Tazio Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 My bonnet catches keep coming undone, they are old style from a 1984/5 car. Anyone else suffer too? Any solutions?, I've looked at replacing them with the later style but unfortunately the rivet spacing is slightly different Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECR Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 The lever possibly isn't going far enough over centre. Can you remove anything from the rear of the lever to increase things?Maybe bend the top hook up a bit to increase clamping? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 How about a small Ali plate under each half to cover any existing holes, and drill through it for new style catches. Big enough for new larger style. Spring type at front and cam type at rear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East Kent AR Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 My old 1985 car had a factory fitted small ribbon of sponge like self adhesive material that ran under the bonnet where is rested on the top chassis rail. It kept the catches taught. It also had a large rubber strip on the top of the nose cone. See photoPiers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted April 24, 2022 Member Share Posted April 24, 2022 Di you try foam between the panels or padding on the catch?Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 SM25T,The holes for the new style catches are fractionally different, too much to oval the holes and re-rivet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldboarder Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 Car builder solutions have a number of catches with different hole spacing. Could be worth a look ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark w Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 Take off the section fixed to the bonnet and bend it up , refix.They have probably stretched down over time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy.Whizz Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 A quick maybe temporary fix would be wrapping around the loop part a few layers of electrical tape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 #6 ... I mean a larger plate as a backing, with new catches centred on them so it looks intentional. Plate on bonnet and side panel so catches line up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted April 24, 2022 Author Share Posted April 24, 2022 Thanks everyone for the input. So far we've tried foam between the bonnet and the top chassis rail, wrapped around the loop with old cycle inner tube, neither has proved to be a robust solution, so will see if bending the top clip helps. One thing is that these type of catches seem to have very little spring clamping effect. I'll check out cCar Builder Solutions, if nothing works I can always resort to Gorilla tape, lol ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 Chatting to another 7er at car meet today ... He has older car with these catches and they regularly fly open as body flexes and bonnet takes off. His solution was to fit current type with springs at the front Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted April 24, 2022 Author Share Posted April 24, 2022 I have Springs at the front, but I don't want to bodge the rear arrangement because the hole spacing issues between the old to new type catches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Field Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 Maybe have a word with Arch? Some years ago they replaced mine (foc) while I was having a bit of work done and they were much better afterwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 Perhaps try some NOS catches?Other thought was to see if adding a tie wrap is doable, to keep the latch down? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timb2117 Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 Couple of things, looking closely at your photo - the left side of the catch seems to have splayed out a bit at the central pin through point, maybe over stretched over time has led to a bit of the metal bending, maybe try a flat hammer on one side of pin and hit the other side to tighten up/ increase friction?Also (and maybe linked) the shut line of the bonnet to body panel looks....- like airtight....., maybe the catches have worked too hard for too long - how much "clamping force" do you use to close them down? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted April 25, 2022 Author Share Posted April 25, 2022 Tim,The car sat unused in a lock up for 34 years, admittedly with the bonnet latched , have to say there's very little clamping force, there's no spring in the catch to hold it in place, not like the later ones anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardm57 Posted April 25, 2022 Share Posted April 25, 2022 Hi, Jw gave me this tip a gazillion years ago you will need Mole Grips for this. Gently squeese together from side to side to take out all the slake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_w Posted April 25, 2022 Share Posted April 25, 2022 the new ones do seem to close with a nice snap over the centre line as ECR #2 , so whats stopping yours from doing this, maybe a look from the side to see whats fouling can it be ground to increase the travel , or was it just poor design to start with.pic from the side might show more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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