Daily Archives: January 1, 2025

Bonnet Headlights and Flashers

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Headlights

After some initial work on the installation of the hinge kit on the bonnet, we turned our attention to the headlights. The assembly of the headlight components, mounting the headlights to the bonnet, and the switch to LEDs from halogen bulbs has been previously addressed in two separate posts, so we won’t go into much detail on the process as we mount the headlights to the painted bonnet. See the headlight fitting post here: https://valvechatter.com/?p=14074

Information about the conversion to LED lights throughout the car may be found here: https://valvechatter.com/?p=14188

Front Flashers/Turn Indicators

Mounting the flasher units to the bonnet is pretty straightforward although installing the beehive glass and the chrome trim ring into the rubber boot can be a test of one’s patience, but that is what it takes – lots of patience. Before installing the light assembly we installed three spire nuts at each light mounting point. We used new nuts and they pushed on easily. Three stainless steel #6 Phillips sheet metal screws are used for each light.

Bugeye Restoration Video Episode Eighty-eight shows the installation of the headlights and flashers/turn indicators:

https://vimeo.com/1043298584/6820215ce0?share=copy

Bonnet Fixings – Hinges, Gas Struts and Tie-down Brackets

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The Front-tilt Bonnet Hinges

After considering various front hinge kits for the Bugeye bonnet we decided to go with the hinges made by Erick Moser of Q1 Classic Engineering. Erick makes his hinges from high grade aluminum and supplies delrin washers/fittings and fasteners with his kit. What really appealed about Erick’s kit is that the hinges mount without having to drill additional mounting holes in the body or cutting the threaded bushings on the frame rails. We powder coated the components in satin black and substituted stainless hardware.

Q1 Classic Engineering Bonnet Hinge Kit

We decided to make some small reinforcing plates of 1/8″ steel to add support at the upper mounting point of the hinge. At that point the securing bolt only goes through the radiator shroud sheet metal so the extra “beef” should be helpful. We painted these black and installed them with the kit.

Getting the bonnet hinges to work effectively involved some trial and error. We ended up having to modify the hinge plates and the sliders, but Erick was great and assisted in making the necessary modifications.

Template for Modified Hinge Plate

We ended up with a very functional and good looking bit of kit. We will paint or powder coat the modified hinges when we remove the bonnet to install the motor.

Q1 Classic Engineering Bonnet Hinges

Hinge Spacer Block 1″ Wide

We also added gas struts purchased from Amazon. The struts we installed are 16″ long. We tried both 28 lb. and 35 lb. struts and found the 28 lb. units to work the best. The heavier struts tended to pull the rear edge of the bonnet way from the cowl.

Gas Struts 16″ 28 Lbs

The front tie-down brackets/tow hooks were also purchased from Q1 Classic Engineering. Nicely made and heavy duty. We painted them and installed between the hinge plates and the chassis rails.

Q1 Classic Engineering Tie Down Brackets

Q1 Classic Engineering Tie Down Brackets Installed

Mounting of the bonnet hinges, gas struts and the toe down brackets is shown in Bugeye Restoration Video Episode Ninety-four:

https://vimeo.com/1043279717/37ec3901e6?share=copy