Converting Hood To Opening???

[theManiac]

Has anyone here converted a regular Manx hood into an opening hood??? If so, how??? any photos???

[mel hubbard]

Mike, I have one of the Manx lifting hoods on my buggy, its a shame we are so far away, because it would be much quicker to take a mold off my one and make a new hood, than convert an original. If starting with an original Manx hood, once its been cut where you want it to hinge from, your need to glass in a U section at the dash end of the hood, this will give it extra strength and will channel the rain away,,, kinda like the trunk on your every day sedan. On the other part of the hood it would be wise to glass a lip down that will sit in the U section, this again will give strength to the lifting part of the hood. Then glass in two flat areas for the headlamps to mount, or cut the fender lamp pods off, re-glass the fender holes and set these pods in the hood. One last thing, if hinging the hood from the dash end, you may need to remove up to 1 inch of fiberglass from the section in front of the gas tank, as the license plate area of the hood can catch on that part of the tub, but if hinging it from the beam bolts you maybe ok. Has no one ever checked with Meyers to find out what happened with the lifting hood moulds?, they were offered in Mania for sale back in the mid to late 90's. I reckon some miles could be put on that mold, if they were remade today, it was a real nice molding too, plus they seemed to fit real nice which was a real bonus.

[towd-dude]

[FONT=Comic Sans MS]I have an orginal Manx hood with a new drop down dash attached. I would let someone use to make a folding hood if they promised to make me one.....[/FONT] [FONT=Comic Sans MS]Bob[/FONT]

[mel hubbard]

[QUOTE="mel hubbard;15615"] if hinging the hood from the dash end, you may need to remove up to 1 inch of fiberglass from the section in front of the gas tank, as the license plate area of the hood can catch on that part of the tub, [/QUOTE] Thinking further about this, I'm sure the license plate area of the lifting hood that Meyers used to sell was more upright than the normal Manx hood. Even the normal lifting hood (that Meyers used to sell) required removing up to 1 inch of fiberglass in front of the gas tank to get it to open without catching. So I'm guessing that converting a normal hood could cause it to catch even more, being as that area angles back further on the standard Manx hood, so maybe a good idea to cut and alter the angle of that hood section to clear.

[theManiac]

Hey Mel, I'm thinking more along the lines of leaving the headlights on the fenders & cutting out the top of the hood, so it will clear the headlights. Then installing a raingutter/seal surface (360 degrees) all the way around the opening for the hood to sit on & seal against. It would be similar (in looks) to the hood on a AC Cobra. The back edge would be about 4"-6" from the bottom edge of the windshield. The sides would be just about where the hood rolls over. There would have to be a little jog over so the hood would clear the headlights (like a Datsun 240Z, though they are in the fenders). Then the front edge of the hood would either be just above or just below the Manx nose badge. I would think cutting the hood out with it mounted in place would be the best way, but not sure. I'm not even sure "WHY" I would want an opening hood either, other than to just be different!!!

[mel hubbard]

[QUOTE="theManiac;15621"]Hey Mel, I'm thinking more along the lines of leaving the headlights on the fenders & cutting out the top of the hood, so it will clear the headlights. Then installing a raingutter/seal surface (360 degrees) all the way around the opening for the hood to sit on & seal against. It would be similar (in looks) to the hood on a AC Cobra. The back edge would be about 4"-6" from the bottom edge of the windshield. The sides would be just about where the hood rolls over. There would have to be a little jog over so the hood would clear the headlights (like a Datsun 240Z, though they are in the fenders). Then the front edge of the hood would either be just above or just below the Manx nose badge. I would think cutting the hood out with it mounted in place would be the best way, but not sure. I'm not even sure "WHY" I would want an opening hood either, other than to just be different!!![/QUOTE] Sorry Mike, I got a little over-ambitious there and thought you wanted the full lifting hood. I've not seen what your after, but reckon someone somewhere has done something similar, I like to be able to get to stuff easy and never did like laying under dash panels whilst wiring.

[CairoManx]

[quote="mel hubbard;15615"]Has no one ever checked with Meyers to find out what happened with the lifting hood moulds?, they were offered in Mania for sale back in the mid to late 90's. I reckon some miles could be put on that mold, if they were remade today, it was a real nice molding too, plus they seemed to fit real nice which was a real bonus.[/quote] I think they're in use.

[captron945]

Can someone describe what the hood would look like using the "lifting hood mold". Are there any pictures. I would very much like a "lifting hood" like others on this forum. I was thinking along the lines of "cutting" the original hood to get a look like that of the Cobra or Karmann Ghia hood. Like "themaniac" above. Could possible use the same hardware, hinges, latch. Not real happy with the thought of cutting up my hood though. But what else to do??? ron,

[CairoManx]

[quote="captron945;15672"] I would very much like a "lifting hood" Not real happy with the thought of cutting up my hood though. But what else to do??? ron,[/quote] Ask Bruce/Winnie if they will sell a standard Kick Out hood. I believe its the same as their old Manx lifting hood. I know they sell the fiberglass Kickout deck cover.

[Gary1719]

No they will not. It is not period correct. Sorry

[tim morgan]

[QUOTE="gary1719;15687"]No they will not. It is not period correct. Sorry[/QUOTE] I don't know??? I bought the manx kick out SS vented side pods for my ManxII,,,That is-ant period correct,,,,Its hit and miss on some things,,Can't hurt to call and ask....

[mel hubbard]

[QUOTE="gary1719;15687"]No they will not. It is not period correct. Sorry[/QUOTE] Gary, I'm not too sure about now, but Meyers used to sell/advertise those lifting hoods years ago in Mania and they looked the same as the Kick Out hood that Nelson posted, the only difference I can see is that the one's they used to sell were hinged up from the dash end,, no big deal to change that though. I bought my lifting hood from Meyers after they had stopped advertising it in mania, think that was about 2000 and went on to make two molds and sell them here in UK. Although none of my Manx customers fitted them at that time, I did sell a few to people who wanted to fit them onto clones. I can fully understand people wanting period correct things on their genuine Meyers Manx buggies. I can also understand WHY guys would want to fit lifting hoods to their buggies, one thing I cant understand is why guys have to try and dictate to others what they should and should not fit to their own buggies, whatever the model. Its YOUR buggy and you build it how YOU want and that's one of the great things about building a buggy. Very similar hoods were fitted to Meyers first run of 12 monocoque buggies and I for one think they look and work really well. Meyers also sell's flop down dash panels, that are also NOT period correct, so where do we draw the line here?.

[ManxMe]

Bruce told me once that the Kickout hood is the same as a Manxter hood. They are identical and mount the same way. He designed the Kickout to use the common hood mold. Why wouldn't they sell you one? The only reason I can imagine is that they would prefer you to buy an entire Kickout, but if you make it clear that you can't afford it, I would bet you could get them to sell you one. along with the dash portion. I think they need the $$$.

[manxdavid]

[QUOTE="ManxMe;15748"]Bruce told me once that the Kickout hood is the same as a Manxter hood. They are identical and mount the same way. He designed the Kickout to use the common hood mold. Why wouldn't they sell you one? The only reason I can imagine is that they would prefer you to buy an entire Kickout, but if you make it clear that you can't afford it, I would bet you could get them to sell you one. along with the dash portion. I think they need the $$$.[/QUOTE] I think Bruce's gotten a little mixed up as the Manxter hood is quite different to the Kick-Out one esp. in the region of the headlight mounts...the Kick-Out's ones are set into quite a deep bucket... Where the Manxter's aren't... Here's the opening hood that Meyers Manx used to sell (photo courtesy of Mel)... Here's the internal strengthening for the hinges and headlight mountings...

[Gary1719]

Okay how did i get pulled into this! what i was told you can buy the side pods from the kickout for your classic manx. But i was told the hood would not be sold for the early Manx. Because it was not period correct. Yes i dont agree with it. I figure your in the business to make money right? But it is not my call. I did call and ask winnie this is what i was told.