Parts-falling AGAIN! Hood / bonnet needed!

[Carlos A]

Remember my old post?.

elan-plus-f13/parts-falling-wiper-arm-t17369.html

Well things keep falling. This time the hood. I was driving at 40 mph and the %#^$& hood just fell off, flew over the car and landed in the pavement. I am talking with my insurer and in the meanwhile looking for a used hood so I do not have to repair mine. Do any of you guys have an extra hood around?

Best, Carlos

[CBUEB1771]

Carlos,
No spare bonnet here but you have probably encountered one of the classic design faults on the +2. This has been covered here before but the bonnet is hinged to the body shell by 1/4-20 screws with 1/4-20 threaded bobbins in both the bonnet and body shell on both sides. You have to snug the screws up on both sides every time you open the bonnet or one will back out and cause the bonnet attachment to fail. Ron Hickman is one clever lad but I am kind to characterize this design feature as bush league.

[Carlos A]

I may have to repair the hood but I would prefer to start with a used one and paint it. I have a couple of club activities I do not want to miss. Thanks Russ for the info.

I will take some pictures this week so you guys could see the horror!

Best, Carlos

[kstrutt11]

Mine, did this only a couple of months after I bought it, the insurance payed for the repair, but they made a bodge job of the damage to the LH wing (where the stay bent over it ) and cracks re-appeared a couple of years later, so make sure you get someone who knows what they are doing.

To make sure it does not happen again I have drilled the bolt heads and now wire them in place to the hood frame.

Kevin

[Carlos A]

I like the idea about the drilling the bolt heads and wiring them in place to the hood frame. I would do that.

Fortunately I was driving slowly and the car behind me was keeping a sound distance so he maneuvered around my hood and the darn thing did not hit anybody. The only damage to the body was a deep scratch near one of the vents in front of the windshield. The hood flew cleanly over the car without damaging anything else. The hood, on the other hand, looks bad. I was in my way to the mechanic to check a possible leak on the clutch master cylinder so I picked the hood, called my wife to bring our Van (the hood does not fit the trunk) and went directly to his shop. He is an expert on fiberglass but these repairs are not cheap and he suggested me to look for a good used hood.

I just changed my insurer and have never had an accident or made a claim. We will see how things go.

Best

Carlos

[Carlos A]

Anybody knows what is the correct prop for the +2 hood?

Thanks for any info.

Best

Carlos