RAM Bonnet...pain in the posterior.

[simon]

OOOOHHHHHH SSSOOOOOO frustrated. I've been trying to fit my bonnet to my RAM.
When I finally got it fitted, on opening is scrapes the nose of the car and even pushes the bodywork in!!! Now I know its an inherent problem with the RAM, but I didn't think it was going to be this bad ! Does anyone have any solutions???
Russell, could you describe your mod for me again please, do I really need to dismantle the whole front to weld on some new brackets? would just slightly longer hinges work (trying to get my head around the opening arc of the bonnet)
Any advice (and pics if poss) greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Simon

[Steve]

When at cheng lims place recently, he had a ram in that had used the bonnet spring assembly from an escort, suitably modified with larger plates to support the bonnet, bolted to a crossmsmber near the front of the bonnet.

the whole worked very well, and he mentioned this was not an uncommon mod for rams

it might be worth a call to cheng to discuss, he's very helpful,

steve

[russell_ram]

Simon,

don't want to say this but - told you so.

The hinge point is currently behind the cross tube under the front scuttle. What you need to do is move it in front of this tube. This gives a larger arc to the bonnet motion, hence it moves up more as it moves forward when you open it. You are right, longer hinges is what you want! but the point is that the point of rotation needs to move forward to get the bonnet to lift. I did all the tak welding with it all assembled cause I was experimenting, you have the advantage of my results! Bite the bullet, take it to bits and do it properly!
It certainly won't be the last time you have to take it all out anyway (painting body off chassis sometime in the future surely!).

(Or leave it for three weeks and have another look at mine at Duxford!)

Russ

[simon]

OK smart a**e, you were right,
I was hoping it wouldn't be as bad as it is though. I will start to pull it apart later today.
BUGGER.
Russell, Thanks for the pictures, big help.

[russell_ram]

Simon,

photo shows new position of hinge point. Directly in front of where it was but on front side of cross-tube instead of behind. Obviously, hinges need re-making about 2in longer than they were. You'll be glad you've done it when it doesn't scrape your beautiful paint of everytime you open the bonnet (when you've got some that is!).

Russ

[Antony]

Russell-Ram & Simon

Ram bonnet what a pain in the posterior, I read this post some months back, and yep today I found out what you are referring to, my bonnet is way down cant get it up at the front, and rubs as its goes up. I have thought about making new bonnet plates with a longer slotted vertical plate to lift the front of the bonnet.

The bonnet plates have large holes but they are a waste of time as you cant move the plate around due to the glassed in threads. I guess if there is a problem with locating the plates on the rear of the tube, and moving them to the front cures it, then I will look at doing it, and I make up new hinges.

I see mentioned fitting some plates with rubber on top of the subframe bar to support the body, I reckon thats a good idea. Also the aluminium cowling on top of the oil cooler is used on a lot of Cobra kit cars to support the bodywork, in my opinion the rubber overider grommets and bolts etc are quite sufficient to locate the body, and in the Ram as mentioned you have the subframe doing its thing as well!

Russell do you still have the photo available, I would appreciate it if you could post it again or email it to me on,

ajnewton@xtra.co.nz

Thanks Ant

[dingocooke]

Heres a pic of my RAM bonnet hinges, its a bit of an old pic before I cleaned the car up, but you probably get the idea.
I'm pretty certain this is the standard hinge point, but with modified hinges. If anything, the bonnet is adjusted to sit a couple of mm high, but thats to ensure airbox clearance.

Steve

[Antony]

My last post should have read the hinge mounting is on the rear side (engine side) of tube, so this car being only about 1 year old has had a so called improvement! If I fit about 1/2" spacers between the bonnet plate and bonnet it maybe all right, but I can see new hinges and bonnet plates coming up!

[Antony]

dingocooke,

Pictures is very dark but I get the idea, the hinges are a lot smaller on my car.
I suppose it doesnt really matter where the hinges are when the bonnet is open as long as it stops before it hits paint, I will set the bonnet up right when its closed and get that right. My bonnet is the Bardahl series and I am going to have to lift the scoop up another 2" to clear my intake system, this is going to be a very large scoop and I much rather have a small scoop!

[427sc]

Hi Guys....I am in exactly the same situation....so i guess with the engine problem that i have had ( another post!!)..the engine is now out and waiting to be rebuilt...would be real gratefull for pics..or better still..sketches with poss dimensions...and shall have a few sets of revised hinges made!!..thats if anyone is interested

Sorry RUSS....but it looks all down to you my friend!!

cheers..Steve