Bonnet Mounting

[Lewis's Friend]

Hi All

Since I've had my car, the bonnet fitment has been poor, with the panel gap becoming massive at the cabin end.

The reason for this is the box-section that it all attaches to has been changed and is way too thin and has now been pulled out of shape.

I do have the facilities to re-weld some thicker gauge box-section myself and set it all up, but am currently weighing up the time/cost benefit of having someone less clueless do it!

What would people say a reasonable price would be to change the box-section, have it drilled and slotted, painted and the bonnet aligned? (I should add that the adjusters and tie bars etc have all been upgraded so I will be sticking with the original design; just beefed up)

Thanks

[magpies]

no more than a couple of hours work for someone so cost as that - material cost are just a couple of pounds - so depending on where you go £50 to £100

even less if you buy the metal (would use 2mm sheet) and cut / drill the pieces at your leisure and the welder just attaching.

[phillpot]

Ever the pessimist I reckon you'll be doing well to get that done for £100 (= £120 with vat).

Materials costs aren't high but no garage is going to "give" you the metal, paint, consumables?

remove bonnet, cut off brackets, make new brackets, weld on brackets, paint brackets, re-fit and align bonnet.... that's a good two hour work, imho. And that's not allowing for drive car into workshop, put on blue gloves, assess job, discuss with fellow mechanic, take off gloves, have a coffee..........



What condition are the wiring connections in? if they are corroded and crappy that could easily be another hours + work to sort out.

Edited by phillpot on Thursday 4th September 14:10

[Lewis's Friend]

Thanks for the replies.

I've just taken the car to a garage, and they are putting a quote together. They said roughly 3 hours labour and probably about £40 for materials.

Their method would be to cut off the old mounts, pack the bonnet into a good position and then weld new box-section to suit.

The wiring and bolts etc are all in very good condition, so that should not be a concern.

I've had work done there before, and they have done a good job, so I'm tempted to let them do it - especially given it would probably take me an entire weekend if things went well...!

[Bobhon]

From memory (so may well be wrong)when I had the front end incident in my first S2 Norman (Gerald) brought replacement box sections from David Gerald. I guess that they didn't cost a fortune and they were the correct size and thickness of box section and came with the slots already in.

Might save a few £'s on the cost.

Bob