Bonnet 1

Had a go at the bonnet today. A theoretical straight forward affair - yeah right! The hinge is basically a tube bolted to the front of the bonnet with two slightly smaller tubes (one each side) that bolt into the inner wings. All good in theory so I drilled into the plates that are glassed into the bonnet at the factory, tapped them and then bolted in the main part of the hinge. You have to be really careful here not to go right through the gel coat on the other side!

The use of some plastercine in the bonnet recess held the bonnet at the correct height until I have everything painted and the rubbers are glued in. Next discovery - one side of the hinge tube fits perfectly the other is way out - angle wise..... Yet another sigh and more thought, swearing and adaptation required! It would appear the body's offside inner wing has been bonded in about 5mm more towards the centre line than the near side. I know this because the body externally sits absolutely smack on centre to within 0.1mm according to the plumb lines to the centre of the hubs. I'm going to have to give this some thought as the only way round I can see is to hack off the plate and the re-weld it at the correct angle. Engineering tolerances my arse!