For the first 20 years I owned my Spitfire I raised the hood by lifting on
the latches. Then I read the message from someone on this list that that
was not the proper way to do it. So now I lift by the wheel arch, which as
Dean mentioned below, gives you much less leverage. Therefore, I am now
designing a gas strut system to assist in raising and lowering the bonnet -
kind of like what you have on a hatchback.
Reid
'79 Spitfire (original owner)
-----Original Message-----
From: Dean Dashwood [mailto:ddashwoo@ect.enron.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 1999 1:45 AM
To: spitfires@autox.team.net; Goodlift@Sprintmail.Com
Subject: Re: 64 Spit Bonnet
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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