plus 2 bonnet catch spacers

[TonyA]

Two questions: relating to replacing rotting wooden originals.
1.Can the spacers be removed by simply removing the 3 bolts on the engine bay side of the bulkhead, or is access required inside the bulkhead, requiring dashboard removal or contortions ?
2. Who in the UK supplies replacements to the wooden originals: what are they now made of..?
Thanks..Tony

[jono]

There's a plate with captive nuts on the inside of the bulkhead which you need to be able to locate and hold in order to feed the bolts through from the catch/spacer.

I made new spacers with some Iroko, I think the originals may be Tulip wood ('Poplar') and I've heard it said they can swell causing the catches to stick but I've never experienced this. I chose Iroko as it's water resistant due to natural oils but I also had a spare bit in the garage!

On my last one I had some machined up in Aluminium.

[TonyA]

If there is a fixing plate (with 3 threaded holes) on the inside of the bulkhead, am I right in thinking that if I replace two of the 3 bolts with (1/4 inch unc ) threaded bar, this will hold the plate in place so as to allow removal and replace the mounting blocks without needing access behind the dashboard...?

[steveh]

Tony ,
I've got some wooden wedges made from beech , PM if you're interested £6 pair + post.
Regards Steve

[alan.barker]

I think i would use a bit of Marine resin bonded ply
Alan

[mikealdren]

I used oak, just what I had to hand. Quite easy to make if you have the original as a template.

[TonyA]

Spy
dercars do a pair in aluminium @ £38.00 plus VAT !! I opted to buy from SJ Sportscars in black painted hardwood @£17.00:plus VAT for the pair.

No one answered my question about how to change the mounting blocks without needing access behind the dash to stop the metal plate holding the 3 captive nuts from moving, so here are the answers:
1. Replacing two of the mounting bolts with pieces of threaded studding ( 1/4 unf x 1.5 ins), then removing the 3rd bolt actually works well.
2. Alternatively, reaching under the dash to keep the the metal plate from moving is not so bad if you have a helper and one of you does yoga.,,!

[jono]

I see absolutely no reason why your proposed method will not work - sounds like a good plan (I've always done mine as part of a full resto so never hand the tackle it with the dash in place).

...Steve's spacers look like a bargain by the way - I would have bought some before doing my own if I had known. (Beech is a hardwood, just paint them).

[alanr]

Yes I have just bought some of Steve's bonnet spacers. They arrived very quickly and look great and ideal for the job.
Very pleased with them!

Alan.