If you've ever struggled to realign your bonnet/hood after painting, this modification is well worth the effort
Simply drill through with a 4mm bit, tap in a 4mm dowl ,counter sink the hinge side so it can be welded and ground smooth, job done.
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peasantslife wrote: ↑Thu Aug 10, 2023 2:52 pm
Think I'll be a berk...
Only works if you do it before dis-assembly prior to sending to paint
and
IF your car has perfect gap and flush before you start...
Best done when you've done any related bodywork and your 100% sure you can't adjust it any better.
I'd just spent a couple of hours adjusting the bonnet, and didn't want to do it all again once painted. It's some thing I've done before and it works a treat if done carefully.
I have a feeling in my bones that something like this was done at the factory too. The bonnets were fitted (?) and aligned in the body assembly shop as best could from above. From underneath, one of the unskilled fitters would use a whizzy drill to drill two small holes through the hinge and bracket.
Bonnet removed for paint and fitting out but remained with car of course. After engine and engine bay fitting etc, two split pins were inserted into the holes at each side, aligning the bonnet and hinge. No faffing about, bonnet bolted to hinges. If it was a good fit before, then it remained a good fit afterwards.
If you've got an older mini, have a look at the little drilled holes...... They're in the hinges of my '69 S.
Sadly, such cleverness didn't extend to the hinged of the doors and boot lid, which remained UN-painted until the end of production