Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Webby the Bear on 22 December 2013, 13:05:33
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Afternoon folks, Merry Christmas and all that :y
I'm getting a nice long list of jobs to do on the Omega: Wishbones, rear donuts and rear dampers (one's leaking).
But away from those maintenance items there's one thing that's bugged me for ages: when the bonnet is shut it slopes down towards the bumper on the right as you look at it. It's obviously had a bump in its lifetime prior to my ownership.
Here are some pics:
(http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee402/webbybear1/161_zps9c4a2e88.jpg) (http://s1226.photobucket.com/user/webbybear1/media/161_zps9c4a2e88.jpg.html)
Wider gap between fender and hood on drivers' side:
(http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee402/webbybear1/164_zps164e6642.jpg) (http://s1226.photobucket.com/user/webbybear1/media/164_zps164e6642.jpg.html)
And smaller gap between fender and hood on passenger side:
(http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee402/webbybear1/162_zps8a734e6e.jpg) (http://s1226.photobucket.com/user/webbybear1/media/162_zps8a734e6e.jpg.html)
Headlight assembly not flush (it is drivers side):
(http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee402/webbybear1/163_zpsb1f5c928.jpg) (http://s1226.photobucket.com/user/webbybear1/media/163_zpsb1f5c928.jpg.html)
(http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee402/webbybear1/165_zps87d45233.jpg) (http://s1226.photobucket.com/user/webbybear1/media/165_zps87d45233.jpg.html)
Washer bottle not straight...
(http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee402/webbybear1/166_zpsef38c52b.jpg) (http://s1226.photobucket.com/user/webbybear1/media/166_zpsef38c52b.jpg.html)
(http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee402/webbybear1/168_zps7ce5a81a.jpg) (http://s1226.photobucket.com/user/webbybear1/media/168_zps7ce5a81a.jpg.html)
Headlight assembly broken away from its mount...
(http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee402/webbybear1/169_zpsd374bd34.jpg) (http://s1226.photobucket.com/user/webbybear1/media/169_zpsd374bd34.jpg.html)
Now, I'm no panel expert but I have rad a few articles relating to bumper and bonnet repair. My approach was going to be whipping off the front bumper, 'massaging' headlight unit back in to place, realigning the washer bottle and fitting new bumper and bonnet.
Your thoughts?
:)
Thanks.
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You been playing dodgems again :D Mite be some sort of adjustment on the bonnet brackets , cant remember :-\ Fix the headlight first so it gives you a reference to align unless slam panel has been pushed back :-X
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You been playing dodgems again :D Mite be some sort of adjustment on the bonnet brackets , cant remember :-\ Fix the headlight first so it gives you a reference to align unless slam panel has been pushed back :-X
Thanks Steve. Haha! Nope, this was definitely done before me :y
The 'slam panel'.... is this metal 'brace' the slam panel?.......
(http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee402/webbybear1/Slampanel_zps570195fd.jpg) (http://s1226.photobucket.com/user/webbybear1/media/Slampanel_zps570195fd.jpg.html)
I'm not made of dough but I'm not averse to replacing what needs to be replaced if I need something to fix it....including a slam panel...It's bugged me that much! ;D
I'll definitely see if I can align it Steve so thanks for that. :y
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Hmm , is it my eyes or does that slam panel look bent , job to say :-\
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Hmm , is it my eyes or does that slam panel look bent , job to say :-\
I've no idea mate. It does line up ok with the plastic trim that sits above the rad.
If I end up replacing it is it a pig of a job? :-\
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Oooh that not good :-\
Should have mentioned it yesterday... ::)
Basicall car has been bumped quite hard...
1. Remove bumper and you'll find the metal bar behind it is bent. Replace with straight 2nd hand or new from VX. Cheap enough new. Don't forget the brackets either.
2. Can't do much with slam panel unless you remove it... Not a five minute job as there are 30odd spot welds either side plus wings off radiator out etc :-\
3. Bonnet is designed to fold up in three stages, the grill being the first. Open bonnet, place one hand on each bottom corner of the grill and push the bonnet up from underneath. Intitially take the slack out of the struts, then push a little more. Close bonnet and check alignment with the headlight trims. Repeat as needed.
Don't worry about the alignment with the front corner of the wings as that is a complex shape, but check the gap along the top of the wings. Should be 4-5 mm and even on both sides.
HTH, Al :y
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Inside the plastic bumper is a steel channel that provides the strength. After a shunt the plastic bumper tends to bounce back to it's original shape leaving the steel channel all bitter and twisted.
The channel section starts off following the curve of the plastic bumper, when it gets pushed inwards it straightens and tends to spread the front chassis legs - I think this is why you have large gaps either side between bonnet and wings.
The position of the washer bottle leads me to think that your channel section is a bit of a mess, When new the plastic bumper slides/clips neatly onto the channel but it is a struggle to get it to go back on to a twisted one :(
Save yourself some time and effort and get a known good one from a breaker if it looks as bad as I have described :y
Washer bottle not straight...
(http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee402/webbybear1/166_zpsef38c52b.jpg) (http://s1226.photobucket.com/user/webbybear1/media/166_zpsef38c52b.jpg.html)
Note to self: must type faster...........
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Thanks very much boys, really appreciate it!
When we're talking about chassis legs that's quite worrying. Is this a safety concern? On a slightly different note, if the legs have parted ( :D) am I going to see problems with WIM being able to get my car aligned? I'm thinking if the chassis is 'out' then it may be impossible to bring alignment angles in to spec?
(This is quite a handy subject actually as it ties right in with what I've been learning about the 'chassis' area)
Cheers guys! :) :) :)
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Take the bumper off first Steve before speculating as to what damage there may or may not be behind it
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Take the bumper off first Steve before speculating as to what damage there may or may not be behind it
Will do mate :y
If I ask all the questions that come in to my head though I get a better understanding of how things work, if ya get me :)
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The subframe is bolted to the chassis legs and there is quite a lot of freedom to move the subframe (if necessary) so I don't think WIM will have trouble.
The chassis legs start off very solid under the car but become less so in front of the subframe mounting points. If the front bumper is pushing them apart they will probably spring back when the bumper is unbolted (or when WIM loosen the subframe bolts). If they have spread by only 1/4" it will show up in panel alignment.
Have a look for signs of excessive stress on the chassis legs (eg cracks in the paint or torn spot welds). I don't think you should have a problem but you won't be happy now until you have checked.............
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The subframe is bolted to the chassis legs and there is quite a lot of freedom to move the subframe (if necessary) so I don't think WIM will have trouble.
The chassis legs start off very solid under the car but become less so in front of the subframe mounting points. If the front bumper is pushing them apart they will probably spring back when the bumper is unbolted (or when WIM loosen the subframe bolts). If they have spread by only 1/4" it will show up in panel alignment.
Have a look for signs of excessive stress on the chassis legs (eg cracks in the paint or torn spot welds). I don't think you should have a problem but you won't be happy now until you have checked.............
Thanks very much Andy.
In fact, if I wasn't such a forgetful soul I'd have remembered that my car's already been to WIM for a set up. As this bump was before my ownership they must have been able to line it up ::) ::) ::) Stupid bear!!!
I will get this bumper off as soon as I can and see what state this metal channel is in. Does it have a technical name should I go to order one from breaker/dealer? :y
:)
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It is unlikely the chassis legs are damaged, needs a looksie to be sure...
When the bonnet bends, it takes the slam panel with it. The crash bar brackets mount a fair way into the chassis legs.
What's the gap between the wings and the front doors? I expect the nearside to be closer than the drivers side :-\
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It is unlikely the chassis legs are damaged, needs a looksie to be sure...
When the bonnet bends, it takes the slam panel with it. The crash bar brackets mount a fair way into the chassis legs.
What's the gap between the wings and the front doors? I expect the nearside to be closer than the drivers side :-\
An excellent question.... I'll take a gander. :y
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I'm not sure about this. That indentation in the top of the panel looks to me as if someone may have left a big socket or something there and slammed the bonnet closed on top of it. That may have caused the bonnet to misalign as well. :-\
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I'm not sure about this. That indentation in the top of the panel looks to me as if someone may have left a big socket or something there and slammed the bonnet closed on top of it. That may have caused the bonnet to misalign as well. :-\
The dent that's dead in the centre of the 'slam panel'?
Yup, I'm fairly confident I've done that before :-[
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Expect behind the bumper to look like this...result of low speed shunt...
(http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y486/05omegav6/IMG_20130705_162432_zps3c9903d7.jpg) (http://s1277.photobucket.com/user/05omegav6/media/IMG_20130705_162432_zps3c9903d7.jpg.html)
After being buried in the back of a lorry at unknown speed :-[
(http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y486/05omegav6/HPIM0241_zps9c3e505c.jpg) (http://s1277.photobucket.com/user/05omegav6/media/HPIM0241_zps9c3e505c.jpg.html)
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ETA, poor Miggy's :'(
However that perfectly shows what's probably happened!!!
Assuming mine looks like that I'm thinking that with a new metal piece up front, the washer bottle will also come back in to alignment as well as (hopefully) the N/S headlight assembly?
:y :y :y
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ETA, poor Miggy's :'(
However that perfectly shows what's probably happened!!!
Assuming mine looks like that I'm thinking that with a new metal piece up front, the washer bottle will also come back in to alignment as well as (hopefully) the N/S headlight assembly?
:y :y :y
Might be able to persuade the slam panel to come forward slightly to meet the headlight. NS wing can be tweaked to bring it forward a touch. The washer bottle sits inside the back of the crashbar, bar is obviously toast as the washer bottle fixings have come out :-\
Most of the slam panel damage in the second pic was as a direct result of the bonnet folding up rather than the impact...
(http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y486/05omegav6/HPIM0197_zps3c4b128b.jpg) (http://s1277.photobucket.com/user/05omegav6/media/HPIM0197_zps3c4b128b.jpg.html)
Yours has no obvious creasing where the slam panel meets the wing, so nothing to really worry about there :y
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Thanks ETA - you're a star :y :y :y
I was just about to pop out to the car but it's pissing down!!!! >:(
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....
Wider gap between fender and hood on drivers' side: .....
And smaller gap between fender and hood on passenger side:
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Remind me Steve ...... which side of the Atlantic do we live! ??? ??? ??? ???
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....
Wider gap between fender and hood on drivers' side: .....
And smaller gap between fender and hood on passenger side:
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Remind me Steve ...... which side of the Atlantic do we live! ??? ??? ??? ???
He dont know , too busy in trunk sorting tools ;D
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Hood and fender, :o has the uk been transported to the usa over night and nobody told us >:(
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Webby is,ermm....large enough to be an American ;D
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Lmao,watching to much of that american shit on youtube :y
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Lmao,watching to much of that american shit on youtube :y
nail hit head ....... ;) ;) ;)
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mr webby might want to look at this thread when i scratched mine,and how we fixed it :y
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=111739.15 (http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=111739.15)
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Lmao,watching to much of that american shit on youtube :y
nail hit head ....... ;) ;) ;)
I thought the same when reading the first post lol :y :y
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Thanks for all the replies folks.
BG, thanks for that. Luckily it's nowhere near that bad. I'm hopeful that it's just the channel at the front that's bent and I'll get a good look at that over Christmas...assuming the weather gets better :'(
That was a fantastic way to straighten that slam panel :y Would that not affect it's strength in the unfortunate incident of another collision though?
Andy.... yes, apologies for the Americanisms.... I watch far too much Eric the Car Guy ;D Last one I watched he was replacing pads and rotors discs ;D
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Thanks for all the replies folks.
BG, thanks for that. Luckily it's nowhere near that bad. I'm hopeful that it's just the channel at the front that's bent and I'll get a good look at that over Christmas...assuming the weather gets better :'(
That was a fantastic way to straighten that slam panel :y Would that not affect it's strength in the unfortunate incident of another collision though?
Andy.... yes, apologies for the Americanisms.... I watch far too much Eric the Car Guy ;D Last one I watched he was replacing pads and rotors discs ;D
Fatigue should be something you cover at college... but basically, if you bend and straighten any material enough times it will fracture. Gentle tweaking is ok as it is relatively low stress. Repeated crashes not recommended, but if you bend it that badly, then you should really replace the affected panel. As said the bonnet is actually the thing that folds up... it uses the slam panel as a brake to dampen the energy of the impact.
The crash bar is a pretty solid lump, so deals with the bulk of the energy in an impact (provided what you hit is low enough of course) :y
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Thanks for all the replies folks.
BG, thanks for that. Luckily it's nowhere near that bad. I'm hopeful that it's just the channel at the front that's bent and I'll get a good look at that over Christmas...assuming the weather gets better :'(
That was a fantastic way to straighten that slam panel :y Would that not affect it's strength in the unfortunate incident of another collision though?
Andy.... yes, apologies for the Americanisms.... I watch far too much Eric the Car Guy ;D Last one I watched he was replacing pads and rotors discs ;D
Fatigue should be something you cover at college... but basically, if you bend and straighten any material enough times it will fracture. Gentle tweaking is ok as it is relatively low stress. Repeated crashes not recommended, but if you bend it that badly, then you should really replace the affected panel. As said the bonnet is actually the thing that folds up... it uses the slam panel as a brake to dampen the energy of the impact.
The crash bar is a pretty solid lump, so deals with the bulk of the energy in an impact (provided what you hit is low enough of course) :y
Thanks Al :y :y :y
We covered acting forces at some stage last year but I'm ashamed to admit it wasn't in depth and we haven't done anymore this year :-[
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If you can hold off until the new year, I'll gladly give you a hand with it :y
The only things you'll need are the crash bar and brackets :y
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That's very kind of you mate. Tbh though it looks quite straight forward with all your help :)
Only thing I'm a bit unsure of is where the brackets are? In the pic of the crash bar I am guessing it's behind it where the two upper most bolts go through? What do the brackets attach to.... chassis legs I presume? :y
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The brackets have two bolts that go to the crash bar either side of the washer bottle, and two bolts to the chassis rails :y
The reason I would suggest new parts is that way the brackets will be true, that way the crash bar (and therefore the bumper) will sit right. Given that you are unaware of how the damage happened, it is prudent to use new bits, unless one of the breakers can guarantee straight and true parts :-\
That said this one looks pretty tidy and not too far away... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-OMEGA-2000-TO-2004-MODEL-FRONT-BUMPER-BAR-POLYSTYRENE-INFILL-/231112026314?_trksid=p2054897.l4276 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-OMEGA-2000-TO-2004-MODEL-FRONT-BUMPER-BAR-POLYSTYRENE-INFILL-/231112026314?_trksid=p2054897.l4276) :y
Not long been replaced by the look of it... they can get pretty rusty ;)
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The brackets have two bolts that go to the crash bar either side of the washer bottle, and two bolts to the chassis rails :y
The reason I would suggest new parts is that way the brackets will be true, that way the crash bar (and therefore the bumper) will sit right. Given that you are unaware of how the damage happened, it is prudent to use new bits, unless one of the breakers can guarantee straight and true parts :-\
That said this one looks pretty tidy and not too far away... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-OMEGA-2000-TO-2004-MODEL-FRONT-BUMPER-BAR-POLYSTYRENE-INFILL-/231112026314?_trksid=p2054897.l4276 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-OMEGA-2000-TO-2004-MODEL-FRONT-BUMPER-BAR-POLYSTYRENE-INFILL-/231112026314?_trksid=p2054897.l4276) :y
Not long been replaced by the look of it... they can get pretty rusty ;)
Awesome! Thanks for that mate. That's just the price a poor man is looking for!!! :y :y :y :y
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Hello All,
I'm watching this with interest. Back ages ago I bumped my Mig in the back of a (stupid $%£*^...) any way very slow impact and I was surprised to see any damage at all. Back of new clit was immaculate but mine looked a mess! Having been stood on the breaks, somehow the impact was on top of the front of the bonnet (!). Anway having replaced the impact bar behind the bumper and straightened the slam panel and dropped a new bonnet on, I have exactly the same slight alignment issues with headlamps and the gap to one side of the bonnet doesn't look great. Almost identical to the photos above. Anyway I've got to get it done (or have anothe go). Otherwise still the most beautiful car I've ever driven (and that's quite a few!)
All the best,
Martin
:o
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The wings can be tweaked to fit more neatly, but the headlight bolts to the slam panel assembly so are a petty good guide to the position of the slam panel. Once that's straight then everything else should line up nicely, or as our yankee cousins might say... real sweet ;D
The way the Omega deals with impacts is quite impressive... the bonnet being the main shock absorber. Quite clever to design a single moving panel to fold progressively as it moves imho. It's a shame that it pulls the slam panel so far back in the process ::)
The other mixed blessing is how low the bumper dips under heavy braking, rendering the crash bar next to useless... it does however mean you're unlikely to bend the chassis in a straight forward shunt :D
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Hi Martin, I'm Steve :)
So, you've replaced the bonnet and impact bar and straightened out the slam panel and still have panel alignment issues... when you say the gap to one side of the bonnet... is that to the bumper or the wing? :)
Ps, I got a chance to have a look at gaps in the panels:
Bonnet and wing (at the scuttle end) - 5mm both sides
Front doors to wings - 4mm both sides
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Just need to knock the slam panel forward a couple of mm, tweak the bonnet as suggested and replace crash bar... nothing that can't wait a month or so though :y
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Hi Martin, I'm Steve :)
So, you've replaced the bonnet and impact bar and straightened out the slam panel and still have panel alignment issues... when you say the gap to one side of the bonnet... is that to the bumper or the wing? :)
Ps, I got a chance to have a look at gaps in the panels:
Bonnet and wing (at the scuttle end) - 5mm both sides
Front doors to wings - 4mm both sides
If it's passed an mot since it was bent, just drive the fickin thing, why worry about a mm here and there?
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Cheers again ETA :y
Looking back over the thread I'm a bit unsure on what you mean regarding tweaking the bonnet....
I lift it up and hold it by the grill. Am I then attempting to ''pop'' it back/align it by hand?
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Hi Martin, I'm Steve :)
So, you've replaced the bonnet and impact bar and straightened out the slam panel and still have panel alignment issues... when you say the gap to one side of the bonnet... is that to the bumper or the wing? :)
Ps, I got a chance to have a look at gaps in the panels:
Bonnet and wing (at the scuttle end) - 5mm both sides
Front doors to wings - 4mm both sides
If it's passed an mot since it was bent, just drive the fickin thing, why worry about a mm here and there?
A good point. I could just leave it and think sod it. But a.) I have slight OCD (I believe) and these things bug me and b.) I would eventually (and hopefully in time for the ABS stand @ Billing this year) get my car in to such good nick that i can take it to a Vx show :)
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Cheers again ETA :y
Looking back over the thread I'm a bit unsure on what you mean regarding tweaking the bonnet....
I lift it up and hold it by the grill. Am I then attempting to ''pop'' it back/align it by hand?
It won't pop, but your trying to push it further open vertically from underneath the grill... as said, there's a knack to the whole thing.
If you can wait a bit I can help you with it. It isn't summat I can talk you through remotely, as without physically seeing the car there are things that can only be checked visually :y
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Cheers again ETA :y
Looking back over the thread I'm a bit unsure on what you mean regarding tweaking the bonnet....
I lift it up and hold it by the grill. Am I then attempting to ''pop'' it back/align it by hand?
It won't pop, but your trying to push it further open vertically from underneath the grill... as said, there's a knack to the whole thing.
If you can wait a bit I can help you with it. It isn't summat I can talk you through remotely, as without physically seeing the car there are things that can only be checked visually :y
Ok mate, that's really kind - thanks very much :y :y :y
I'm free Christmas Day ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Pop it down, will save you some pudding ;D
Weather is not ideal though...
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Pop it down, will save you some pudding ;D
Weather is not ideal though...
;D ;D ;D
I'll bell you in the new year if that's ok? :)
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Hello Steve and Stemo,
You and me are on the same page Steve, I just can't leave it, I'm genetically attached to it! The gap is a bit obvious and otherwise everything's mint!
From your earlier post Steve, the gap is to one side of the bonnet. Everthing else is spot on...
Stemo, I'm afraid I'v had the Mig for about 13 years now and always been of the opinion that accepting anything less than perfection is a bit of a slippery slope with an eventual end (As I proved with a Merc CLK that I had in the meantime; drove it simply as a tool, then parked it up to use the Mig more, then gave it to some kid for £100!) :)
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Pop it down, will save you some pudding ;D
Weather is not ideal though...
;D ;D ;D
I'll bell you in the new year if that's ok? :)
No probs :y
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Don't worry about STE-HOMO... he wouldn't understand caring for a motor. Where he comes from they're only there to steal the wheels from ;D
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Don't worry about STE-HOMO... he wouldn't understand caring for a motor. Where he comes from they're only there to steal the wheels from ;D
Don't keep them long enough to worry.
I mean, there's nothing I like better than crawling under old buses in the cold and rain, honest...... ;D
Just think, Webby, if you get it into tip-top condition, it could be worth as much as £500. :o
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Don't worry about STE-HOMO... he wouldn't understand caring for a motor. Where he comes from they're only there to steal the wheels from ;D
Don't keep them long enough to worry.
I mean, there's nothing I like better than crawling under old buses in the cold and rain, honest...... ;D
Just think, Webby, if you get it into tip-top condition, it could be worth as much as £500. :o
Rather generous S ;D ;D
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Don't worry about STE-HOMO... he wouldn't understand caring for a motor. Where he comes from they're only there to steal the wheels from ;D
Don't keep them long enough to worry.
I mean, there's nothing I like better than crawling under old buses in the cold and rain, honest...... ;D
Just think, Webby, if you get it into tip-top condition, it could be worth as much as £500. :o
Rather generous S ;D ;D
Hey, Rob, it's Christmas ;D
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If it aint broke ect ... oh its broke ??? Nothing a few rubber mallets wont fix , and that trick with the tree ive seen done quite a few times :D Trees are good for straightening chassis :-X
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Don't worry about STE-HOMO... he wouldn't understand caring for a motor. Where he comes from they're only there to steal the wheels from ;D
Don't keep them long enough to worry.
I mean, there's nothing I like better than crawling under old buses in the cold and rain, honest...... ;D
Just think, Webby, if you get it into tip-top condition, it could be worth as much as £500. :o
Rather generous S ;D ;D
Hey, Rob, it's Christmas ;D
Thought that might be case, any other time of the year you`d have said £50 or even 50p
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I'd venture; there's a difference between price and value myself... (sort of like the analysis of power to weight only quality/quid ;D
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Haha! Again, good point STE-HOMO.
Thing is though it's not about money at all. I like to have a tip-top car and in the future (assuming I can tame the rust) I'm hoping it'll be a car that people take interest in.
Like the Senator in the Straight 6 magazine. That was an 'L' reg and it looked like new. Gorgeous.
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Haha! Again, good point STE-HOMO.
Thing is though it's not about money at all. I like to have a tip-top car and in the future (assuming I can tame the rust) I'm hoping it'll be a car that people take interest in.
Like the Senator in the Straight 6 magazine. That was an 'L' reg and it looked like new. Gorgeous.
One day you'll think of one yourself. I won't hold my breath though ;D
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Haha! Again, good point STE-HOMO.
Thing is though it's not about money at all. I like to have a tip-top car and in the future (assuming I can tame the rust) I'm hoping it'll be a car that people take interest in.
Like the Senator in the Straight 6 magazine. That was an 'L' reg and it looked like new. Gorgeous.
One day you'll think of one yourself. I won't hold my breath though ;D
Haha! Yeah don't do that, the medics may not be able to revive you :'( :'( ;D ;D ;D
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Guys, not bumping but I have a question I think I forgot to ask last time ::)
IF my crash bar is bent and I go to remove it so I can replace it with new brackets... is it possible that the bolt holes or fitting where the brackets attach to will no longer line up (due to the bump that initially caused the bent crash bar)?
Due to the cold and having a cold and being fat and lazy I still haven't got round to getting the bumper off so just thought I'd ask this first :y
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Not an issue, probably, but be a patient Bear, and wait until the New Year... ::)
Say the next Wycombe meet... that should give you time to aquire a new crash bar, brakets and fittings :y
Fittings are just in case as I have had a couple of reused bolts shear... will be four nuts and four bolts.
Take about an hour to strip, reallign what needs it and refit all ship shape and Bristol fashioned :y
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Not an issue, probably, but be a patient Bear, and wait until the New Year... ::)
Say the next Wycombe meet... that should give you time to aquire a new crash bar, brakets and fittings :y
Fittings are just in case as I have had a couple of reused bolts shear... will be four nuts and four bolts.
Take about an hour to strip, reallign what needs it and refit all ship shape and Bristol fashioned :y
Thanks ETA :y :y :y I'll check out the Wycombe meet as I've never been :y
Just out of interest if the bolt holes are misaligned can some ''persuasion'' with a massive hammer light non-threatening persuasion tool be used? ;D
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If the bolt holes don't line up, you have much bigger things to worry about than what size hammer to use ;D
They are set a fair way into the chassis rails :y
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If the bolt holes don't line up, you have much bigger things to worry about than what size hammer to use ;D
They are set a fair way into the chassis rails :y
Oh ok, got ya. So then we'd be talkin' bent chassis/monocoque?
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As a first step I would open the bonnet and from the rear edge (nearest windscreen) give it a couple of sharp shoves towards the drivers side, bending the hinge slightly in that direction.That will solve the different sized gap on each side.
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Thanks Albs :y
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...if bonnet bending doesn't work I trust a replacement bonnet will be needed?
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...if bonnet bending doesn't work I trust a replacement bonnet will be needed?
What Albs is suggesting doesn't necessarily mean bending the bonnet, but requires two people, a good eye and a measure of finesse :y
But no point adjusting the bonnet until the slam panel and head lights fit properly... :y
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...if bonnet bending doesn't work I trust a replacement bonnet will be needed?
What Albs is suggesting doesn't necessarily mean bending the bonnet, but requires two people, a good eye and a measure of finesse :y
But no point adjusting the bonnet until the slam panel and head lights fit properly... :y
Got ya ;D
Cheers ETA
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Didn't look like the bonnet was bent to me.Just been pushed / pulled out of alignment by other things being moved on impact ?
Also looks to be out by 5mm at the most ? In which case there may be enough tolerance in the hole it closes into to allow it to be realigned as things are. Not easy to tell without seeing it all up close though.
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Didn't look like the bonnet was bent to me.Just been pushed / pulled out of alignment by other things being moved on impact ?
Also looks to be out by 5mm at the most ? In which case there may be enough tolerance in the hole it closes into to allow it to be realigned as things are. Not easy to tell without seeing it all up close though.
Thanks Albs.
Gonna get the bumper off to have a look at what we're dealing with first of all. But it's so cold :'( :'( :'( ;D
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Man up ffs. ;D ;D
I have a to do list longer than war & peace,but it can wait a while. ;) ;D
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Didn't look like the bonnet was bent to me.Just been pushed / pulled out of alignment by other things being moved on impact ?
Also looks to be out by 5mm at the most ? In which case there may be enough tolerance in the hole it closes into to allow it to be realigned as things are. Not easy to tell without seeing it all up close though.
Nearside headlight isn't in the right place relative to the slam panel, hence the offer to blitz it :y obviously the crash bar (and therefore most likely the brackets) is bent, and in the course of replacing it, the rest can be sorted readily enough :y
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Cheers boyos. Appreciate the advice and Al, will defo check out the Wycombe meet or if not i'll get up to you ate some point :y :y :y
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Man up ffs. ;D ;D
I have a to do list longer than war & peace,but it can wait a while. ;) ;D
It's not called a never ending list for nothing ;D just don't let Mrs Bitz tell you otherwise...
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Cheers boyos. Appreciate the advice and Al, will defo check out the Wycombe meet or if not i'll get up to you ate some point :y :y :y
:y