6 replies to this topic

[hoggy]

Hi I have a big gap 10-12mm between the bonnet and front panel. It's heritage front wings, panel and bonnet and the bonnet lines up fine the rest of the areas.

 

It was a Mk3 bonnet but i've drilled off the front grille peice to make it a mk1 look, is this the problem are genuine mk1 Bonnets slightly longer?

 

The only thing i can think of to sort this is have someone weld and extra peice in to fill the gap.

Would anyone on here be able to do this as I don't trust myself with a welder that much to try it myself. I would pay for this obviously.

 

Thanks!!

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Edited by hoggy, 20 March 2014 - 11:23 PM.

[tiger99]

Your panels will all in reality be MK 7 or whatever the latest version was, so they should fit together well, and there is evidence of good panel gaps all round, surprisingly good in fact, even for Heritage panels, as most Minis were not that good from the factory. The bit you removed (a fairly common thing to do) has, as you know, very little effect on the gap.

 

I think you could bring the bonnet slightly forward and down, because yours is lined up too well with the wings along the sides (they never were that good), and is a bit tight at the back, and that would help slightly, but then I fear that it will be too tight on both sides, because of the taper.

 

So maybe your proposed solution is best, get a strip welded in. It is not uncommon to have to do that along both sides of the bonnet, to correct a width discrepancy, or to remove two strips for the same reason, but not so many seem short at the front, and it can only be due to the shape of the wings or bonnet, because both fit against the same front panel.

 

I fear that the Heritage tooling is wearing out. In reality, it was probably life expired in about 1980....

[midridge2]

From the look of the pictures the bonnet hinges are not on, if not fix the bonnet to the hinges and get a good gap at the bonnet to scuttle end, make sure it does not catch the scuttle when you lift it.
By lifting the back of the bonnet it will tilt it down at the front, now adjust the bonnet catch peg so that it pulls it down a bit more.
If you have a look around on the web at Mk1s there is a gap.
 

[hoggy]

Hi thanks for the replies. The bonnet is fixed to the hinges. Also if I move it down to close the gap at the front the sides at the wings don't sit flush with the wing anymore, they are below it
I'm pleased with the gaps at the wings I spent a lot of time getting them right.
Just the front that's a ball ache now.

[Ethel]

You can make quite a bit of difference by "springing" a bonnet, either width or lengthways - several mm's can be hidden in those curves. Also the 'tache can cover some of that gap.

[sonikk4]

I had that very problem with the new pattern bonnet i fitted to Project Erm and ended up welding a strip at the front and down the side. 

 

 

 

 

A lot of work as you can see.

[hoggy]

Great job Sonikk. Don't suppose i could pay you to do mine?

Thanks