• Hi Guest!
    You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

Bugeye front tilt latches

Share this page

nomad said:
I think those would work slick, Rut!! Similar to an XKE and the way I always thought about doing that. Can I ask what they are off of? They look a lot like Spridget boot lid latch's.

Kurt.
Click to expand...

Kurt,
These are from a 50s-80s Ford tractor or from a Leyland tractor. They only fit one way and I broke the welds and reversed and rewelded one of them to make it work. They can be mounted almost level just above the sills which will provide a very positive latching with a little pull down pressure. I'm toying with the idea of a removable handle so nothing will be in the way to snag on in the footwell.
All that said they are not mounted yet, but it looks very promising. I wish I had considered this type of system when I was replacing my A pillars since they could have been hidden inside with only a slot for the hook to come thru. Better yet, they could be mounted inside the sills with a very unobtrusive latch pin on the vertical bonnet brace. I hope I don't do something REALLY stupid!
Rut
 
Rut, Did you look at the Speedwell latch system? Totally hidden.

Haey Bill, the coolness factor at a show with bonnet tilted forward cannot be underestimated. I loved it on Bugsy 1 my '68 w BE Bonnet.
 
Jim,
I looked at their system and it had the same issues I'm trying to get away from, mainly alignment. I want something that is easy to install by a novice, inexpensive, and effective. Of all the latch designs I've seen the rotary latch and the cable actuated pull latch appear to be the easiest solution that fits my idea. If mine works I plan to post the measurements and parts list here for anyone to use and it should be under $50, secure, and relatively easy to fabricate. Another bonus will be adding it to a finished Bugeye, new paint and all. I'll post my findings once I install it and work the bugs out.
Thanks, Rut
 
My first BE had a front tilt bonnet and used some big ugly latches that appeared to be off a Jeep. When I forgot to latch them you had to be going a pretty good clip before the back of the bonnet would begin to lift. It doesn't take much to hold the bonnet in place. The PO of that car also installed a plug that would let you unplug all the lighting wires so that you could quickly remove the bonnet. Only took seconds and a helper to take it off. The car was junk but a junker is lots of fun. You don't worry about it!!:joyous:

Kurt.
 
I used a6 way trailer harness for Bugsy and a zip tie for extra insurance. With front tilt and harness plug and an overhead pulley system I could have bonnet off of the car or reinstall it in <10 minutes. Now with a really good paint job I'd take longer but Bugsy I had a Rustoleum roll your own paint job.
 
Back
Top