengltd.com/tvrextras/docs/GBStay-v1.p...

Photos and opinion to follow. Currently in Kazakhstan, don't return until 27th December so won't be until early in the New Year. Pete

[Richieboy3008]

fk me! That looks serious!

[Pete Mac]

Hey Richieboy3008 are you lost .....?

Anyway, more important stuff. Paul from Leven sent me a stay (and a beautiful alloy petrol cap) and said if I liked them I could pay for them. The least I could do was give the stay a good review.

Returned from Kazakhstan last night, lovely sunny day today so thought I would fit the bonnet stay today.

Popped bonnet off, unscrewed bent up old stay, complete with electrical tie holding it all together and bolted on the new one:





Next thing was that little 'thingy what holds the stay'. Drilled out the rivets and offered it up to stay:



Clearly the corner needed cutting away, so about 2 minutes work with the air cut-off tool plus a little isolated bending of the 'thingy' to flatten it after years of abuse and it worked a treat.

Next thing was to drill the 'thingy' for 4mm, stainless, button head machine screws and drill the fibreglass for four stainless rivnuts, giving me an opportunity to use my new Sealey Rivnut Tool (one of my Christmas Presents from the girls in my household):





Screw in the button head screws and there you go (yes I know, the 'thingy' needs blasting and powder coating or else I need to have a new one made in stainless steel):



Pop the bonnet back on and here's the finished article. Overall very pleasing, looks loads better then the original crummy TVR stay, which I could never securely locate in the 'thingy'. Furthermore although the stay is located on the nearside of the bonnet, there is very little sag don't you think?







Likes: Looks far better than old stay, much more secure

Dislikes: Not sure about the use of those tools clips and that neoprene tube to grip on, would have liked some nice silicone tube to double up as a heat proof hand grip, although I will be doing that myself anyway.

Overall I like it and will be keeping it.

[RichB]

So this is the same as Steve's bonnet stay with an extra spring clip to keep it in place.

[Pete Mac]

I've never seen one of Steve Heath's stays in the flesh (although I've been trying to get hold of one - no luck!) but from the pictures I would say yes, very similar although I think Steve's stay had a kink in it and he also put on some silicon tubing as a heat proof handle.

I was going to have some stays made up and I couldn't really think of a better design than Steve Heath's original stay. Now Leven do them I will stick with them as I don't think the demand is there make it worth my while.

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Chaps...I had been discussing a bonnet stay and locator mod with some of my Griff friends over the last couple of months, The first idea came from a friend with an early Griff with the front chassis cross member exposed..Unfortunateley it was something that would only benefit the early cars...I did notice that the original alloy stay became bent and weak..Also very hot to the point of someone burning their fingers!..So it looks like Leven have come up with a good solution...Perhaps the manufacture of the bonnet stay locator might be a wise move.

This was something i was looking into as part of a kit but may as well share it with you as i have been pitted to the post...Such is life!...

Might be worth a try...Cheers...Ziga

Enter this part number in their search bar = IHP-SHL25-ST
www.merciaint.co.uk

[Pete Mac]

I was in a similar position to you and there was quite a bit of chatter over it:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=131...

Having now put on the Leven one, I just don't think I can justify having one made up and chances are it will not be any cheaper. I think Steve Heath's was just under £30 whereas the Leven model is £52 so allowing for inflation and a bit extra profit etc. I can live with the price......

If I was going to improve the Leven one, I would put on some nice 8mm ID Silicon tube as a hand grip and also to fit in the clips. I would also like to find a better clip than the ones on it because they look like (and probably are) small tool clips, however I can't think of an alternative right now.

But I'm being picky because overall the Leven bonnet stay is so much more elegant and secure than the TVR original.

[mrzigazaga]

Pete Mac said:

Having now put on the Leven one, I just don't think I can justify having one made up and chances are it will not be any cheaper.

I agree, One of the stumbling blocks to re-designing anything really...There are a few little bits on the Wedge that could do with re-manurfacturing but the cost out way's demand unfortunately.

However its still great to know that we can get parts and mods to keep TVR's alive for future generations to appreciate and admire..Long live TVR....

Happy New Year to you all...Cheers...Ziga

[anonymous-user]

Pete Mac said:

If I was going to improve the Leven one, I would put on some nice 8mm ID Silicon tube as a hand grip and also to fit in the clips.

Maybe someone can suggest this to Leven to include?

[RichB]

mrzigazaga said:

..So it looks like Leven have come up with a good solution...

In fairness it was Steve Heath who came up with the design which Leven have now continued in production. I have plenty of Leven and Heath items but just to be fair to Steve.

[mrzigazaga]

RichB said:

In fairness it was Steve Heath who came up with the design which Leven have now continued in production. I have plenty of Leven and Heath items but just to be fair to Steve.

Sorry..I stand corrected..Credit where its due...Ziga

[paulppc]

Leven have listened to feedback and all future bonnet stays will go out with 8mm silicone tube fitted for handgrip. Many thanks for suggestion.

[Pete Mac]

paulppc said:

Leven have listened to feedback and all future bonnet stays will go out with 8mm silicone tube fitted for handgrip. Many thanks for suggestion.

Paul, I left you a message (positive) today. Give me a call sometime and I can pay you. Happy New Year to you and all other Pistonheaders. Pete

[V8BJC]

Could these be adapted to have a stay on either side of the bonnet?

[MischaV8]

Just bought one; very handy and easy to use, no loose stay in trunk / cabin anymore!
Highly recommended.....and came with blue silicon hose pieces just perfect!



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[url]|http://thumbsnap.com/nsTxQg58

Edited by MischaV8 on Tuesday 11th March 11:05

Edited by MischaV8 on Tuesday 11th March 11:06

[MPoxon]

That is a very handsome looking engine bay

[EGB]

This is my diy. Suits me. Methinks, Leven product is probably better. Mine has a flared base to firmly seat onto the Y piece. Uses existing cross rail.