Bugey Bonnet Hinge Problem . . .

[Who is John Galt]

Hi guys, noob to Bugeyes here. I have a 1960 that I am doing a rotisserie restoration on and am in the process of stripping the car down to the bare body. When attempting to remove the Bonnet Hinges I have come upon some difficulty and am not sure what is going on . . .

On each hinge support under the cowl and behind the dash there is a long pivot bolt. On one side of each hinge support (towards the center of the car) a bolt is welded to the hinge support, there is about 3/4' of threaded end protruding. On the outward sides of each support is the head of the pivot bolt.

The hex head of the pivot bolt ~turns~ with the hinge as it is moved up or down. The threaded end on the other side of each hinge support (which protrudes through the nut welded to the hinge support) does not. Hmmmmm

Something fishy is going on here. That should be one long bolt, correct? This tells me the pivot bolt on both hinges is broken ??? I have stripped the hex end of both trying to free them. I was planning to do a forward tilt kit anyway, bit I really hate to have to resort to a cuttoff wheel on these bolts . . . What's going on here?

There is very little corrosion on this car, it is hard to imagine these bolts seized to the hinges and broke . . .

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Sounds like it is broken and seize to the hinge. I'd try to get the bolt head end out first in order to see if it broke at the threads or shoulder. Then you can determine how best to remove the other half.

You might try welding a nut to that rounded bolt head. The heat may help break it free.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

That is one long bolt. seized up and you broke it. The bonnet provides a very long lever. Gerard's Front Tilt Kit is top quality. NFI but I bought one from him. A number of other kits out there using cheap hardware and not necessarily cut correctly. Once you go Front tilt you will not go back. I need to pull the bonnet on Bugsy IV. tired of banging my head right now on the bonnet.

 

[BlueMax]

If you’re sure that the bolt has broken? Weld a nut at the threaded portion sticking out of hinge bracket. Remove it, then you should be able to drive the rest of the bolt out with some persuasion.

 

[SD Bugeye]

Looks like a chick and the egg type of problem.

 

[Gerard]

Since the threaded end is held by a captive nut on the pocket, if the bolt is broken, you won't be able to remove the hinge without either unscrewing or drilling out the threaded end from the captive nut. As I recall this is a shouldered bolt*, so hopefully it would be broken below the shoulder, at least.

*I just checked mine; they are threaded over about the first inch only.