Spitfire Spitfire / GT6 bonnet Question

[Will_Ringrose]

For the life of me i can not seem to get my bonnet on my 73 GT6 to line up. The left side no matter how I adjust it seems to be at least a half inch to an inch high. That leads to me my question.

The support / hinge tubs that bot on with brackets. My brackets seem to have been welded on, Is that normal? I feel like the tube is in the wrong spot. if it were to shift a half inch I would be fine.



Thanks in advance,

Will Ringrose
73 GT6
50+ mile daily driver

 

[Andrew Mace]

No, it's not normal for those brackets to be welded to the bonnet; likely that's your problem. :frown:

 

[Will_Ringrose]

Im sorry they are not welded on the Bonnet, they are welded onto the tube.

 

[UltimateQuestion]

Yes the bolt tabs are welded onto the tubes (I have two sets and both are welded). Have you tried the adjustment at the hinge point?

 

[tomgt6]

Is this the original bonnet?

I am sure it is but have to ask the question.
If you are trying to put a mk1 or mk2 on the car I would assume you would have issues.

Are you sure you don't have a bent part or frame?

 

[Will_Ringrose]

I have tried to adjust at the hinge. it is as low as it will go and I am still about 1/2 inch too high. It is the Original Mk3 bonnet. So I guess that leaves me with a bent frame or bent tube :eeek:

Any good way to fix this?

The Bug I Got is in to shape to drive at the moment. ( fenders are off and no glass in. doing a quick rebuild on it )

 

[tomgt6]

I guess I would do some measurements on the frame and bonnet. As for bending something back, I would guess someone here has some good ideas but I also think that you have to look as some other items.

What I have learned about getting things to line up is that it doesn't seem to make sense. Sometimes you lower the right side to get the left side lined up right or things like that.

It may be a good idea to see if you can find a body man around who would be willing to come and help you with some advice, a few beers and maybe a steak dinner.

 

[vagt6]

Tom, is the front end suspension heavily shimmed? Lots more shims on one side than the other is a dead giveaway that the frame may be bent.

I found this out the hard way on a GT6. Alignment was spot-on, but only because the suspension was shimmed to the max.

Check your frame measurements.

Good luck, let us know . . .