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Eliminate fender beading?

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Before anyone commits to a font tilt bonnet, I suggest you look at a couple of installations and ask the owner if you can "try them". I'm not happy with mine, but I'm determined to make it work (better).
 
They probably work better on fiberglass bonnets.
 
I'm actually looking at the possibility of lengthening the stock props with an additional slide. It wouldn't allow the bonnet to open quite as far, but a quick detach mechanism could allow it to open the rest of the way for times when you need to do more than "check the fluids".
 
Yes
 
Going back to the original subject of this post -
I'm still trying to decide to leave the beads on my BE or eliminate them.
I've seen a few cars where they have been removed and thought the effect was great. The lines are allowed to flow and curve without interuption and is really sensuous. Of course all of this is in the eye of the beholder.
Some have commented that they believe the beading adds to the lines and conture of the car but others may see them as a distraction (I do)to the overall flow of the bodywork. In spite of that I'm leaning to leaving them on...for now. There's no right or wrong, we just all see things differently. Choosing one over the other doesn't mean someone appreciates the car less. They just like the way it looks, be it with or without beading.
Thankfully there is a mix of those that want the car to be as original as possible and those that want to make some changes. I don't know if making changes like bead removal enhances/reduces the $$$ value or increases/decreases the emotional value based on esthetic appeal. When it gets down to it, it's all about what lights our fire or floats our boat and that's purely emotional.
My little BE can never be called original (in my opinion) as I'm having to replace so much metal, will have a paint job with racing stripes, a 1275, 5sp etc. I do have the original engine and tranny, brakes etc. which many don't. I'm not even certain everyone can agree on what is "orignal".
I'm building the BE to my satisfaction. I've been to too many car shows where people walk around and play "gotcha" about the most mundane non orignal bits or changes they see. Guess what, I don't care, nothing would ever "satisfy" them. Building the BE is for the satisfaction of doing it, meeting great people here and the smiles it will bring to 99.9% of the faces that see it!
Sorry for the long winded post...Regards, Roy /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/driving.gif
 
Geesh... every time I think I've made up my mind someone helps change it. When the time comes to make the decision I'll leave them if I'm still indecisive.

My bugeye will be so far from original that a "purist" would exhaust himself listing what is not original. He would probably be better off listing the few items that are original.

Maybe I will remove the beading...
no I'll leave it...
but then again they weren't in Gary's original sketch...were they?
 
quote=Trevor Jessie]
My bugeye will be so far from original that a "purist" would exhaust himself listing what is not original. He would probably be better off listing the few items that are original. [/quote]

And I say...Who's car is it? Who's gonna be driving and enjoying it? Who is happy with it? Then the rest of the world Pffft
 
most things are better smooth... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
be a pioneer trevor, grind em off! .....zimmy
 
That, my friends, is the beauty of the Bugeye!! Even in the beautifully restored, original state of something like what Team Sprite did, it is a "reasonably" priced "collectible" car with enough excellent examples to satisfy the purists and curators among us, while there are still ample cars around that have been chopped, butchered, raced and modified that can be built into a little "sports-hot-rods" to the personal preferences of each individual owner!!! And that's why I love my little hybrid, amalgam of quaint Britishness combined with some personally dictated "improvements" /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbsup.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif
 
I've contemplated something like that, but it goes against my "decluttering" theme. And I would be concerned about getting the bonnet open if one of those latches should jam.
 
That's a neat solution, those latches were used on TR4s. Lots of TR folks install a backup release, since if the cable breaks or sticks, you're pretty much out of luck.
 
Been there, done that!

The bonnet on my '74 is stuck because of a jammed cable to the latch. I need to get out the long needle-nose pliers to free it. I'm thinking that I will go old-school, and just rig the latch to be opened from the grille. That would simplify things and de-clutter at the same time.
 
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