bonnet pins legal?

88.4ageGT · Post by **88.4ageGT** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 11:31 am

sooo ive heard afew things about bonnet pins and if there legal or not.
just wondering if anyone can confirm?

Grrrrrrr! · Post by **Grrrrrrr!** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 12:27 pm

VIRM :
Engine hood pins LVV certification is not required [if] in-service requirements for conditions and performance must be met.

Done properly they would be fine, done badly they would not be WOFable.

If they secure the bonnet adequately, and don't have sharp/dangerous projections you should be fine.

Question.. why bother if you have a good working bonnet catch and hinge system?

Mr Ree · Post by **Mr Ree** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 1:03 pm

If you are dead set on doing away with the factory hinges/latches, then why not look at buying the bonnet latches instead, as they are surface mounted, with no protrusions to catch somebodys eyelid if they are mowed down?

88.4ageGT · Post by **88.4ageGT** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 1:25 pm

well i dont have a good bonnet catch system as the bonnet flew up on me driving home the other day and on inspection we found the catch was stuffed

Bling · Post by **Bling** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 1:25 pm

Replace the catch?

captain crescent · Post by **captain crescent** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 3:46 pm

http://www.aerocatch.com/?gclid=CPmu3av ... pAodEnwAnQ

I would go for these or similar if i was going down the route of bonnet pins and no sharp protrusions.

Mr Ree · Post by **Mr Ree** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 4:34 pm

Thats exactly the type I was recommending

Stott69 · Post by **Stott69** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 5:45 pm

you want atlest one with a key too

holden_fan2005 · Post by **holden_fan2005** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 5:57 pm

captain crescent wrote:http://www.aerocatch.com/?gclid=CPmu3avHrroCFYPrpAodEnwAnQ

I would go for these or similar if i was going down the route of bonnet pins and no sharp protrusions.

Can vouch for these.

Look good, work well and easy to lock if you get the key one.

Just make sure you get the genuine ones (around $120).

88.4ageGT · Post by **88.4ageGT** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 6:18 pm

how much of the bonnet do you have to cut for those pins?

Leon · Post by **Leon** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 7:12 pm

captain crescent wrote:http://www.aerocatch.com/?gclid=CPmu3avHrroCFYPrpAodEnwAnQ

I would go for these or similar if i was going down the route of bonnet pins and no sharp protrusions.

I think I watched a couple of guys have a truly epic battle with one of those during Rally Wairarapa, when a pin somewhere in the mechanism slipped out a bit. OOooooo the language they were using!

matt dunn · Post by **matt dunn** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 7:25 pm

I have seen those pins in action too and would not recommend them to anyone.

The flat top pushes the pin through the eye, so they close quite solid,
but a spring pushes it back when you open it, not so clever.

Seen a car in a 3hr Enduro when it has a small impact of the front corner of the bonnet,
and they spent probably 20 mins in the pits trying to get the bonnet catch to release to open the bonnet. Basically had to destroy the catch and bonnet with a hammer and chisel to get it open.

Defiantly no good for a race car, maybe ok for a road car, but road cars don't need bonnet pins IMO.

iOnic · Post by **iOnic** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 7:30 pm

Bling wrote:Replace the catch?

Girvs · Post by **Girvs** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 9:38 am

Going a little OT, has anybody installed the Aerotechs? Contemplating picking some up, but going to have to modify my brand new bonnet to facilitate these and don't really wanna F*** it up. Just wondering how hard it is for a do at home job.

Mr Ree · Post by **Mr Ree** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 10:32 am

I would only try and do it, if I had all the right air tools, cutting discs etc.

I could imagine the CF being messed up quite easily with slow cutting tools.

Does your bonnet come with the two factory safety latches, and the main latch?

Girvs · Post by **Girvs** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 10:40 am

That it does Reith. Was planning on going aerocatch further down the track. It's actually FRP not full CF.

GDII · Post by **GDII** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 10:45 am

How well would a nibbler work on steel? Using the top mounted latch would hid any minor imperfections in the hood but the flush mounted version would need a perfect cut and probably a respray if it was in a metal hood.

holden_fan2005 · Post by **holden_fan2005** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 8:37 pm

I put mine in with a nibbler and like you said, it looks alright with the top mount catches.

They do require depth though, so you may need to lop out some if the inner of the bonnet too.

VR-4Squid · Post by **VR-4Squid** » Sat Oct 26, 2013 1:11 pm

Nibbler seems like an easy way to make a mess of it if you aren't careful.

Drill holes around the edge of the bit you want to remove then tidy up with a file, touch up the bare steel with paint and it'll look nice and tidy.
More time consuming, but most things are if you want a nice job.

iOnic · Post by **iOnic** » Sat Oct 26, 2013 1:59 pm

Nibbler will $&#$% your shit up if you don't know what you're doing.
They come with a template, just mask off the area, draw the template on, drill the outline, cut it out (I use snips if it's not a big dick bonnet) the file it so it's smooth, drop the catch in and mark the bolt holes, remove catch and drill the holes, have a look underneath, if it's double skinned you'll have to cut the inner skin so you can access the bolts (to tighten the nuts). Unless you $&#$% up, you won't bother your paint.