Morris Minor Owners Club

I am still trying to figure out these little cars...still not sure if I can handle the compactness of it all...

So the dumb question of the day is....the hood (bonnet correct?) is really flimsy and there is no inner supports on it at all...

What tricks are you guys doing to give it a little extra support??

The hood looks like it will rattle pretty good at speed..do they??

Thanks for any insight...

MikeC

As long as the welds holding the bracing bar are good it does its job pretty well.
Of more concern is how far the bonnet opens and the amount of times you end up bashing your head on it.......
The standard bonnet stay allows the bonnet to open so far: And when you lift your head up in the heat of the moment during servicing and / or maintenance work, you can guess what it often connects with......
So a solution was developed in the extending bonnet stay / prop: Saves allot of headaches......
Link below.
Best wishes,
Mike.
https://www.morrisminorspares.com/body- ... ec-p827976

Are you saying that the bonnet crossmember is missing?

Watch out for the older type bootlid stays too - I once had a gust of wind disconnect the support rod and the bootlid fell down on my head!

Watch out for the older type bootlid stays too - I once had a gust of wind disconnect the support rod and the bootlid fell down on my head!

An 'Ouch' moment indeed, Sally's boot lid 'bit' me a while back, so I came up with a cheap and easy solution -- works for me, see attached post.
Best wishes,
Mike.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=71282&hilit=boot+stay

ManyMinors wrote: ↑Tue Dec 28, 2021 8:22 am Are you saying that the bonnet crossmember is missing?

I gotta go out to the shop tonight and take a second look at it again...



This is the only picture I have of it...

MikeC

Mike,
it certainly looks as though your bonnet (hood ) is missing the cross member, which goes across at about the 1/3 from the rear, so I would expect to see it in your image.

This isn't mine, I just borrowed the image from ebay...
If you haven't got one already, I recommend finding a copy of AKD3542 in pdf format online. It's the original Body Parts List, which is where this 2nd image comes from.

Here is what I have...



Hood / bonnet seems so flimsy to me...like they gutted it out to make it lighter...who knows...

MikeC

Oh! If you look at the photo posted above by geoberni you will see what you should have.
I'm not surprised that your bonnet feels flimsy. You have several parts missing unfortunately

Blimey!
As above, I'm not surprised if feels flimsy!
Whatever the reason for their removal, it'll feel much firmer with the supports reinstated. What are spares like over there?
I found this but they want 100 Dollars for it:
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5320 ... 4637311380
Hopefully you can find an alternative. Plenty over here but the shipping costs would probably kill it.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275075724650 ... Sw0lFfykDJ
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203625585928 ... SwH1xhTgvx
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255285098737 ... SwIchhvhaF
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175082272606 ... SwModhjmdD
Unless someone on here has one you can have, if you arrange shipping?
Best wishes,
Mike.

Mike
The mangled ebay Bonnet in the USA that Mike (jagnut66) linked to might be an option; insomuch that if it doesn't sell, perhaps you can get them to send you the bits you need at a much lower price.

I'd contact that seller and ask them for a photo of the underside of that mangled item. it might have the bits you need in good order.

Equally, you seem a dab hand at metal working, you might be able to fabricate some replacement parts; I guess the curved section would be the hardest part to sort out.

If you are painting the bonnet it's worth welding a 6mm bar across the front, they tend to crack.

If you are painting the bonnet it's worth welding a 6mm bar across the front, they tend to crack.

I have encountered the 'cracking' before on my own bonnets but wasn't aware of this solution, do you have any pictures showing this?
Best wishes,
Mike.

I was told this is the inner support that goes with the hood...



Any idea how this mounts up??

MikeC

That is part of it. You'll still need the crossmember itself.
Have you not looked at the exploded diagram helpfully posted here by somebody? All should then become clear.

ManyMinors wrote: ↑Thu Dec 30, 2021 1:08 pm That is part of it. You'll still need the crossmember itself.
Have you not looked at the exploded diagram helpfully posted here by somebody? All should then become clear.

Now I see...I am still missing the cross member...that makes total sense now...

Hi Mike,
To clarify (hopefully ):
The bonnet stay should normally connect to the bracket on the bonnet crossmember: '1'
The support bracket is held in place utilizing the bonnet hinge bolts: '2'
And is bolted to the crossmember: '3'
The tricky part will be welding in a new crossmember to the thin metal of the bonnet itself: '4'
Additionally, if it rattles a bit, there was originally a bit of 'padding' (thick felt-like material I believe) behind the part of the support bracket that rests against the bonnet itself: 'F'
Good luck and best wishes,
Mike.

mikec4193 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 30, 2021 12:51 pm I was told this is the inner support that goes with the hood...

MikeC

Does that mean you found this in the 'extra bits box'?
As already mentioned, you'll still need the cross member, but that should be the easy bit to fabricate.

geoberni wrote: ↑Fri Dec 31, 2021 10:11 am

mikec4193 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 30, 2021 12:51 pm I was told this is the inner support that goes with the hood...

MikeC

Does that mean you found this in the 'extra bits box'?
As already mentioned, you'll still need the cross member, but that should be the easy bit to fabricate.

Hi Geoberni

Yes that one picture showing the 2 steel rods and the cross piece were in the the extra parts that I got with the car...still missing the larger cross member piece...trying to locate one now...I am thinking I might end up getting in touch with ESM and seeing if that have one...

You guys are awesome on here...

I am such a newbie with these cars...still trying to learn how this little guy is supposed to be put back together...

thanks again everyone

MikeC