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Bonnet alignment

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John_Mc

John_Mc

Jedi Knight
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I had some body work done on my bonnet during the summer and it turned out nicely but the bonnet lid is out of alignment, that is, when I go to close it, I have to push it in a little from the passenger side so that it doesn't hit the fender where it overlaps. What is the correct way to correct this? I have the grill off to access the hinges from the front. Do I just loosen the bolts where the bonnet attaches to the support arms and then re-tighten them when the bonnet is in proper position, or do I do that where the arms attach to the body/fender? Or both? Or neither? TIA
 
First, I would advise you to remove the lock on the bonnet so you can open and close it without the hassle of having to unlock it every time you close it down. The little rubber bullets on either side of the corners near the drains are for aligning the bonnet and keep it from rattling. Using your great abilities as a dentist and spatial relations (remember the DAT?), loosen every bolt just enough for you to bump the thing a tad and get the alignment where you want it, then tighten down. Don't over-loosen or you will go back to go each time.
 
By loosining all the bolts on both hinges you may be able to shift the bonnett directly sideways without losing the front and rear gaps., but that's also going to be tough to re-tighten without losing it all. I'd try just loosening one end of both hinges at a time. say all 4 under the bonnett first. Use some masking tape as a guide to movement, and retighten only one bolt on each hinge until you get it set where you want it. keeping that one bolt snug but not tight should allow for a controlled move.
If the bonnett side dosent get enough movement, then do the same under the cowel.
Shifting the side thats rubbing agenst the fender forward will also move it away from the fender, but it may make it contact the apron. or shift the opposite side back. just make sure it dosent contact the cowell.
This process is tough to explain without some pictures.
 
I repeat my previous statement. You may have to move the fender out a hair.

This will provide the clearance with losing all of the other adjustments.
 
Brosky said:
You may have to move the fender out a hair.
Click to expand...
Paul, won't this create gaps elsewhere, like the scuttle panel and around the headlights? The bonnet was the only thing that was worked on so I'm guessing the discrepancy happened when it was reattached. The hood does not line up with the hood latch either. I'll try and get a picture. If only I could get my car to YOUR body shop! A little too far away though!
 
Bob, that's a great tutorial.

I was curious about your choice of the flywheel. Were you out of cylinder heads at the time?
 
John_Mc said:
... The bonnet was the only thing that was worked on so I'm guessing the discrepancy happened when it was reattached. The hood does not line up with the hood latch either. ...
Click to expand...

A few months ago I replaced the bonnet latch assembly (on the underside of the bonnet). Until I got the latch assembly aligned perfectly, when I closed the bonnet the misaligned latch assembly would exert enough lateral force to cause the bonnet to strike the fender. It's possible that your bonnet alignment is fine and just the latch assembly needs adjustment.

Scott
 
The hood lines up just fine once I push it over and it latches. My worry is that maybe one or both of the hood hinge supports got bent in the "accident". I tried aligning it once already with no improvement. I'll try again following Bobby's tutorial.
 
I hope that you have the required flywheel for proper weight distribution.
 
Dang! All I think I have is an old brake drum! Maybe I'll have to order a lightened flywheel so I can take the steel one out to put on the bonnet. That's how I'll present it to the wife anyway.

Scott, is your car saffron? or a non-standard color? Either way, I like it!
 
John_Mc said:
Dang! ...
Scott, is your car saffron? or a non-standard color? Either way, I like it!
Click to expand...

Thanks! Well, it's supposed to be Topaz, but I got a quick and dirty paint job ten years ago and the color match was close but not perfect. Also, I took a few liberties with iPhoto to give it the look of a 30 year old photograph.

Scott
 
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