The 'E' Type Forum

I am just trying to improve the bonnet fit on a 4.2 I have and am scratching my head over the top bonnet contour behind the fluted vents, which is sitting up from the bulkhead contour. As far as I can tell it's the original bonnet to the car but will have been taken off a few times I am sure. I was told that to match the top contours you would need to bend the support brace on the bonnet until they sit together as one . I am struggling to wonder how that would have gone out of true unless the bonnet has been apart, which I doubt. Is it a question of loosening the centre panel to wing brackets and easing it down onto the rubber ? Any thoughts chaps?

Hi Andrew,

Is the whole bonnet sitting high or just the centre panel?

Is the centre panel high all along its length or is the contour different from the bulkhead?

Paul

Hi Paul. It's just sitting high on the centre section but gradually raises up toward the centre hump. It's fine at the wing to centre panel joint.

Andrew : can you put up some photos of both the the wing to bulkhead fit and the centre to bulkhead fit ?

this is the problem, hope the photos show it clearly enough,.

Looks like the centre panel is wrong. Has it been replaced at some point?

not to my knowledge, of course it may have been but its not obvious that it has.

Would not have left the Factory like that and there is no adjustment other than re-profiling the section. Almost looks like it has been squeezed in between the wings and it has bulged. The louvres look misshapen as well or is that the photo angle?

Hmmm. I have a vague recollection that the factory used to lead the top of the "windscreen washer" panel to match the contour of each bonnet . However, this looks to be too much of a mismatch for that procedure. I agree with David that the louvres in particular suggest the centre has been deformed by "squeezing" . I would suggest you send the pics to Andy Rayner at Hutsons and ask if he can suggest a cure - they are AFAIK the only people who make centre sections and he might be able to help

thank you chap. I had a call from Simon ( on here) yesterday, who told me that you need to bend down the centre section at the rear so that it matches the profile of the bulkhead. I had heard this before from the chap who build my FHC body. I will have a go, naturally it will spread the front wings out, which I will then need to bring back in by loosening the corner brackets at the centre panel to wing join. Fun fun fun!

Andrew - you might try using a woodworking spreader against the side flanges at the very rear which could be left in situ for a few days . Quite how you would get the tool to stay on to provide continuous tension might be a problem but no doubt can be solved somehow

As per our phone chat Andrew. The main thing is to make sure the outer 3x2 supports are secure, the last thing you want is them flying out and find yourself face first on the bonnet!
All advice is of course at your own risk and on the understanding that I haven't got a clue what I'm talking about.

Best of luck Simon