Dean,
My recommendation is to lift the bonnet by the wheel arch until it is
high enough to get the other hand under the middle where the bonnet
meets the area in front of the windscreen. Then raise it there.
Any undue stress on the latches will hasten the cracking of the metal
where the latches are attached.
After the cracks develop, they can be repaired but not without it being
obvious from the reverse side.
Regards,
Joe
Dean Dashwood wrote:
>
> On the subject of bonnets, what is the correct way to lift a bonnet?
>
> I have always lifted mine by the latches, but I read somewhere (may even have
> been on this list, I can't remember) that this causes the bonnet to bend and
> eventually crack, and you should in fact lift the bonnet by the wheel arches.
> Is there any truth in this? Purely from the point of view of leverage, the
> latch seems more sensible...
>
> I hope that by next weekend my car will have returned from the garage fitted
> with a brand new shiny bonnet, for which I will have paid a vast sum of money.
> Since my bank manager is unlikely to let me spend a similar amount of money
> again, I would like to make sure I look after this new bonnet!
>
> Looking forward to hearing conflicting views!
>
> Dean
> -----------------
>
> Date: Tue, 14 Sep 1999 10:12:14 -0400
> From: Jerome Judge <Goodlift@Sprintmail.Com>
> Subject: Re: 64 Spit Bonnet
>
> Hi George:
>
> I have a 72 GT6 but the hood is about the same as yours. There is quite
> a bit of flex in my hood also. When I lift up from the drivers side it
> is less, and I cannot lift the hood from the passenger side without
> supporting from the middle. I do have a brace from each fender to a
> tubular cross member, just the standard setup. I think what happens is
> the latch roller, which runs up the ramp to the location pin gets hung
> up. When you lift up one side it makes the hang up even worse. My only
> suggestion is to be sure the latch roller is lubed and free. Also make
> sure the ramp is smooth and lightly oiled.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Jerry Judge
> Jupiter, Florida
>
> EAKETT@aol.com wrote:
> >
> > I'm restoring early '64 Spit. I'm conerned with what I consider excessive
> > flexing of the bonnet. It is nearly impossible for one person to lift the
> > bonnet without something getting scratched. Extreme care must be taken. I
> > have checked all welds and also every book I can find to see if some support
> > is missing. Everything appears proper. Is this normal? Has anyone addressed
> > this problem by adding a stiffener of some sort?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > George
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