Morris Minor Owners Club

I'm sure its the catch.

I agree with the above the first and least destructive thing to do is to make some spacers and angle the spring catch back. you could do a test by putting a piece of plastic on the front edge and nip up the bolts to get an idea how much of a wedge you need to make.

I've just had another look at your photos - is it possible that the catch assembly is on the wrong way round back to front? Looks like that would move it back a bit.

that is a good point roger

is it possible that the catch assembly is on the wrong way round back to front?

that would help but the secondary catch is in the normal place so i can't see that it is the wrong way round.

Maybe these photos will provide a better look.
Aside from bending out the radiator mounting piece, I don't see where I can gain as much space as I needed to make with that latch bracket.



This is with bonnet resting, not latched.

it looks like the bonnet will come down to the right point,
maybe it is the catch at the wrong angle

i dont thing that bending the rad panel is the answer, as this will give you problems when the front panel is on

I spent a few hours with it yesterday. Tried many variations and seem to be a combination of angle and actual distance. More distance than angle. Merely changing the angle will be fine as the pin enters the hole, but as the hood is depressed further, the pin will start to bind on the edge and get stuck. I had to "unspring" it with a screwdriver before I got the right combination of angle and distance.
I may revisit this later, the bonnet shuts and releases fine in this current configuration.