Bonnet warped

[KMC-DMC]

I went to have a look at my DMC that I just bought before i put it into winter storage. i noticed that the luggage compartment/ bonnet doesn't sit flush with the fenders. the PO told met this was due to a a previous owner not refitting it correctly and possible warping due to heat exposure in US...
Please see attached link to photo. (I dunno how to link photos into forum so maybe just copy and paste link into your browser)
http://www.kodakgallery.com/mccannuk/main/my_delorean?
Any advice on this? Is it a major job to sort it out? It locks in place but it looks a bad...

[Guinney1971]

Hiya,

this is the words of wisdom from RichH, DOC Technical Advisor, who is
currently standing right behind me

"this is normal, live with it" :lol:

"on a more explanative note, your car being an 'early' car with gas flap bonnet, does have a tendancy to have a bonnet that doesnt sit right.
You can either adjust the wings and raise them up - which then puts them
out of alignment with the doors :roll: or you can take the seal off the bonnet which then of course increases the risk of water ingress to the luggage space :roll: :roll: ..... sometimes its down to the fibreglass body tub not being right (early moulds wernt right, apparantly Dave Howarth had to carve one once to make things fit right), or you put up with it... "

"#1274 currently has not got any bonnet seals and the catch has been adjusted down so that the bonnet shuts as low as possible. The wings have been tweaked a little bit, and thats as close as I think I'm ever going to get it."

If its any consolation, my De, #2292, which also has a gas flap hood, has a bonnet that doesnt line up properly either - or shall I say it didnt... I'll wait and see what magic Mr Nicholson has performed when I pick her up next week.

Rich said that your bonnet doesnt looked warped from the photo you've posted, its just 'normal' for an early vin. The underlying cause is the 'raised' section of the front bodytub around the fuel filler.

[KMC-DMC]

Thanks Claire for quick response.

[PJ Grady (Europe)]

We have been working on body adjustments for over 10 years now, and given time and patience you can get perfect alignment.

Most owners would state that the doors are the place to start in alignment, and they are right, but also from experience I have found that the best place to start is the hood, then line up the fenders, then onto the doors, you may have to go back and correct some of the panels with extra washers ect, but given enough determination you will get their in the end.

We actually have fitted a warped hood onto a Delorean once, it proved tricky, but it can be done, I expect that your car just needs aligning on the front end, if you would like some advice drop me a PM and I will try my best and help you through it.

PS Claire I have your front end lining up real nice! I will let you be the judge through when you pick her up.

Best wishes!


Chris Nicholson

PJGrady.co.uk

[steve.s]

Hi All

thankyou again Chris for your time!.

Personally, i do not mind things being out of alignment.

this is how they were made, and to me how they should stay!. i have a bmw and everything aligns up perfect of course, but i'd sooner be driving my D (thanks to Chris soon! also looking forward to that Chris magic!).

it gives character and shows they were built by humans, not by robots!!!.

am i being too purist?.

[Chris Hawes]

Aston Martin cars are also built by hand and are famed for their beautiful build quality. Some DeLoreans depending on when they were built were put together by inexperienced workers (as they built more the better they got) plus they wouldn't always have had the time needed to make the fit perfect. Even PJ Grady admit on their website that the early vins can be difficult to perfectly align, but anything is possible given a bit of skill and time!

[Tourettes Tony]

talking about alingment, take a look at the distance between the front tyre and wheel arch at the lowest point on both sides and most cars have a different gap TT

[steve.s]

hi

the alignment is also greatly affected by the type of body tub.

mine is an early one with the bobble effect rear pontoon.

does this mean it is from the earlier more shrink body tubs (using heat to accelerate the Lotus process?.)

[Guinney1971]

PJ Grady (Europe) Wrote:PS Claire I have your front end lining up real nice! I will let you be the judge through when you pick her up.
Best wishes!
Chris Nicholson
PJGrady.co.uk

Cant wait!! Seeya Saturday!!

[Dan6457]

Post some photos up when you collect her! I remember what she looked like when I picked up my car so it will be great to see the finished job

[Rottbott]

steve.s Wrote:am i being too purist?.

Yes.

[NickT]

Claire Usher Wrote:

PJ Grady (Europe) Wrote:PS Claire I have your front end lining up real nice! I will let you be the judge through when you pick her up.
Best wishes!
Chris Nicholson
PJGrady.co.uk

Cant wait!! Seeya Saturday!!

Don't forget the Tissues Claire for those tears of Joy

NickT

[PJ Grady (Europe)]

Hey Claire,

Chris was right - he's got the front end looking great - the back end is a whole different story!

The car does look very nice - I'm sure you'll be happy with her. You may need a police escort home though - just in case anyone prangs that nice new bodywork!

Still a few bits left to do on the car (those green dust caps are sooo 1980's) - but looking forward to seeing you both at the weekend...

Darren

[Guinney1971]

PJ Grady (Europe) Wrote:Still a few bits left to do on the car (those green dust caps are sooo 1980's) - but looking forward to seeing you both at the weekend...
Darren

lol - the green dustcaps were fitted to Flopsy and Sorbet when we had
the tyres filled with Nitrogen before Eurofest 06

NickT Wrote:Don't forget the Tissues Claire for those tears of Joy
NickT

Dont worry Nick - I'll be stocking up on the Kleenex when I get paid on
Friday :wink: