I have been trying to re assemble the front end of the car without much joy. It’s my 89 convertible. Has anyone replaced their bonet and front wings / quarters? If so what’s the best way to go about it ? Any tips. Thanks all

 

HI Bob, I've done it and it takes a lot of patience.

I found fitting the bonnet first, leave thew wings off. Mark the centre of the bonnet line up the centre with a tape measure to the front upper rails. This is to centre the bonnet on the car.

Next fit the wings line up the wings with the bonnet to get the gap even. Then you will need to go back and adjust the bonnet vertically at the front to line it up with the top of the wings.

Last attach the lower part of the wings to the sill near the doors. If the doors are off then line the doors up first to the rear quarter then line up the front wing to the door vertically.

Hope this helps

 

Brinny
Warren exactly right. I stupidly did the wings and door first, then found the bonnet would not shut! The most difficult bit I found was getting the bonnet aligned nicely with the scuttle/wiper shutline under the windscreen and the wing shutline. The bonnet hinges, where they bolt to the body, have slotted holes, and loosening the bolts helps align the bonnet side to side. I found I needed a combination of wing adjustment in and out sideways, (surprisingly easy, just loosen the top chassis rail wing fixings) bonnet adjustment, and door adjustment to get it reasonable.
The great thing is that even though you get absolutely obsessed with it all when doing the adjustments, once you start driving the car, you never look at it again!

 

Thanks to you both. I think I’m going to need some time for this one. Are the doors difficult to adjust?

 

The doors are a sod. Have they been off? If not, then you should be able to get the wing/door shutline OK (ie as it was before) without touching the doors. If they have been off, whole new ballgame...

 

Greg's right and mine still are not perfect. Mine also had shims between the hinge and the door. I also had the hinges off which made it even worse. The hinge adjusting bolts on the body are a right pain to get at.

Knowing what I know now I would put the bonnet and front wings on leaving the wing sill mounts loose. Adjust the rear of the door to the car body then the front of the door so it is lined up.

It is a process of continually tweaking until everything is lined up and the door closes correctly.

 

Is the bonet adjusted with the gas struts disconnected? Also do the fillers between the wing and scuttle need fitting before or after painting would you say? I know they are trapped under the wing to Finnish them off . Thanks

 

Yes, struts must be disconnected.
I say forget the fillers, just apply a line of mastic when everything is done and secured; but if you must have them they have to be in place all through the final fitting process, AFTER painting, that is for sure. The painting should really be done before any fitting at all takes place, as it was in the factory.
Greg

 

I decided not to fit the fillers when I put my car back together, I think it looks better without them.