Jump to content
SAU Community

Modifying A Factory Bonnet

Wacky Dee
 Share

Recommended Posts

Wacky Dee Veteran

Wacky Dee

Posted
Posted

I've been thinking of getting an aftermarket bonnet but seeing as how CF bonnets are illegal and cost approx. $1000 I was thinking ..isn't it possible to modify the stock factory metal bonnet ?

I mean surely panel beaters, welders (ie people working with metals) can modify something as simple as a bonnet? I have an r34 gtt and would like to mod my bonnet to look like this (mins those silver rings..wtf are those anyway?) http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/3361/img5083mv8.jpg

How much do you reckon modding the stock bonnet to look like the one above would cost? Painting is about $400-500 only ..

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/221240-modifying-a-factory-bonnet/
Share on other sites
Timeb0mb Enthusiast

Timeb0mb

Posted
Posted (edited)

actually, looking at it again, any fiberglasser should be able to rig something out for you, he should be able to just slap the muld on probly cost about 100$-200$ and they you get it resprayed.

(obviously more technical then that :blink: )

Edited by Timeb0mb
Wacky Dee Veteran

Wacky Dee

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I was thinking more along the lines of cutting the middle welding on the vent like in the photo above from metal ..so that it all remains metail. But if fibre glass can be made to look good and be resprayed than that's probably not a bad idea either as it's probably a lot cheaper.

Ant97GTR Grand Master

Ant97GTR

Posted
Posted
I've been thinking of getting an aftermarket bonnet but seeing as how CF bonnets are illegal and cost approx. $1000 I was thinking ..isn't it possible to modify the stock factory metal bonnet ?

Sure its possible.....but its also illegal so keep that in mind if you worried about legality.

Wacky Dee Veteran

Wacky Dee

Posted
  • Author
Posted

well just recently I was at a shop with a few cars that had CF and FG bonnets and they all looked like crap...none was fitting properly - seemed like they bent out of shape for some reason (too much time in the sun or somefin?)

Anyway, I just don't like the idea of a cf or fibreglass bonnet .. plus they're illegal. Why would a slightly modified stock bonnet be illegal ???

Not a big fan of the z-tune either .. seems like everyone's getting one nowadays anyway. I'm after a more subtle one like the one pictured in the opening post. Any panel beaters who could give me a rough estimate?

NA_Goodness Grand Master

NA_Goodness

Posted
Posted

If you want that vent in the middle, and make it functional, it will involve cutting straight through the reinforcements on the bonnet, thus making it illegal. Talk to Blitz Body kits and Custom Carbon. I think both of them (Blitz for sure) can supply you with 100% ADR approved fibreglass (possibly carbon fibre) bonnets.

I think the bad fit would be bad workmanship more then having it sit in the sun 2 long

nizmonut Community Regular

nizmonut

Posted
Posted

the subframe is still intact. the centre hole you see in that bonnet is behind the two main beams that run from the rear corners to the bonnet hinge. the section that runs directly back is still there just painted mat black and is hardly noticable through the mesh unless you actually look directly at it.

as for the one of the air filter it is the skin only cut and not a issue at all.

never assume anything. it makes every one else look good.

Ant97GTR Grand Master

Ant97GTR

Posted
Posted
Anyway, I just don't like the idea of a cf or fibreglass bonnet .. plus they're illegal. Why would a slightly modified stock bonnet be illegal ???

Seems a fair few people are misinformed about the ADR's relating to this stuff.

Ok they can be illegal in a couple of ways...the first is as per others have mentioned above...any cutting or modification of the support frame underneath is illegal. What no-one has mentioned is the fact that ANY hole/vent in the bonnet that faces the windscreen (meshed or not) is illegal.

If you have a look at the earlier evos and wrx's that had holes in the bonnet (not the intercooler vents that face forward) they are actually blocked off.

Wacky Dee Veteran

Wacky Dee

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

Yeah I am not actually fussed about making it a functional vent .. my car's never gonna make that much power for me to need a vent there :woot: I'm just after the look as in http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/3361/img5083mv8.jpg

The gtt's just look bloody weak from the front compared to a GTR and I reckon a nice bonnet, as long as it's legal would change that quite a bit. I just don't wanna waste money on a complete aftermarket bonnet if the stock one can be midly modified to look like that one above. Do you reckon a panel beater could cut the stock bonnet and make it look exactly like http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/3361/img5083mv8.jpg without screwing with the reinforcements ??

If it can't be made exactly like the one above without cutting the reinforcements, I'd be up for a bonnet 'bulge' of some sort too ..similar in style and simplicity as that car above ( like on V8s etc

Edited by Delta Force
nizmonut Community Regular

nizmonut

Posted
Posted
Seems a fair few people are misinformed about the ADR's relating to this stuff.

Ok they can be illegal in a couple of ways...the first is as per others have mentioned above...any cutting or modification of the support frame underneath is illegal. What no-one has mentioned is the fact that ANY hole/vent in the bonnet that faces the windscreen (meshed or not) is illegal.

If you have a look at the earlier evos and wrx's that had holes in the bonnet (not the intercooler vents that face forward) they are actually blocked off.

i dont mean to put holes in your statement(excuse the pun) but if the 1987 walkinshaws are allowed rear facing bonnet vents i highly doubt its illegal.

plus the fact if your engines at that much risk of grenading and throwing up oil the MOT will be more concerned about the oil you dump on the road then the oil that sprays up your windscreen.

DECIM8 Grand Master

DECIM8

Posted
Posted (edited)

Yeah it actually is illegal, 1989 inception I think (dont quote it just seems to be in my memory) Its due to chemicals comming out of the bonnet onto the windscreen to block your vision.. IMO bullshit but hey I guess it has some truth.

Anyone ever had a plexiglass bonnet made? that would be kewl

I must add in nsw

Edited by DECIM8
R338OY Veteran

R338OY

Posted
Posted

Personally i'd try getting a CF bonnet (that was legal/engineered to be legal) because it's only a little extra money after all the chopping and spraying. It looks great and it's light.

Sure its possible.....but its also illegal so keep that in mind if you worried about legality.

That's the first thing my brain thought.

it cost me shit all to get a ztune vent moulted into my standard gtr bonnet

PICT0003.jpg

not really the best photo.. but you get the picture..

Ouch! That's hot! :ermm:

Anyway, I just don't like the idea of a cf or fibreglass bonnet .. plus they're illegal. Why would a slightly modified stock bonnet be illegal ???

Yeah it's already been answered. Basically cutting up the bonnet diminishes the structural rigidity of the bonnet. In a head-on collision the bonnet would crumble much easier.

.:: GimpS-R34 ::. Grand Master

.:: GimpS-R34 ::.

Posted
Posted

You say you don't want CF Bonnet as they are illegal.. but so is modifying your existing bonnet and you still wanna do it :S

sounds like you want the cheapest option regardless of illegal..

however there is places that sell ADR approved FG bonnets.. and out of coincidence that bonnet in the pick is ADR approved in FG..

www.dmdtheimage.com DMD sell them.. i'm getting one soon.. they are around the corner from where i work and they look great..

NRV155 Proficient

NRV155

Posted
Posted (edited)
Yeah I am not actually fussed about making it a functional vent .. my car's never gonna make that much power for me to need a vent there :/ I'm just after the look as in http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/3361/img5083mv8.jpg

Having a vent that doesnt vent? Watch out for the 'rice' police. You know who you are. :wave:

Edited by NRV155

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Similar Content

  • Latest Posts

    • MBS206
      Tein Circuit Master- rebuild worth it?

      By MBS206 · Posted

      If they can dyno them, get them dyno'd, make sure they're not leaking, and if they look okay on the dyno and are performing relatively well, put them in the car.   If they're leaking oil etc, and you feel so inclined, open them up yourself and see what you can do to fix it. The main thing you're trying to do is replace the parts that perish, like seals. You're not attempting to change the valving. You might even be able to find somewhere that has the Tein parts/rebuild kit if you dig hard.
    • MBS206
      Best place to order Authetic R32 Parts in Japan

      By MBS206 · Posted

      Can you also make sure the invoices on the box (And none exist in the boxes) are below our import duty limits... I jest, there's nothing I need to actually purchase and order in. (Unless you can find me a rear diff carrier, brand new, for stupidly cheap, that is for a Toyota Landcruiser, HZJ105R GXL, 2000 year model...)  
    • MBS206
      NC MX5

      By MBS206 · Posted

      Murphy strikes again! Nothing at all would have gone wrong if you had the tool kit in the car! You'd have just found the clamp loose the next time you went to touch it...
    • MBS206
      Blue slip

      By MBS206 · Posted

      I have been being VERY quiet about what you're alluding to, as it is something that ticks me off... The number of cars from factory that run coil overs is HUGE! Most of them these days do... The other part that annoys me, is people saying "Well all the incabin adjustable suspension is illegal by blah blah blah"... If that's the case, then why can I buy a car brand new that can do it if, FULL STOP in cabin adjustable suspension is illegal...   Also, I could just chuck some aftermarket shocks in my car, throw the stock springs on, after my blue slip, dump my super low springs back in. Same shock and spring style setup... Hell, they could also be the same colour springs etc.     I'm voting, BlueSlipper didn't want to touch the above car for some reason. Whether it be some sort of bias against the car, the owner, them maybe having previously done dodgy shit and now they're being super careful in case they get slapped in the face by the Gumbyment again... Find a new blueslip place.   And can confirm as you had said, yes there are holy bibles of vehicle heights, and all sorts of other suspension stuff. Heck your run of the mill mechanic, and tyre shop has access to all of that stuff. It's how they do wheel alignments...
    • The Bogan
      NC MX5

      By The Bogan · Posted

      Funny story Heading to Sydney this morning on the HWY there was some slow traffic, so I gave it the beans and midway through my overtaking "power run" I lost all power It seems that I missed a hose clamp,  and the MAF and filter went WiFi To make this more problematic, the little tool kit that lives in the boot, is sitting in the sun room at Goulburn......LOL Luckily for me I found a bit of steel on the side of the road that could be used like a rusty and bent flat head screw driver to tighten it up enough that it got me into Sydney, it is now all tight like a tiger with the aid of a 8mm socket Note to self: Use my brain and double check stuff, and always keep that little tool kit in the car for when I have a brain fart
×
×
  • Create New...