Neil Clark Posted March 3, 2020 Report Share Posted March 3, 2020 I've just finished prepping the new chassis and realise that the hinge mounts on the chassis are Mk3, no one seems to have Mk1 / Mk2 mounts, while my "new" bonnet, very tatty as yet and needing a lot of restoration, has Mk1 hinges. Is there an easyish way of adapting the bonnet hinges to the Mk3 mounts? I notice on my wrecked chassis that the Mk1 mounts are very crudely welded on (and may be salvageable) so I suspect that the front rail of that chassis was not Mk 1 either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted March 3, 2020 Report Share Posted March 3, 2020 Ah, yes, I did think your chassis photograph looked like a Mk3 but couldn't remember what the differences were. The extra bits for a Mk1 were just welded on to the sticky-out-bits that are still there on the Mk3 chassis, though. The Mk3 had different extra bits bolted on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Clark Posted March 3, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2020 Thank you Rob. Much appreciated. Given that my "new" bonnet is a dogs dinner just now and ripe for serous repair, if I measure the spacing between the chassis hinge mounts and the bonnet hinges themselves and find it to be the same do you know if I can just bolt Mk1 somehow to the newer Mk3 mounts or do I need to look at some welding? I just can't tell from the Canley and Moss on-line drawings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted March 3, 2020 Report Share Posted March 3, 2020 I think you'll need some welding. The Mk1 chassis has a small vertical bit with holes to mount the upright for hinge adjustment, shown in this image extracted from the WSM, whereas the Mk3 hinge point is lower and further forward. The bit I've coloured purple is specific to the early chassis. The bit I've coloured green has mounting holes on a Mk3 but, AFAICT, is otherwise identical to the Mk1. So I think you will need to obtain, rescue or fabricate the purple bit and weld it on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Clark Posted March 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2020 Rob that's brilliant information. Given that the "new" bonnet needs major work, might I be better just to convert the bonnet to Mk3 hinges? I'm not looking for concourse. Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Clark Posted March 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2020 Rob, just to add that all I have now on the spare bonnet is one half hinge on the left and on the right side one empty end of the bonnet reinforcing bar with no hinge parts at all. Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted March 4, 2020 Report Share Posted March 4, 2020 Unfortunately the Mk3 hinge arrangement requires different bonnet tubes and won't fit behind the Mk1 bumper, so it rather forces you to use a Mk3 bonnet. How much do you have remaining from the old bonnet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Clark Posted March 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2020 The one on the car is mashed! Bumper, valance, bumper irons, the lot. Only the badly welded Mk 1 hinges might, but might not be useable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanMi Posted March 4, 2020 Report Share Posted March 4, 2020 How badly bent are the brackets on the crashed chassis? The proper way would be to cut these off, repair and weld to the MK3 chassis. You could use mk3 bonnet and tubes but would then have to use mk3 bumper/overriders and valance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanMi Posted March 4, 2020 Report Share Posted March 4, 2020 The bolt on bracket to which the bonnet attaches are available jamespaddock.co.uk/bonnet-hinge-tube-bracket-mk1-11-2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Clark Posted March 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2020 I think that cutting the old ones off have to be it. The chassis mounts have survived albeit a bit bruised and have already been welded on once. And I have already bought the Mk1 valance and got a Mk1 bumper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanMi Posted March 4, 2020 Report Share Posted March 4, 2020 this might be worth a query about the bonnet https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-Spitfire-Mk-II-1965-For-Parts/124106521867?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D42c80652138742919326abc823accf92%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D15%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D164098707453%26itm%3D124106521867%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A2b78db4d-5e40-11ea-9a81-74dbd180a863|parentrq%3Aa6a88c821700a4d23a4da18bffe98454|iid%3A1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Clark Posted March 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2020 Thanks 27 minutes ago, DanMi said: this might be worth a query about the bonnet https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-Spitfire-Mk-II-1965-For-Parts/124106521867?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D42c80652138742919326abc823accf92%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D15%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D164098707453%26itm%3D124106521867%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A2b78db4d-5e40-11ea-9a81-74dbd180a863|parentrq%3Aa6a88c821700a4d23a4da18bffe98454|iid%3A1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Clark Posted March 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2020 This is what I have and I think that the existing working hinge mounts moved over to the other chassis is the way to go. I suspect that the PO had had the same issue when it was restored in 2015. The "new" bonnet has the correct tube ends and I can use the current mounts and most of the existing parts - plus minor parts from the sources mentioned elsewhere. There is also a plate welded onto the chassis above the chassis hinge mount from which the front valance etc was suspended. I have a new Mk1 valance and brackets so somehow I'll get it to work. Dan - I've not had a response from the e-bay contact yet but thanks for the heads up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted March 5, 2020 Report Share Posted March 5, 2020 It certainly looks like the old chassis had received some alterations. The plates from which the valance hangs should not be required. The original fitment is a bolt-on bracket which is readily available from the usual suspects (I even have a spare for one side as a supplier sent two the same instead of a handed pair). The Mk3 valance fitting is the same as the earlier ones, it's only the extra holes in the valance itself that are needed for the low bumper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Clark Posted March 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2020 Thanks Rob. That's helped me identify the two bolt-on brackets that are with the new valance! So I should be OK. Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Clark Posted March 10, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2020 On 03/03/2020 at 18:45, NonMember said: I think you'll need some welding. The Mk1 chassis has a small vertical bit with holes to mount the upright for hinge adjustment, shown in this image extracted from the WSM, whereas the Mk3 hinge point is lower and further forward. The bit I've coloured purple is specific to the early chassis. The bit I've coloured green has mounting holes on a Mk3 but, AFAICT, is otherwise identical to the Mk1. So I think you will need to obtain, rescue or fabricate the purple bit and weld it on. Rob, I've hacksawed the hinges off the wrecked chassis and they were in working order on Saturday when we removed the bonnet. There are two holes in the front face , which itself is a bit buckled but as I say the hinges were working. Although I took loads of photographs during disassembly I don't have a photo showing me if anything was attached there. The overriders don't attach there do they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted March 10, 2020 Report Share Posted March 10, 2020 Yes, the overriders attach to the holes in the front of those purple brackets, I believe. My recollection was that they were slots, possibly even cut through to the end like the ones on a Herald or Vitesse, but it's a good few years since I looked closely at a Mk1/2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Clark Posted March 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2020 That makes sense to me now. Thanks Rob. I think with a bit of heat and work I can flatten them out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Clark Posted March 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2020 If I get the old ones (which did work despite the damage) in a bit better shape then weld them in place of the Mk 3 extensions I expect it will be OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanMi Posted March 11, 2020 Report Share Posted March 11, 2020 Yes the overriders attach by hooking over over the small cutout on the welded on bracket and then bolt through one of the holes in the front plus through the bumper and a spacer. There are 2 holes as the GT6 has slightly different overriders Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Clark Posted March 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2020 Thanks Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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