bonnet hinges

Magicfiver · Post by **Magicfiver** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 12:42 pm

hi guys.

First time post here for me.

I have a 71 1200 bug and love it to bits. its been a real mission to get it to where it is now - it had 13 very sketchy owners before me who have bodged it and patched it beyond all belief to keep it on the road. anyhow in the 18 months ive had it, ive rebuilt it from the ground up. and it is now my daily drive.

in the next month or two, i plan to put in a new wiring loom but before i do that i have a couple of body work issues i would like to attend to.

When i was working on the car a good while ago one of the bonnet hinge mounting points (on the car) broke off. (the spot welds broke)

It is a total headache to even see in there, let alone get a welder in there.

I managed to get half a weld on them by drilling a hole through the dash and attacking it from behind. It has held pretty well, but im always aware that it needs addressing.

I just wondered if you guys had any experience of fixing this and how i would go about it myself?

Thanks in advance

Cy

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 12:51 pm

When I've had the issue, I drilled from the bottom.. then used the hole to do a fake "butt weld?.. then drill the other side.

Does this make sense?

T.

Magicfiver · Post by **Magicfiver** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 12:54 pm

you mean go in from under the dash?

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 12:56 pm

that was the easiet method I cold find.. it is pretty cramped on top.

T.

Magicfiver · Post by **Magicfiver** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:03 pm

yeah its horridly cramped. maybe the hardest place to get to with the welding torch on the whole car lol
heres some pics i took at the time

where it snapped from:

the hinge with broken hinge mount on:

the weld i managed to get on it:

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:11 pm

I just barely tacked it to hold it in place.. then drilled the front to open up some space.. then butt welded it.. grind to finish.

It is a tough place to be safe.

crvc · Post by **crvc** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:35 pm

I worry this is about to happen to me. The hood on my '67 bug was binding every time I tried to close it. Over time it caused cracks on both sides of the hood. I stiffened the hinges as much as I could but the right side is still wobbly. When I lower the hood the rod with the big spring around it bows outward enough to catch on the frame. I agree it's a damn difficult place to work in.

Magicfiver · Post by **Magicfiver** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:17 am

Anyone got any more solutions? want to do this repair this weekend.

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 8:17 am

Magic.. please post back on how you solved the issue.

Magicfiver · Post by **Magicfiver** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 3:02 pm

didnt get a chance to do anything this weekend due to hangovers and rain. will update when i get it sorted. if anyone has any ideas in the meantime, please post them up. cutting the dash is really scary business haha