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Lightweight GRP bonnet/hood for the KJ...Interested?
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=88901		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  jeepsterkj [ Sat Jun 16, 2018 5:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Lightweight GRP bonnet/hood for the KJ...Interested?
I opened my bonnet/hood to top up my power steering fluid and just as I had finished the job the bonnet/hood came crashing down in an instant, BANG!, with no warning whatsover! If my head had been under it at the time, as it was a few seconds earlier, I could have been killed or at the very least seriously injured! It made me appreciate just how heavy the KJ's steel bonnet/hood actually is. If it had been lighter, and made of GRP, my obviously worn the gas struts would have still held it up, and even if it did fall it would have had a lot less momentum behind it making it less dangerous to work under.
This incident has renewed my interest in getting a lightweight GRP bonnet made for my KJ.
A lighter weight GRP bonnet would only bring positive benefits for KJ owners...It would lower the KJ's centre of gravity, which would improve both the KJ's on-road handling, its off road ability, and it would save fuel as you won't be lugging around so much unnecessary bulk. It will never rust, and it would even be possible to provide a nicer looking bonnet design than the original too if enough potential customers wanted it.
All it requires is an initial GRP mould to be made, using a KJ bonnet to provide the shape. Used steel KJ bonnets can bought for under £40 ($50) on ebay so at least that part of the process won't be too expensive. The rest is messy, potentially dangerous work, best left to professionals IMO.
I have made enquiries with several specialist GRP moulding companies in the UK and I'm waiting for their quotes, but it doesn't necessarily have to be made in the UK.
If there was enough interest from other KJ owners, and they could put deposits up front to split the cost, this could be an affordable and beneficial project for all involved.
So what do you guys think?
Author:  tjkj2002 [ Sat Jun 16, 2018 5:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Lightweight GRP bonnet/hood for the KJ...Interested?
Only 1 company made a fiberglass hood for the KJ,looked ugly with a big scoop in the front.

Image

That was $1000 10 years ago.Expect $1000 as a base line price point for a ultra low demand product,I'd be betting closer to $1500-$2000.
Author:  jeepsterkj [ Sat Jun 16, 2018 8:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Lightweight GRP bonnet/hood for the KJ...Interested?
tjkj2002 wrote:
Only 1 company made a fiberglass hood for the KJ,looked ugly with a big scoop in the front.

Image

That was $1000 10 years ago.Expect $1000 as a base line price point for a ultra low demand product,I'd be betting closer to $1500-$2000.


Good find...I wonder why they put that wide scoop on it? Perhaps they didn't want to be sued for infringing Jeeps patent so had to try and make it look noticeably different?
Don't suppose you know the name of the company that made it?
Author:  tjkj2002 [ Sun Jun 17, 2018 2:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Lightweight GRP bonnet/hood for the KJ...Interested?
jeepsterkj wrote:
Don't suppose you know the name of the company that made it?

Long out of business,tried many years ago to get them to make on without the scoop but they refused since the mold cost them like $25,000 and sold 1 hood in total.
Author:  Grotsoldaat [ Sun Jun 24, 2018 4:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Lightweight GRP bonnet/hood for the KJ...Interested?
A hood with cooling vents like in GC SRT & Trackhawk would be cool... literally, as it get hot here during the summer.
Author:  casm [ Sun Jun 24, 2018 10:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Lightweight GRP bonnet/hood for the KJ...Interested?
Grotsoldaat wrote:
A hood with cooling vents like in GC SRT & Trackhawk would be cool... literally, as it get hot here during the summer.


Just cut the hood and install vents from another vehicle.

I did this on one of my XJs using hood vents from a Chrysler LeBaron turbo. They were basically the largest ones that would fit without cutting the hood braces, and they worked brilliantly. Made a huge difference when running in the Mojave desert in 120°F heat.
Author:  tommudd [ Sun Jul 01, 2018 12:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Lightweight GRP bonnet/hood for the KJ...Interested?
I run hood vents from a Pontiac GTP , various posts on here about them
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