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Bonnet repair/replacement advice

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Whitephrog

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The bonnet on my newest BE project is rougher than I had anticipated. On the drivers side the fender from the center of the wheel well forward has as much as two inches of filler. There is a bit of damage in the area around the small turn indicator light socket. Otherwise the bonnet appears to be solid.

Options:

1. Remove the filler and have the body shop repair the old metal to the extent possible.
2. Find a good donor fender and have the body shop replace the damaged portion of the fender.
3. Purchase a new complete fender and have the body shop do a complete replacement.
4. Purchase a good used bonnet.
5. Purchase a new fiberglass bonnet.
6. Use this can an excuse to purchase a Walker Bonnet from Speedwell.

Thoughts from this learned group?
 
I think that your best choice is to try to find a good used bonnet. Your body work costs will easily eat up much $. Now, how to find a good bonnet......
 
Ray,
i would remove the bondo and assess the condition of the sheet metal...if in poor shape I would be inclined to replace the portion that's bad. If you have any fender bead work to do I would look for a complete fender.
Rut
 
Rut said:
Ray,
i would remove the bondo and assess the condition of the sheet metal...if in poor shape I would be inclined to replace the portion that's bad. If you have any fender bead work to do I would look for a complete fender.
Rut
Click to expand...

The only bead work would be in the vicinity of the light socket. I have about four feet of new beading.
 
Rut your a helpful guy!! :congratulatory:

I'd vote for a fiberglass "Speedwell" bonnet bu being practical is probably going to win out!!

Kurt.
 
If I decide to go the standard fiberglass bonnet it appears that Speedwell and Perform Resource are the best two options. Big price difference between the two however the Speedwell bonnet comes with their tilt forward kit.
 
Whitephrog said:
If I decide to go the standard fiberglass bonnet it appears that Speedwell and Perform Resource are the best two options. Big price difference between the two however the Speedwell bonnet comes with their tilt forward kit.
Click to expand...
Ray, I meant go with the "Speedwell" styled bonnet! If you are going to stick with the stock shape I personally would stay with the stock. Rut showed a couple of pretty good example's! If you pop the bondo out of your's and do a little hammer work or show it to your body guy first it might not be all that bad.

Kurt
 
Ray,
the more I think about it I would do a Speedwell bonnet since you already have a 'stock' Bugeye!
Rut
 
Ray
I may have a fender for you. I will get some pics in the am.
Paul
 
Rut said:
Ray,
the more I think about it I would do a Speedwell bonnet since you already have a 'stock' Bugeye!
Rut
Click to expand...

The stock Bugeye is "spoken for" and will be going to Europe this fall. Pretty neat for a car that was originally sent to Yokohama Japan. Very international!
 
Well, that's a horse of a different color! I still like the Speedwell bonnet!��
Rut
 
image.jpgimage.jpgRay
Here it is. Some pitting rust etc. pm me if you want it. Free, if you pay for the shipping (greyhound?) and make a donation to the BCF
 
I've always wanted a Walker bonnet from Speedwell. I believe that's the direction that I'm going to go.

IMG_0570.jpg


walkerbonnet.jpg
 
Ray,
Thats outstanding! Can't wait to see the build...are these bonnets hard to come by?
Rut
 
as Rut posted, find out what you have, then repair
Bug eyes are increasing in value and the steel bonnet cars will always be premium. Soon all the good used bonnets will be gone, as the original clip on hardtops.

If you want a different front end you can still have both since the front tilts are easy to switch.

I spent all kinda of money on rebuilding bonnet at local body shop so I would have a Bugeye with a good steel bonnet. I wrestled with wanting different style bonnet and decided it wouldn't be a Bug eye anymore.
 
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