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Gap between sill and Bonnet - BE

emann

Senior Member
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Putting bonnet back on the car after being off for 20 years:

I was able to bring the wings of the bonnet in tighter to the car by adjusting the angled supports on the inside of the bonnet. The width of the bonnet now looks good.

I also adjusted the hinges so the bonnet doesn't scrape the top of the firewall on opening (gap is probably a little too big now when closed) (any way to adjust this other than climbing in under the bonnet and feeling like you've been swallowed by a giant clam?)

However, on both sides, there is a substantial gap from the top of the sill to the bottom of the bonnet (one side is over an inch).

Any suggestions on how to adjust this out?

I didn't do any structural work on the bonnet (did not reinforce the structure that the hinges attach to).

TIA,
Ed

(just waiting on my tags and then I'm on the road /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/driving.gif )
 
Ed,
I'm also having trouble with the bonnet as you can see from my post. Hopefully we'll learn what to do (or not to do) from each others post.
 
Check the locating pegs, are they fitting into the holes?
Also I had one where there was some minor damage to the inner fender thus interfering with the bonnet pyramid and keeping one side up too far.
I have also had to do major surgery to the underside where the locating pegs are on one bonnet to get it to sit in the holes.
Welding a 1/4" steel bar around the wheel opening lip will do wonders on fatiqued bonnets where the wheel openings are bulged out too.
 
It took me 2 hours to do the final fit on the bonnet. I intially had the same problem with the gaps. I ended up loosening 3 bolts on each hinge. Kept the 4th both on each hinge snug. Was able to press the bonnet down and over to one side. Raised the bonnet tightened one more bolt on each hinge and rechecked. Gap was even on both sides and uniform. Haven't actually measured but it looks right. All I can think is that the two hinges weren't closing in the same arc.
 
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