Eric Erickson <eric@erickson.on.net> writes:
>
>When I had cause to stop by the side of the road (as we all have done
at
>some time) some months ago, I lifted the bonnet and placed the strut
to
>hold it there. I had just stuck my head in the engine baywhen a gust
of
>wind caught the bonnet and tried to wrap it over the windscreen. Now
the
>metal under the bonnet where each hinge attaches is bent so that the
>bonnet is slightly lifted when closed... just enough to be annoyingly
>noticeable.
I had the same thing happen to me two years ago. Out on the highway to
Canadian Geophysical Union conference in Banff in my 66 MGB the
generator died. At the time I was driving with my headlights on to
increase my visibility. Because of the sun I couldn't see the red light
come on so I kept on driving till the battery was drained and the car
came to a stop. While the aluminum bonnet was open to check things out
the wind caught it, lifted it of the strut and bent it backwards towards
the windshield. So there I was, with a dead battery and a bent bonnet on
the prairie in the middle of nowhere between Saskatoon and Calgary.
Luckily it was a beautiful day...
Anyway, once back in my garage a few days later I bent the bonnet back
into shape. Even though it looked horrible when I was on the side of the
road, in the end it wasn't deformed too badly. The hinge part was bent
out and I pushed things back by placing sections of 2 by 4 in the right
spots and leaning on it. I found that the key part is to not over
correct, and take it very easy. Small adjustments and frequent checking
will work a lot better that trying to get it right in one go. My bonnet
is still a little low in the centre and high at the outside corners of
the hinge edge, but it fits well and open and closes easily. If I feel
ambitious this summer I'll have another go at it to get it perfect. Then
again, maybe not. Each of the battle scars adds to the character.
So in conclusion, if the deformation is relatively minor a little
judicious pulling an pushing will be sufficient to get it back into
place. If the metal is stretched, professional help or replacement will
be necessary.
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