Bonnet/hood conversion question

[driftwood]

One of the most characteristic and unconventional features of the E30 is the front hinged bonnet. Has anyone ever converted it to rear mounted hinges? Probably too much hassle to do, but would it save even more weight if fitting a lightweight bonnet for racing? It seems pointless fitting a lightweight bonnet and using the original hinge mechanism if it weighs a lot. If you do away with the hinge mechanism completely, it must be a right pain having to take the bonnet off and put it on the ground somewhere every time you want to gain access to the engine.

[HairyScreech]

If you have a lightweight bonnet on quick pins then its no hassle to lift off.

Never thought it was a hassle pulling a bonnet on a track car, even single seat stuff with 10 clips to get the rear clamshell off.

With the e30 its really the weight that's the problem.

It is even possible to leave the rear slider/lockers and pin the front, that way it only needs 2 pins to keep it down.
Just make sure you use good solid pins/fastners, a bonnet in the screen is no fun at all. Can even write a shell off with a pillar damage.

[age]

if you look at the shape of the bonnet you'll see why you cant hinge it from the back. the corners are shaped to the scuttle and would have nowhere to go.

[driftwood]

I'd forgotten I posted this enquiry. Hairyscreech, If I go to the expense of getting a lightweight bonnet I'd rather not have to completely remove it to gain engine access. It's easy enough, granted, but would definitely need good quality bonnet pins! I just don't want to put it on the ground where some numpty (me) might stand on it or lean it against the car where the same numpty might knock it over. Plus, if it's chucking it down and it's hinged at the rear I might get some protection from the wet stuff.
Age, I see what you mean about the shape at the rear of the bonnet. The hinges would have to be mounted so the pivot is pretty much right under the pointed bits of the bonnet right at the back near the scuttle. E36's have a pivot there, I think. Maybe some brackets could be made to mount e36 (or similar) bonnet hinges in the right places but use existing mounting points. Dunno, I might have a go at knocking something together one day. I just wondered if anyone had actually done something like this already and a really good Google search revealed nothing.

[clarko74]

You can do almost everything without having to take the bonnet off. The only time I've had to take it off is to change the cambelt or the whole engine. Too much hassle trying to bodge some hinges into the scuttle imo.

[driftwood]

I don't want to take the bonnet off at all, that's the point. If I buy a lightweight bonnet I don't see the point in fitting it using the original hinge mechanism if it weighs a lot, but I don't want to fit and secure it purely using bonnet pins and have to remove the bonnet completely when I need engine access.

[pacerpete]

The original hinge bar weighs zilch, a couple of KGs at most.

[driftwood]

If that's all it weighs it really won't matter. I was just curious.