Bonnet hinge support bent/cracked

[Loach1]

All this recent talk about fancy bonnet hinges made me curious, so I looked at what I am working with. It looks like the tube that the pivot is mounted on is bent and cracked. Is this fairly normal? I probably have to drive it before I can get it welded up - any history of them failing and dumping the bonnet on the road?

[Gerald-TVR]

TVR Car Parts had a large stock of upgraded ones dont know if David Gerald took them should only be a couple of quid. Meanwhile just put a sodding great adjustable spanner on it and bend it back, then weld up any crack, does make me wonder though it the car has had a small bump at the front!!

[shaun s3c]

Replaced mine with 3mm wall thickness box section ,then milled slot for bolts

[Loach1]

Thanks for the tip on bending back - I think that will work well. It does look a bit undersized for the job to me, but maybe it experienced an unusual event at some point. This is an early S with the tube almost horizontal, so maybe some lardass sat on the bonnet? Funny thing is, the chassis is either quite new or was very well restored at some point, presumably at the same time as the rest of the restoration, so this damage doesn't really 'fit' the car.

[mikel003003]

One of Mines a bit bent and did break a couple of years ago, I had it welded up but in the mean time the other hinge and catches held it fine, the bonnet didn't just fall off.

[greymrj]

Yep, seen that before. Chassis on my S1 was very good but both the bonnet mountings were bent. As I said in the discussion on hinges, there is a hell of a lot of load on a very small length of thin section box, the wind catches the bonnet once and it bends the mounting. I also uprated mine to 2mm box and stiffened the box section it attaches to as well. I slotted mine slightly differently; two shorter slots with the top one slotted out of the top end. I undo the bottom bolt, slacken the top one and it slides up and out. I cannot see the bonnet actually breaking free but the box is weakened now whatever you do so it is a simple job to put on the winter list!