Bonnet fit problem - picture heavy
Turbo Mini Forums

The bonnet I used for the van when fitting all the new panels turned out to be badly rippled. Under advice from the sprayer I bought a brand new Heritage bonnet and I am have fitting issues....

It's a late bulkhead Van, i.e hinges at the outside. I want to fit my Mk1 Morris grill and surround, owned it for 3 years now..!!!

The Bonnet is basically not long enough..! see the photos below (the bonnet is being supported with a piece of rag on the passenger side so that the curve matches the wing.

Front shot of the Bonnet


Diver side sits nice with the curve of the wing, but the corner sits too far forward I could push/bend in...but see below


even if I did push in it would not bring the bonnet down by 10mm


In the center of the Bonnet its sitting very high.


Passenger side is sitting slightly higher, 15mm ish


and again sitting forward, I can bend in but it won't bring the bonnet down buy

My plan.... this is where I'd like others thoughts is to take the old bonnet cut a the bottom lip 20mm about high the weld it onto the new bonnet.... like this.


I can't see another way out... I know it will need some Filler on the join....HELP...gutted I'm having to do this with a painted shell.

Thanks Mark

Edited by Monster22 on 18th Jan, 2011.

was your old bonet a non heritage one?

Maybe buy a non heritage one?

Old - unknown
New - Hertiage

Front panel, wings, scuttle all Heritage.

I'm depressed.

Its pretty normal that TBH.

The problem is not the bonnet (well it might be compounding the issue) its the wings. When I fitted the first replacemnt wings in 2006 with heritage ones and used the original bonnet, you could easily see that the edge sat a little higher than the bonnet compared to the original wings. The second set of wings fitted in 2008 appeared to be worse.

I can only expect a similar difference in the bonnets as well thus, as said before, compounding the situation.

Ive seen this many times. Basically the top of the front panel is in too far and needs pulling outward/forward, this will bring the wing tops down to meet your bonnet aswell as lining up with the front edge of the bonnet. Unfortunately though you would have to release to front panel from the inner wings and reweld it

Paul

I seriously doubt it!

Thanks guys. What do you think of my plan with bending the bonnet corners in and then welding additional metal onto the bonnet?

really don't want to go cutting the front panel, getting the damm thing sprayed
Thanks
Depressed in Bristol

Edited by Monster22 on 19th Jan, 2011.

yes, seen these issue in the past. I know you used a damaged one for the build up but have you tried a good second hand one on it to see how it fits? I've had similar issues in the past with other panels and it ended up being a bit of mix and match to get the closest match before modding.

Paul's comments would be a pretty accurate way of getting it to work without faffing with the bonnet but I'm not sure how far on you are with the shell to disturb all that

shells fully painted and back at home (

I would get the bonnet that does fit repaired and painted.

That was my thought too.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

Im sure if you go to a sheetmetal fabrication shop they will have a crimper, they will be able to crimp the edges of the bonnet to bring it in a bit, which will help the sticking out forward part, like you say.

EDIT: then you can just get some rubber bump stops and put them where the big gap is??

Edited by Johnny on 19th Jan, 2011.

Will have a think and speak to the painter about the rippled bonnet. Cheers

Where does the back edge of the bonnet sit in relation to the wings? Is it too low aswell?

What is the gap like between the bonnet and scuttle?

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fusion-Fabri..._homepage_panel

www.fusionfabs.co.uk



1/4mile in 13.2sec @ 111 terminal on 15psi

i set the rear of the bonnet so it sits at the right height and the right distance from the scuttle. I think the front corners will bend in.
Or do i fit the later type grill :( so I can use a bonnet lip to hide the issue.

Have you thought about trying a fg one on to see how that fits??

Edited by MikeRace on 20th Jan, 2011.

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

That's a fair point. you can get ready to fit ones and put them on the hinges etc, might be flexible enough to pull it all ino line

Yep, or you ask the kind folks at tdk not to trim off your edges and you could do it yourself and make it custom fit?

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

Not touched Glassfibre before so you have to trim it to fit do you? these aren't the strengthening bends at the edges as on steel bonnets? Suppose being GRP you just make it thicker. Am I thinking correctly?

With GRP bonnets you dont usually have any trimming to do, however when it comes out of the mould there is a couple inches of excess that has to be trimmed. Basically if the edges were left you could cut them yourself to suit?

Theres no structural integrity to a bonnet at the end of the day all it does is stop sheep and bits being sucked into engine bay lol.

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

the excess on the front of the bonnet would be in towards the engine though, not down towards the grille...

Ive got a decent second hand one you could try out. It will need the lower lip cutting off mind.

It would be a shame to use a grp one just to get it to fit. Besides I found my grp bonnet to be an awful fit!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fusion-Fabri..._homepage_panel

www.fusionfabs.co.uk



1/4mile in 13.2sec @ 111 terminal on 15psi

thanks for offer Matty, just googled where you are 2hrs 8mins ( . think operation hack the old rippled bonnet will sartat the weekend. wil post on progress.
I'd like steel tbh wrt GRP, plus the sprayer whos fully paid up by the way doesn't like it.
M

Not true fb bonnets excess actually down and outwards.
Mike

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

On 21st Jan, 2011 Monster22 said:
thanks for offer Matty, just googled where you are 2hrs 8mins ( . think operation hack the old rippled bonnet will sartat the weekend. wil post on progress.
I'd like steel tbh wrt GRP, plus the sprayer whos fully paid up by the way doesn't like it.
M

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fusion-Fabri..._homepage_panel

www.fusionfabs.co.uk



1/4mile in 13.2sec @ 111 terminal on 15psi

thats very decent of you thanks. I think though that even another may have the same issue 10mm is alot to find. I'll give the cut a s.ut a go. will post a picture,