M Series Bonnet Striker Pin failures

[SquashedCat]

Apparently, the bonnet striker pins are failing for several M series TVR owners. One of mine failed the other day in which the thread on the end of the striker pin stripped out of the support plate nut on the bonnet, leaving the striker pin and spring, locked in the thimble, with the bonnet coming detached from the pin and the bonnet opening up at about 70+ miles per hour. I tried as quickly and safely as possible to get over to the side of the road and stop the car before the bonnet opened up completely before nose diving into the pavement. Almost made it. The wind caught bonnet and lifted up completely at about 3 Mph. Some scraping damage to the lower bonnet, which was not cheap to have repaired. Anyway, Adrian at Exactly TVR now has a more robust bonnet striker pin catch assemblies available. Needless to say I ordered a new set for the LH and RH sides of the bonnet. But, as the TVR M series has no safety catch, like Jaguar's have, I use cheap zip ties wrapped around the striker pin spring and the thimble lock as cheap insurance against pin failure or sudden bonnet opening.

 

[Grantura_MKI]

You will find that a nylon strap will do the trick. Look at last months club magazine(USA) and you will see what I mean.
Latches generally fail due to poor alignment through the years. Glad damage was slight!

 

[SquashedCat]

vixen-mk2, thank you for the photo, I really like that safety cable setup with the quick release pin on side of your thimble catches. Did you add that or did it come with the catch mechanism originally?