:wavey:

Hello

Been a little bit busy lately. I decided to take my car to a local Company to see about a bonnet lifter, after so much hassle regarding lifters and the Fabia's inability to take one. Well, suffice to say, after some work this evening, there is NOW a true, one-off bonnet lifter kit available for the Fabia. Its still in slight R&D mode at the moment, but earlier this evening my car DID HAVE A WORKING BONNET LIFTER. :woohoo:

Anyway, details are sketchy, as is the price in the end, as they've not been able to get a true idea yet, but I was pretty impressed with the appearance given the rough & ready work done.

The classic reason why a bonnet lifter has never really worked with the Fabia is due to there being no space between the bonnet and wing when the bonnet shuts. This lifter uses space INSIDE the bonnet, i.e inside the rubber seal. A one-off bracket has been manufactured which positions the butt of the lifter exactly in the right spot, sort of alongside the battery case. Then on the bonnet the existing mount for the bonnet strut is used to attach to. Both ends having nuts with ball joints on the end, and the lifter clips on. The bracket uses 2 existing bolts to attach itself to the car, and is really easy to install. It is also really strong and provides a solid base for the lifter without causing damage to visible bits of the engine bay chassis. A press is being made too, as there's 2 lips to overcome where its mounted. However my "hammer induced" bracket was perfect for where it will sit.

It provides what is in my opinion the perfect weight feeling of a bonnet lifter. You unclip the bonnet, and carry the weight until a good 2 foot in the air, then the weight drops, and it will sit in that position, then a gentle tap up and it lifts right to where the bonnet usually stands when the strut is used in the usual position. It does do the last bit up a little quck, but nothing that drastic. Once up it doesn't block access to the washer fluid cap either (does when closed, but that's irrelevant It also appears to provide a more solid bonnet, with it being less "flappy" and unstable with just the strut in (would be more reliable in strong winds, etc)

So, WHO'S INTERESTED THEN? I feel quite chuffed to have got this developed - A show kit will be the next aim (once tried & tested on my car) Talk was made about using stainless steel, but really the mild steel used on the test kit looks OK, and there will be the option also of getting it colour coded to your car (as I knew it would look better in diamond silver on my test bit) The bracket remains 90% hidden when installed, with only the bit sticking out the butt of the lifter attaches to, which will look much better colour coded.

The poll is mainly a guide as to the people who would like one. I would estimate the cost of a whole kit, including a brand new oem VAG lifter (actually a boot strut) to be around £50. Probably less though. Will be the bracket (painted), Lifter, Bolts, ball joints, 2 washers, and full pictorial guide as to how to fit (guess who'll be doing the guide )

This thread is to get views of people. Hopefully I can answer some questions, and get an idea of the sort of price. it does look good when installed - Got that o.e.m vag feel with the black strut (none of this stainless/chrome lark, although options being considered for other types of strut at the moment )

Definitely, pending what it looks like, what materials and how well it works. But if the kit is of good quality then I'd be happy to pay up to

I'm up for one, but I think £50 is too much.

I know they're a limited run, but I remember paying about £15 for a pair for my 6n Polo LOL.

See what you can do with the pricing and I'll be interested!

I'm up for one, but I think

Interested. Would like to see it in place and a little cheaper if poss. I am from Yorkshire!!

Yeah I'm interested pending price and so long as it looks fairly neat.

Look forward to seeing some pics

Pending price absolutely

BTW the OEM ones on my golf were chrome coloured.

I'm not interested, but, just wanted to wade into this one......

driving a passat, i've already got a bonnet lifter.

One comment....

Given the amount of dirt and stuff that accumulates under the connet and engine area, I'd really re-think the mild steel. I don't know how corrosive resistant it is, but i'm sure you'd all feel majorly boned if two years down the line, bits rusted, seized or broke....... and given i've got rusty boot struts on the VW (01) i'd say got stainless and to hell with the cost.

I'd have to agree with Gwilo's comments there for sure

Got any pics you could show Jason, even from the mockup version?

Would be interested in this assuming it's not too hard to fit

Stainless is a thought, but with other components in the engine bay being either matt black, or body coloured, going with painted mild steel seemed OK.

The trouble with this kit is the need for the manufacture of this bracket. There's NO bolt holes or anything that a simple ball joint can be bolted to. This requires a one-off bracket to be made, to position the butt of the lifter into an area which is usually just open space (between wing and battery case)

Its the manufacture of this bracket which will make this more costly than buying a simple set of lifters from max power. :( I would estimate with the cutting, bending, welding and the pressing needed to make each one, its around a 25 minute production time (by hand) then there's prep and painting if required. Personally I'd recommend going colour coded - There should be a price for them to be sent colour coded, or the option is there for the buyer to spray prior to fitting. The ball joints and bolts will have to be able to cope with cack too - I'll make sure of that. And the oem lifter should be OK if wiped every now and then. There's not much cack will gather on it - only over time.

Piccies will follow - Today's test kit will be the basis of the (yet unpatented ) Fabia lifter kit, with a perfectly made version to follow which I'll get sprayed in silver. Might also do one in stainless, but I fear this will stand out more as an aftermarket mod that one sprayed body coloured.

The good thing is it works very well, and I like the action of the lifter. Once fully developed I estimate that armed with a 10mm spanner, 13mm spanner and a couple of other minor hand tools, anyone can fit this bonnet lifter in under 5 minutes AND be able to return to oem looking with the normal strut again in under 2 minutes. Its that easy.

Pics are as yet NOT done, deliberately to keep others from pinching the idea. Though it wouldn't be easy for someone to nick. Once the "show kit" example is done, it will be fitted to my car, and pictures will follow. Along with a guide as well (probably a step by step guide)

OK, keep us posted Jason.

Body colour, matt black or stainless are all fine by me.

OK' date=' keep us posted Jason.

Body colour, matt black or stainless are all fine by me.[/quote']

The idea should be to let the buyer dictate their own desire for colour. For now though I'm going to stick with 1.5mm mild steel, with the default being "matt black" - If anyone wants black magic,silver, whatever - they will have to let me know whenever anything kicks off.

As a guide you don't see most of the bracket as the rubber liner around the engine bay kind of goes over a good bit of it, and only a small amount peeks out from around the wing area. Its just the bit sticking out into engine bay space with is viewable. (and this I would recommend doing colour coded, but then you may as well get the whole thing done then )

Oh and this company remains nameless for now - however the option will exist to pay the company direct by credit card, and I guess they'll send out an invoice as well. I know the Company pretty well, so rest assured from me, it's all good.

Sounds good Jason...

was looking for a lifter for the fabia last week after seeing other VAG cars with them. thought there would be one that would be "universal".

anyway, definatly up for it bout 50 notes sounds ok

Scott

was looking for a lifter for the fabia last week after seeing other VAG cars with them. thought there would be one that would be "universal".

anyway' date=' definatly up for it bout 50 notes sounds ok

Scott[/quote']

No, there's not - Been looking into them for a while now - Gave up on finding a set narrow enough to fit between wing and bonnet, so went down this route.

In theory you could get one for each side, but the left side has no existing bonnet mount bracket, so that would be extra, but it would easy enough to produce a reversed bracket for the bottom bit.

Hi Gents,

Excuse my ignorance but what the Friar Tuck is a bonnet lifter and what benefits does it have to performance etc etc??

Hi Gents' date='

Excuse my ignorance but what the [b']Friar Tuck [/b]is a bonnet lifter and what benefits does it have to performance etc etc??

Friar Tuck? good one.

Next time you open your boot, look to the left and right whats holding it up. Then imagine one the same holding up your bonnet where you normally use the stick. That's it.

This is my dodgy artists impression. Red is the new bracket, yellow is the bolt/s, purple is the chunkier butt of the lifter, blue is the narrow bit which goes inside the butt when compressed. (Its the same as the hatchback boot strut ) The original stick will be removed.

This makes for safer use of the bonnet in windy conditions. Will be held in place instead of merely sitting there,liable to blow open and then shut on your head.

Friar Tuck? good one.

Next time you open your boot' date=' look to the left and right whats holding it up. Then imagine one the same holding up your bonnet where you normally use the stick. That's it.

This is my dodgy artists impression. Red is the new bracket, yellow is the bolt/s, purple is the chunkier butt of the lifter, blue is the narrow bit which goes inside the butt when compressed. (Its the same as the hatchback boot strut ) The original stick will be removed.

This makes for safer use of the bonnet in windy conditions. Will be held in place instead of merely sitting there,liable to blow open and then shut on your head.

[img']http://altarmoore.com/jason/LIFTER%20ARTISTS.JPG[/img]

Cheers dude, it all makes perfect sense now and I feel like a class A tw4t :D . Not sumthin I would be prepared to spend the money on at this stage to be honest (although credit for your creativity) as I wana do the more meaty mods shall we say. From the looks of your engine it looks like you have done a "few" mods. What is the silver piping coming from the front grille area? Cold air intake? Im new to the Vrs/Skoda world and am looking for ideas.

Cheers

its too much will wait till someone in china knocks it off (kiddin)

i'd be interested in just the bracket if you let us know what the lifter was originally from or what its dimesions are as someone else already said you can get pairs of chromed or brushed steel ones of ebay for about

whats the advantage other than weight gain? not wanting to pee on your chips jason but i can't see the point..

Its a bit of class really imo. Even my dads boggo Xsara has them :eek:. Just makes lifting and closing the bonnet a much more enjoyable experience.

I must say though, I think a pair would be a good idea. Can you explore that further please J - I know I'd be willing to pay the extra for a pair.

Only catch with the driver side would be the space available, would it fit?

Good pic. You might want to consider a pink one for the girls Jason!!

Eh you ! Nothing wrong with pink luvvie ! I think it's a great idea, bit expensive but smart nonetheless.