Bonnet lock spacer

[Bud5000]

68 Plus 2, the spacer between the bonnet locks and bodywork appears to be a piece of wood!
Is it meant to be wood or something else?
Would rather have something else...

Richard

[alan.barker]

yep,
a bit of cheap plywood that's original. Chubby liked to keep the costs down. Also very light.
Alan

[Bud5000]

Cheers Alan, makes sense for Lotus. I'll find something harder and "light" to replace it.

[alan.barker]

I would suggest marine Ply not effected too much by dampness the resin bonded type.
Alan

[john.p.clegg]

" Chubby" ?
thought it was " Chunky " ?

John

[jono]

These seems to have been wood rather than ply (which will eventually delaminate) - beech or tulipwood I think.

[TonyA]

One of the UK Lotus specialists has nylon wedges I think ..Tony

Ps: Top tip; if you are changing the bonnet catch mounting blocks, when you take out the first and second bolts ( fully threadedso technically machine screws), replace them temporarily with 2 pieces of threaded bar or stud as you take them out: this prevents the threaded plate falling out of the inside of the firewall..!

[alan.barker]

I think the plywood is ok you can paint it black. Resin bonded plywood of course.
Imho nylon is no good for this.
Alan

[Craven]

Plenty of complete car bodies and some chassis made of wood.

[alan.barker]

Yes e.g. Xylon Marcos, gullwing ugly duckling
Alan

[alan.barker]

" Chubby" ?
thought it was " Chunky " ?

John

+1 but he was a bit chubɓy

[tonyabacus]

Gull wing Marcos, don't put the poor guy off.

For the sort of item you are trying to replace, instead of wood I use some very thick gasket material which is around 1/4" thick and double up if needed, its waterproof, light, does not compress too easily and easy to get hold of, just paint around the edges with black paint or body colour dependent on where its being used.

I keep a small collection of different thicknesses which have come in handy over the years.
Tony