Somewhere In Sydney To Modify Alloy Bonnet?

[Rob260]

Can anyone reccomend somewhere in Sydney to modify an ally bonnet? Basically cut a vent in and smooth it out etc so that the lines flow nicely... I'd imagine the ally would need to be cut and then some massaging done...

Any suggestions welcome.

[AlexanderWilde]

try Team K Kustoms ask for Marcus

http://www.teamk-kustoms.com.au/

or Try Concord Customs http://www.concordcustoms.com.au/secure/

i have Dealt with both and the service is impecable

[GTR-N1]

Nepean Valley Smash Repairs fitted the NACA Duct to my aluminium bonnet > resprayed.

They used a resin between the duct and the aluminium so that no expansion/contraction cracks would eventuate.

Long way from Berowra though.

[Rob260]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, gives me some ideas...

[luke gtr]

keep us updated.

[Rob260]

Hi guys just FYI I am going to have the mods done at TNT in Girraween. They have quoted about $600 (allowing a little more) to cut vents, reinforce with tig weld (rather than glass over like alot of DIY jobs I've seen on the 'net).

At the moment I have a Border style bonnet in carbon fibre as pictured below.

It's nice but like most aftermarket body parts doesn't fit 100% like stock -in this case the bonnet does not reach all the way to the top of the fender so there is like a 1mm gap either side. Splitting hairs I know but when you spend top $$ on something you want it to be "right" (as I'm sure some of you know!). The Z32 ally bonnet is about the same weight as c/f (due to fibreglass frame being used on the c/f hood), but I like the vents in the border hood. Solution? User Border style c/f hood as a template and cut up a stock bonnet...

I'll let you know how it goes

Edited October 19, 2012 by Rob260

[luke gtr]

Trying to get the pic to work.

[luke gtr]

There we go.

[Rob260]

For anyone interested in this little project my first attempt didn't go so well.

One of these was supplied as a template from which to modify the standard bonnet.

Shop says sure we can do that. Won't be able to get such an agressive ridge but we can do the vents no probs. I'm thinking this sounds pretty good, exactly what I'm after.

This is what was waiting for me when I arrived to collect it.

Can ANYONE see the similarity? Neither can I. Didn't bother arguing with the guys, paid them and left, and prompely on sold attempt number 1. Not very impressed though; the shop responsible for the work above came reccomended from a mate in the industry and gave every impression of being able to do the job. I suppose I could have argued the point and asked them to redo it etc but with the damage done sometimes it's easier to bite your tongue, move on, and not send the car there for a respray as you had planned to later in the year... anyway....

I've since spoken to a couple of classic/restoration style body shops and found one who's happy to take on the job (Gladesville Auto Body Works http://www.gladesvil...dyworks.com.au/). Owner Nat seems to have a fair bit of experience in panel fabrication and seems very much interested in making sure I get what I want. Will keep you all posted.

[GTR-N1]

I'm lost for words.

[r32-25t]

So they cut 2 holes in the bonnet push mesh in it and said yeah that's the same?

[luke gtr]

So they cut 2 holes in the bonnet push mesh in it and said yeah that's the same?

its the same as an EVO bonnet???

[Rob260]

So here's how things are moving along

I managed to score another OEM bonnet in exchange for some spanner work, and dropped that off with Nat at Gladesville Auto Bodyworks.

Here's how it sat back in Feb. Just the centre vent and louvre done. Nat cut the vent in and made up an alloy frame to support the opening. At this stage it's riveted together but will be TIG welded once we know it all fits etc. Rear vents are yet to be done but you can see it's starting to take shape.

Fast forward to today and the rears have been done and it's ready for a test fit. I'm very happy with the work so far but unfortunately as you can see the bonnet doesn't quite close. The centre louvre is fouling on the front of the motor, so will need to be reshaped. At this stage the plan is to keep the opening/vent the same depth, but lift the louvre in and have it dovetail into the vent with a little more of a curve rather than in a straight line as it does now.

So yeah slow going at the moment but I'm happy with the progress. Once we get a suitable fit everything can get welded up and "finished" ready for paint.

[Rob260]

Little bit more progress, again this is really just for anyone who is interested

Taking aaaaaaaages but as I think I've mentioned it's a fairly small job for the shop and I told them not rush, so I'm not disappointed with the timeframe.

Anyways here we have the vent modified to fit and the bonnet under primer. The louvered section is curved more than it was in the pics above so as to clear the front of the motor.

Nat (owner of the panel shop) measuring from the cross member to the bonnet. It wasn't quite sitting flush behind driver side headlight, wasn't fouling on anything so trying to work out where the problem is.

Everything checked out so some gentle massaging in order. No idea why, I suppose these things happen when you're dealing with second hand bonnnet going on a 20yr old car... The sheet alloy is very thin too so may have warped slightly when the frame for the duct was being welded in.

Ok and one last shot with everything lined up nicely.

Still far from finished, still gotta chop & fill a fair bit, then get some mesh in behind the ducts. Hoping to get it to the stage where the bottom is painted and the mesh is in, high fill, install (and adjust anything needed), then block it back a final time with it on the car. I've got different front and rear bars to go on too so will aim to get the lot painted at once and blended through the guards and doors nicely.

Long project but paying off and hands down the nicest bonnet I've seen on a Z32 to date.

[FordyR31]

Nice looking bonnet, glad you found someone competent. How much will it end up costing for the vents and respray if you don't mind me asking? I am keen to get some vents for mine cut into the bonnet, completely different to yours, but don't want the dramas you had first time round.

[Rob260]

Fordy short answer is a lot...

This was done completely from scratch so there's a lot of time measuring/checking/fitting/checking/measuring.... You get the idea. It would have been much cheaper to buy a glass bonnet, or two or three glass bonnets haha.

I'd rather not put a figure on it, and the cost is always going to vary car to car anyway. If you're interested in doing something similar give Nay at Gladesville Auto Body a call and organise to bring the car in. I'm sure he'll do his best to give you an honest estimate.

[Rob260]

*Nat at Gladesville Auto Bodyworks.

Phone number is 9817 3233

[FordyR31]

Fair enough. Thanks for the contact details. I don't think my idea for my bonnet would be quite as time consuming as yours. Definitely something I want to do for something a little unique. There isnt much of an after market range for 31's.

Cheers