Mini Mad
Posted 22 July 2017 - 05:09 PM
Hi, I'm starting to get the front end panels ready for welding on my mini. The main problem I have at the minute is the gap between the scuttle and the back of the bonnet. The gap is 5mm at each of the corners at the back of the bonnet but then widens out to 10mm in the middle. Is this gap normal?
The other thing is the scuttle to wing gaps. This is the best that I can seem to get them and was wondering if this is acceptable??
Thanks in advance.
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 22 July 2017 - 05:26 PM
You dont say what scuttle panel you bought. Is it Heritage or pattern....?
If Heritage, thats a bad fit...
If pattern, not a bad fit but depends if youre restoring your car to be a show winner or a daily....
Or you could just 'live with it' and leave it alone....
It could also be that you bonnet is a replacement too.....?
Mini Mad
Posted 22 July 2017 - 05:39 PM
You dont say what scuttle panel you bought. Is it Heritage or pattern....?
If Heritage, thats a bad fit...
If pattern, not a bad fit but depends if youre restoring your car to be a show winner or a daily....
Or you could just 'live with it' and leave it alone....
It could also be that you bonnet is a replacement too.....?
Sorry forgot to say it is a Heritage scuttle panel and a second hand bonnet but was assumed to be Genuine... but may not be.
Twisted Paint Polisher!!!
Posted 22 July 2017 - 07:29 PM
The wing to scuttle gap is fine, the bonnet gap however is not. Now it could be a pattern bonnet so i would look at getting another bonnet to compare.
Before you weld the scuttle in, check the aperture gap for the windscreen to make sure it will fit. There may be an issue there.
Mini Mad
Posted 22 July 2017 - 09:12 PM
The wing to scuttle gap is fine, the bonnet gap however is not. Now it could be a pattern bonnet so i would look at getting another bonnet to compare.
Before you weld the scuttle in, check the aperture gap for the windscreen to make sure it will fit. There may be an issue there.
I will try my dad's bonnet off his car on it tomorrow to see if that helps, might have to just get a new bonnet. Is there anyway to tell a genuine bonnet from a pattern one just by looking at it?
Twisted Paint Polisher!!!
Posted 23 July 2017 - 09:48 AM
The wing to scuttle gap is fine, the bonnet gap however is not. Now it could be a pattern bonnet so i would look at getting another bonnet to compare.
Before you weld the scuttle in, check the aperture gap for the windscreen to make sure it will fit. There may be an issue there.
I will try my dad's bonnet off his car on it tomorrow to see if that helps, might have to just get a new bonnet. Is there anyway to tell a genuine bonnet from a pattern one just by looking at it?
Mini Mad
Posted 23 July 2017 - 05:19 PM
Ok so tried my dad's bonnet on it today. It is the original bonnet & original front end from new. This was the gap on his:
Then tried my bonnet on his car and it seemed to fit just like the original:
Then tried the red bonnet on my car without the hinges:
The gap did close up but i'm starting to think that's down to not having the hinges on. They are smiffy's bits stainless steel hinges so might buy a set of normal steel ones and try the white bonnet on again to see if that improves the gap. I'm happy with the bonnet as that fitted perfect on my dad's mini so it's either the hinges on my car or the scuttle that's throwing things out. The gap still widens out slightly in the centre compared to the edges but i'm assuming that's the type of the bonnets??
Twisted Paint Polisher!!!
Posted 23 July 2017 - 05:58 PM
Then it will be down to the scuttle. Have you checked the windscreen aperture gap like i mentioned???
Mini Mad
Posted 23 July 2017 - 06:04 PM
Twisted Paint Polisher!!!
Posted 23 July 2017 - 06:08 PM
Have you got a measurement for the windscreen apatute? I didn't take one as the metal upper dash rail isn't being changed and the scuttle lip is sitting level with the lip of the upper dash rail so I assumed that was the correct position.
Hold on i will see what i did with it. I have posted it on here.
Twisted Paint Polisher!!!
Posted 23 July 2017 - 06:21 PM
Ok looking at the aperture from the front, approx 3" in from the l/h pillar 40.9cm, another six inches in from that measurement its 41cm, in the center 41.1 cm, from the r/h pillar approx 3", 40.7cm, another 6" in 40.7cm.
These measurements were edge to edge
Something else to consider is the radius at each end for the windscreen lip, you need to compare those with the originals. My new one was nearly two mm wider which will cause issues with the windscreen fit.
Mini Mad
Posted 23 July 2017 - 08:35 PM
Measured the windscreen aperture and it is correct. So took the LH bonnet hinge off the bracket on the bulkhead and adjusted the gap at either end to get it nearly right and then put a stick in between the cross member and the bottom of the scuttle to push it up in the centre and it seems to be fitting now although only one hinge is....
Mini Mad
Posted 23 July 2017 - 08:36 PM
Ok looking at the aperture from the front, approx 3" in from the l/h pillar 40.9cm, another six inches in from that measurement its 41cm, in the center 41.1 cm, from the r/h pillar approx 3", 40.7cm, another 6" in 40.7cm.
These measurements were edge to edge
Something else to consider is the radius at each end for the windscreen lip, you need to compare those with the originals. My new one was nearly two mm wider which will cause issues with the windscreen fit.
Thanks for taking the time to help 
Learner Driver
Posted 24 July 2017 - 09:45 AM
Hi Adam,
I am doing the very same job as you at the moment. I have a heritage bonnet and am currently aligning it to my original scuttle (not replaced in the past, so is a genuine rover fit). The gap is similar to yours in the later pics, as there is a larger gap in the center. This looks ok on my car. Its not uneven one side to the other which i think is more important. What i will do then is, for the windscreen aperture, make a windscreen wand! I get a bit of filler rod, and cut it to 411mm - or whatever is a mean average of Soniks measurements, and beat the ends flat. Then cut a tiny notch in each end. This (which is a touch fit in the center of my screen aperture when the little notch is placed on the windscreen lip bottom), will give you a clear guide to what you need when the new panel is located. It also shows the deviation from one side to the other, about 2 mm in my case - another bit of rover magic. This is the same reason I have aligned my new bonnet to my old scuttle - I will mark several spots on the bulkhead and create more "wands" that will be touch fit to the original scuttle above. I will mark these for location and use them for new panel location. I have used this method before on my VW bay window camper - massive windscreen and the fit is perfect. no leaks.
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