Alan Crossley · Jan 11, 2017

I have recently bought a Massi Puma style bonnet for my year 2000 Td5. I have had it painted to match the replacement rear door and now need to fit it.

I'm not much of a talent when it comes to engineering ( never good for a LR Defender owner, but such is life) and I am not sure how best to tackle the job.

The quality of the bonnet is very good. It's the slightly more expensive version with the two skin construction which makes it stronger and more ridged than the single skin.

The existing hinges will be fine but I am reluctant to drill the six holes which are needed to mount the unit.

I am considering fitting the sprung steel pin at the front of the bonnet, placing the bonnet down in place, lining up the windscreen end of the bonnet correctly and then, and only then, taking the drill out and making the holes for the six stainless steel screws.

Have any of you fine fellows undertaken this procedure successfully ? When I say successfully, I mean that the new bonnet will open and close correctly!

Any help for an old retired enthusiast would be most welcome.

Many thanks in anticipation of your help.

Litch · Jan 12, 2017

Can't comment on the GRP type i'm afraid.
When I was looking to fit a TDCi bonnet to my TDi I did look briefly at the GRP versions (for about 10-minutes) and then decided to order a steel one, ordered as a BP item it is actually a LRGP bonnet that you receive but at a much more reasonable price. This meant that in my case the hinges (security type), striker etc were a straight fit but of course I had to fit the later prop & brackets (the price of the brackets recently shot up from a very reasonable price to a typical LRGP price).

I would say that if you use the striker as a fixed point to position the bonnet correctly, put the hinges onto the bulkhead and let them rest on the top of the bonnet you can safely mark & drill the holes where they line up.
As long as the bonnet doesn't end up touching the bulkhead then you should be ok, you have a bit of adjustment on the striker to play with.

Looking at the photo of the bonnet underside on the Masai website, are the positions for the hinge-bolts not moulded into position or marked someway?
That said, even if they were I think that accurately lining it up as above would perhaps be the better option.

fireblade7 · Jan 12, 2017

i got some grp puma bonnets and theres a moulded part where the hinge sits if you center the hinge then drill and fit should be no problem

Alan Crossley · Jan 12, 2017

Litch said:
Can't comment on the GRP type i'm afraid.
When I was looking to fit a TDCi bonnet to my TDi I did look briefly at the GRP versions (for about 10-minutes) and then decided to order a steel one, ordered as a BP item it is actually a LRGP bonnet that you receive but at a much more reasonable price. This meant that in my case the hinges (security type), striker etc were a straight fit but of course I had to fit the later prop & brackets (the price of the brackets recently shot up from a very reasonable price to a typical LRGP price).

I would say that if you use the striker as a fixed point to position the bonnet correctly, put the hinges onto the bulkhead and let them rest on the top of the bonnet you can safely mark & drill the holes where they line up.
As long as the bonnet doesn't end up touching the bulkhead then you should be ok, you have a bit of adjustment on the striker to play with.

Looking at the photo of the bonnet underside on the Masai website, are the positions for the hinge-bolts not moulded into position or marked someway?
That said, even if they were I think that accurately lining it up as above would perhaps be the better option.

Thanks for your reply. The new bonnet does have the position mounded into the bonnet and the screw placing so are also part of that mould feature.

Your description was better articulated than mine and I was unsure of the amount of adjustment available.

Really appreciate your thoughts

Many thanks

Alan Crossley · Jan 12, 2017

fireblade7 said:
i got some grp puma bonnets and theres a moulded part where the hinge sits if you center the hinge then drill and fit should be no problem

Thanks for your comments. I'll shout if I have any issues

Alan Crossley

Well-Known Member

Litch

Well-Known Member

fireblade7

Active Member

Alan Crossley

Well-Known Member

Alan Crossley

Well-Known Member

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