1065 replies to this topic

[Kam]

Worked on the removable front end today, I wasn't happy with the way it was looking, the sides of the wings where it meets the scuttle were pointing up a bit, the gap between the wings and bonnet shut lines at the top was about 15mm on one side and about 12mm on the other side - hello rain



I've already done this twice now! I thought I could get it sitting closer the last time I did it but still no, so decided to do the usual and take one step forward and two steps back!

6 hours later and front end fitting round three!



Much much better, cut the underside brackets off and redone them and welded them on with everything clamped where I could, got 9mm and 8mm gaps now, side wings are also sitting flat, bonnet shuts nice, so overall very well pleased with that





You might notice the wing 'edges' (which sits inside the side seams) are sitting on top of the seam itself, this is how I've done it, I'm not sure how bodyshops do these removable fronts but as I'm not a bodywork guy I'm not bothered



I know its not a concours car but the gaps were doing my head in so I'm glad I stuck at it, well pleased, I can't do anymore with my ability so it'll do

[Kam]

Started and finished with a laugh today, I thought I might aswell carry on with cutting up some more anti-slip mat and move it onto the top subframe tower bolts, I figured any vibrations might still make its way through the tower bolt to the bulkhead, so cue some more cuttage!



I've placed them ribbed up as opposed to down as on the footplates one as that will help, oh dear

Now I got the bonnet gaps sorted out aswell it all went a bit pete tong after that as I did them without putting the bonnet pin and catch in! it only made a small difference to the gaps but still a schoolboy error, good move Kam, nice one idiot!

The new gaps I can live with but hit a snag (pete tong) as I have no meat left now on the bonnet slam panel as theres no room for it as clearance is that tight so alot of meat had to go!





Its a bit flimsy?

And so, when the bonnet comes down it bends the top section of the slam panel (thats holding the catch) back as theres no support there, nothing plays nicely can't blame it, its called a slam panel for reason!

If I hold the back of the bonnet catch up the bonnet closes neatly so thats the problem but its been doing my head in all day how to strengthen that small section of panel holding the catch? I could only think of the following....



but like the original support section the bar gets in the way of the grille and exhaust manifold......



It has to prop up the back part of the catch otherwise the whole slam panel just does the same as before, and thats using a small flat 2mm thick strip which bends under load anyway, a thicker one has no clearance and also prevents the grille from sitting flush

I'm being stubborn here and want this as a normal operating bonnet release and catch, there is alot of easier ways to get round this but I don't want none of that bonnet pin nonsense, got a couple of ideas so will test them out tomorrow.........in the meantime I needed a breather away from bonnets and front ends.........

so plan b, have a laugh instead



small laugh but I laughed, any laugh from me nowdays is a rare thing

All fun

[Shifty]

What about cutting out the section of metal that the catch sits on and replace it with thicker steel?

[Kam]

What about cutting out the section of metal that the catch sits on and replace it with thicker steel?

Good thinking Sean but the center twists like a torsion bar, each end of the slam panel has no support, I need to prop the back of the catch up

I did have a crazy notion of fabricating a 'strengthening bar' that follows the line of the slam panel grille side to side, but still got the same problem, the center has no support....

[Shifty]

Does fitting the grille help? If so could you fab up a support off the grille?

[Burnard]

How about boxing the whole slam pannel? or atleast parts of it, it should stop it twisting. then add a brace anywhere you can fit one.

[Kam]

Does fitting the grille help? If so could you fab up a support off the grille?

I thought this but the grille will be attached to the front end yes as its obviously a whole removable steel front end but I've had to cut out sections behind the grille because a rad can't squeeze in and theres no room between that and the exhaust manifold

How about boxing the whole slam pannel? or atleast parts of it, it should stop it twisting. then add a brace anywhere you can fit one

I reckon it would still flex, it needs a up/down support as its a a steel setup

[Burnard]

If u get time, take a vid of it flexing, might give us a better idea of the problem

[Jamie_hail]

May be a bit stupid of me, or maybe I'm just being too simple... Brace it at an angle as apposed to straight up?

Attached Files

•  Untitled.jpg   30.56K   2 downloads

Edited by Jamie_hail, 03 September 2011 - 10:20 PM.

[minilester]

what if you weld some small sections of metal at a 90 degree angle to the catch so to extendthe very back of it to the front(almost boxing it in... so to speak) and off those right angles (nearer the front) rebuild the middle grille brace..


would me doing a crap picture help?

[Kam]

May be a bit stupid of me, or maybe I'm just being too simple... Brace it at an angle as apposed to straight up?

Nice picture The radiator touches the grille on the left side so no room there, and the exhaust manifold is about 5mm away from the centre and the right hand side of the grille

With the grille in place it does help a little to stop the slam panel from bending back but not enough, as soon as you press down on the bonnet to close it it wont, if you prop up the back of the slam panel it closes fine

I think I'm gonna leave it until the engine, rad and manifold are all in place and then see exactly what room I got to weld in a support piece like the one I'm holding in the picture to hold the slam panel up

[minilester]

kinda like this but with the right angles on both sides of the catch and the up-right itself almost box like to give it a bit more rigidness

Attached Files

•  fronts10.jpg   79.59K   11 downloads

[Burnard]

Could you not brace it to the grille? asin, bolt the grill in place then do a piece that welds to the slam pannel, comes towards the front at an angle and bolts to the grille useing a super special black painted bolt so you cant see it? lol

[Kam]

kinda like this but with the right angles on both sides of the catch and the up-right itself almost box like to give it a bit more rigidness

Yeah I see what you mean, that would work better but I don't think there is alot of room on the catch itself though, but will check tomorrow

[Kam]

Could you not brace it to the grille? asin, bolt the grill in place then do a piece that welds to the slam pannel, comes towards the front at an angle and bolts to the grille useing a super special black painted bolt so you cant see it? lol

The grille is quite thin so I don't think there is room for a bolt, I think you would notice is aswell?