Hi can anybody that knows, please enlighten me on how to adjust the bonnet gap by the door!

Had some paintwork done and a different bonnet fitted but the body shop is saying that there is no more adjustment?

I cannot believe that there is no more adjustment and have gone through various post not found anything there and the work shop manual that shows adjustment on the actual bonnet to hinge back and forth and on the hinge itself up down back and forth i think? i have shown the guy this but he is adamant that there is no more adjustment unless they elongate the hinge ovals to push the bonnet further back!

I never noticed any big gaps before im sure they were equal to the doors!perhaps im wrong?

The bonnet to hinge adjustment is back as far as it will allow at present! and a noticable gap is present!

Any help appreciated

Cheers

Try pushing the bonnet back and then tightening the bolts with an open ended spanner. If you use a socket you're stuck with the gap plus the socket wall thickness as there's not enough room for a socket when the bonnet is right back. If not it's wings off and try the hinge/body adjustment.

Have you a pic? Might just be the wings need to come forward slightly.

Adjusting a bonnet so it's the correct level and gap with the door is an art form. Once done you then need to make sure the bonnet opens when you pull the handle as they can stick, snapping a corroded cable!

Biggest advice I can give you is make all your adjustments with the bonnet struts removed as they're very powerful making any laterial movement on the hindge fixings near on impossible.

As Joe says its an art. Is the gap too big or so small?

If you take the wing off under the mounts the bolts can be slacked and the bonnet tapped back or forward use a piece of wood and hammer. I would invest in several measuring packers 1, 2 and 3 mm and 0.5 if you can get them. As you can place these behind the main bonnet hing and bulk head you can control the distance it is tapped back then remove them to get it correct as you tap it. You will also need them on the side of the hing so the bonnet doesn,t slide out sideways.

When the bonnet is moved forward by the nature of it it will alter the angle so will need adjusting after. Get the gap with the wing near-ish first. The wing can be moved a bit to reflect the bonnet gap but try to get the gap ok first.

Post up a picture of it now. Get a cheap vernie caliper(i got one at lidl) measure the gap from the door to the rear 3/4 also. You can move the door back a bit but it can be a nightmare be warned. Actually measure the gaps both side of the car in front of the door and behind to the rear 3/4.

My car had a repair and like you it drove me mad trying to get it better now i have learn't a lot and can do it. One thing i have learnt is get the gaps as best as possible before doing any paint work!

Where are you based?

Tom.

NB. Even from factory they vary in gaps though. I once saw an old 16v that had been neglected and left to rust but it had the best gaps i ever seen.

Thanks for all the tips everybody!
I won't know anything until tomorrow now as that is when I'm picking it up!
Kind of hope they don't attempt to elongate the hinge holes as I would rather do it myself and properly not with a dremel!

Cheers Rich