I've just about finished my bonnet (see my website for details - link below).

It looks OK, apart from the centre-line at the nose and scuttle, which insists on lifting up. I don't want to push my luck any further by trying to bend it out - everything got fairly horrible before the shape came together properly.

Has anyone tried bonding ribs inside the bonnet to make it more rigid? Or will I be the first! If I do this, where can I get hold of some of that 3M bonding tape that everyone gets excited about, and will it cope with the usual under-bonnet temperatures?

cheers,

David

I had the same issue. Sorted by some subtle bends slightly closer to the bonnet centreline. I agree that it was a nightmare. I left it alone for a week or so before I revisited it.

My commisarations David its a twat aint it, bent my bonnet and it didnt look too bad then ballsed up the cutting on the sides even after measuring it 4 times,so its back to the drawing board.Ive decided to do other things then come back to it.
Im still toying with the idea of making an internal frame then skinning it with a lighter gauge ali which will allow a hinging bonnet.
Cheers,
Bob

yap, bastard job

bend to shape
trim 'till it's a perfect fit, mark out.

mark again

bend the ends into make a decent edge.

find it's 2" too small.

rename bonnet to internal pannels

hey up mate,

i also had the same problem so made an alu rib to pull down the lump and to strenghten it (makes it easier to remove the bonnet!) used tiger seal stickey stuff, it doesnt like the heat at all, goes all runny and the rib moves around and falls out!!

back to the drawing board,
will give you a shout if i get it to stick!!
bob

Looks quite good in the photos, David Really finishes off the car nicely.

The tape is supposed to be good to 150 deg C. Try googling "3M VHB" to find a vendor near you.

If I were you, though, I'd give it a rest and then wrestle some more. It's practically perfect.


Pete

EEEK!

I've just Googled that tape... £145 for 3 rolls, 25mm x 33m!

Time for plan B, I think...

David
(note: I don't know what plan B is, yet... )

Why dont you just araldite the brace on?
You would be amazed at some of the things i have farictaed with aluminum and araldite.

If you have the patience the extra strong (takes a day to harden) is better than the normal stuff.
Dont think your bonnet will be small enough, but curing it in the oven, if you can stop it from running also helps.

I found that making the bonnet slightly small, the tension pulled it to shape
Rescued attachment Albertz4.jpg

Mark,

Didn't work for me - also, your nose and scuttle tops are more rounded than mine, which are only slightly curved (which doesn't help!)

cheers,

David

quote:

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Originally posted by David Jenkins
EEEK!

I've just Googled that tape... £145 for 3 rolls, 25mm x 33m!

Time for plan B, I think...

David
(note: I don't know what plan B is, yet... )

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Bond Velcro to the underside of the bonnet and fabricate short ribs/brackets to attach to the scuttle and nosecone to accept the other half of the velcro.

Mick

Car looks good mark, how did you bend your bonnet in the end.
Cheers,
Bob

[Edited on 8/6/04 by splitrivet]

I strapped to the car with ratchet tie downs, adjusted the bend by hand - I just got hold of it and squeezed it over the required bend until it sprung back to just right.

I did mine with ratchets, 4 years ago. I had to allow for the pinto. I put some green edging round it to tidy it for sva and it never got removed.
Rescued attachment bonnetedge.jpg

Mark, That's one fine looking car - especially the bonnet. Are you going to Newark? (just up the road from sunny Kernow)? If so you could stop by my house on the way back and help me with my bonnet

Paul,
My daughter is at uni in Bristol, so I am up there quite frequently, she is home for the summer so not back until september. Funnily enough, I went to magnus grammar school in Newark before I moved down to Cornwall

Small world eh?

I think Im Ive got bonnetophobia,cant stop thinking about the f8cking things all day,started having nightmares about the bastards now.
Cheers,
Bob

Just remember, PITA that it is, it's still nowhere near as bad as the rear panel of a book Locost!



David

B&Q sell rods(brazing style) to allow ALI welding with a blow torch, Bit tricky but would work to hold on the rib. (as long as you bonnet doesn;t get up to 300 ish deg C

That would be summat like technoweld.

you might need a massive blowtorch to get the heat into something as big a heatsink as a bonnet..... its worth a try tho.

The stuff goes on a bit like solder - when the iron isnt quite hot enough. I did bits of my lower rear panel - little wrapevers around where my exhausts come out - the heat does tend to wick away a bit. However, it doesnt 'heat mark' or distort the panel in the way a weld does. Beware overhaeating the bonnet or it will anneal, and might be too soft as a result, negating the idea of the strengthening bits....


atb

steve

quote:

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Originally posted by mad4x4
B&Q sell rods(brazing style) to allow ALI welding with a blow torch, Bit tricky but would work to hold on the rib. (as long as you bonnet doesn;t get up to 300 ish deg C

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