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TR2/3/3A TR3 Bonnet alignment

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griff

Senior Member
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Need a bit of advice: I appear to have my bonnet set pretty well with a minimum gap at the front apron and slightly larger at the cowl. With this set up the edge of hood to cowl clearance (when opened) is about equal to an index card or two.
With tape on the edge of cowl it will gently rub the cornr of the cowl lip as I open.

The small clearance occurs only between the hinges- Outside of hinges to where hood meets fender are probably 3/16 to 1/4 inch though I have not measured. The center seems to set a little low, yet if I add additional gasket under hinge it seems to raise outside corners of hinge above cowl.

My fear is that the bonnet (between hinges)"flattened out" somehow. As an experiment I place a small piece of styrofoam halfway between hinges and it seemed to help on the closed and though it did not change the index card clearance it did not rub the tape as it started at a higher point (if that makes sense)

All advice welcome.


MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Griff
 
I think you're on the right track putting a little more bow in the center of the bonnet. This will help with bonnet to cowl clearence.
You might try shimming the cowl side of the hindges to raise them a little and improve the index card dimension.
Others will chime in, I hope.
 
Griff - one thing I noticed when I replaced a broken hinge on mine ...

The bonnet was raised "vertical" when I first placed and set the hinges. But when it was lowered, the "weight" shifted from just above the hinges, to forward of the hinges.

In a sense, the steel had de-formed. But only because of weight/gravity ... in other words, it wasn't really mis-shaped. I had to loosen it all up again, and ask my neighbor to help me "wiggle" the bonnet on the hinges back and forth while I set and re-set them.

Tom
 
Tom,

I understand what you say but my issue is that I need to move the cowl end of the bonnet forward but cannot shift forward due to already being at the apron. I have ample space from outside edge of hinges around the curved portion of bonnet toward fenders, just no room between hinges where it is too close.

I think the answer is getting a bit more bow in the hood. as soon as I can get my son over for extra hands- I think I am going to loosen the hinges, then close with my Styrofoam in center between hinges while perhaps gently persuading the hinges toward center to bow the bonnet up a little in the middle.

If all else fails I guess I can place a non-standard bumper or thick rubber Weather-strip across at the cowl.

I will let everyone know how I fair. Although it may be over the weekend at this point with Christmas upon us.

Thanks,

Griff
 
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