61 replies to this topic

[SolarB]

I replaced the front end of my car last year and managed to get an acceptable fit between the bonnet and slam panel. Apparently my wife calls me a fussy b****r, so it is possible to align everything properly.
I used a mid '90s Rover bonnet with Heritage wings and front panel.

[midridge2]

Are they trying to align the curve of the bonnet to the curve of the slam panel? That won't work because they are not the same shape. The curve of the bonnet matches the curve of the trim, not the slam panel. The bonnet front edge has always been matched to either the grille surround or bonnet trim depending on age, not the slam panel because you should never see the bare panels together. They need to fit the grille and surround before the bonnet can be adjusted.

is this another of dans make believe stories?
the front panel of the mini van and pick up has the same curve as the car front panel, they have a built in grille, they dont have a bonnet trim, the curve is designed to follow the curve of the bonnet/front panel as shown by the pick up and van.
go look through rebuild stories and look at the pictures of cars with no grille fitted and no bonnet trim and look at the curve.

go to any good body shop that is fitting a new f/panel and wings etc and i bet none of them fit the grille before welding up as the curve is correct for the bonnet.

[jack_marshall]

I agree with midridge here, every front panel/ bonnet/ grill/ no grill combination I have ever done has had matching curve and gap.

Cheap reproduction bonnets are naff but with some work it is possible to make a satisfactory fit.

If you are using all heritage panels you should be able to get some nice gaps.

[jonny d]

That's what I'm peeved about the bodyshop are using what I reccommended ie. Heritage panels and bonnet but the curve of the bonnet is much differant than the slam panel curve when the lip is removed has anyone else had this problem with heritage front panel and bonnet curve

[jonny d]

Anyone?

[sonikk4]

Can i make the suggestion that you ring up Heritage and ask them the question. I have dealt with them before and found them to be helpful.

The other option is to pm jagman2003 as his rebuild is all Heritage.

[jonny d]

Good suggestion Sonikk4 but at the mo camping down corrnwall and reception is poor and thought it would be less hassle to ask on here because there is always someone who has had this problem before it's only the mk2 onwards bonnet with the lip removed that's the prob I'm pretty sure when I built a frontend many years ago that I cut the lip off and it was a good shape to the slam panel but I can't swear on that now and was wondering if the bonnet shape has changed over the years thanks again for replying John

[midridge2]

no the bonnet shape has not changed.
i have never repaired a mini yet were the bonnet curve did not fit the slam panel curve, and i have done many over 35+ years.

[Shifty]

Original bonnets or genuine replacements are usually very good and consistant.

Its only pattern stuff that causes problems.

[jonny d]

Hi midridge2 have you done mk1 looks with a mk2 onwards bonnet by removing the lip and found that the shape is wrong I'm trying to find out if it's the slam panel that's out or the bonnet before I order another at £127 a van/pickup with later position hinge brackets

Shifty the same question to you please

Edited by jonny d, 07 July 2011 - 09:40 PM.

[Shifty]

Its not a great picture but its the only one I can find at the mo

Genuine(old) bonnet and a pattern front panel and wings

[Shifty]

Before the bonnet was de-lipped

[Shifty]

Same bonnet, different front end

[jonny d]

Thanks for the photos that's alot better fit than we have with delipped bonnet and heritage front panel so what has changed wonder hope it's not the front panel as that is all welded in

[sonikk4]

I cannot remember the chap who had a problem with his front panel. Basically it bulged out at the slam panel which almost looked like it had been squeezed together, very random and very strange which shows you the vagaries of these pressings and the way they have welded together.

A lack in quality control , maybe a friday afternoon panel but judging from what Shifty has shown the panel should match or be very close. Ours was not and that was due to the way it was made.