Re: New Member (was Re: Form response)

[PGAHOWELLS@domain.elided]

Hi
My piece of advice is check your frame bolts out. The size of bolts and types
and locations of washers is a precise and exact art. The Parts catalogue has
the best information on this.
I recently replaced the front hood (ragtop) rail together with the two side
spars. It was a second hand assembly which I bought and got repaired and shot
blasted/powder coated as my original had a welded solid corner.  
During the course of this excersise I found that one of the original bolts was
incorrect, and fitting the correct bolt has made the hood much easier to raise
and lower.  In fact, my guess is that corner got broken because the hood frame
had been incorrectly made in the first place. I expect the frame builder was
confronted by the usual huge battery of boxes of different sized bolts all
looking the same, having to fit the them in the correct place and got one (I
hope only one) wrong. That worker must have known it was wrong, because when I
refitted the bolts etc and torqued them up, the frame would hardly move. Then
the bolt snapped and when I got the new one I immediately saw the problem. It
had a longer pivot shank length. It fitted a treat and the frame moves
perfectly. I reckon the assembly worker slackened them all off a bit on the
line!  
I have discovered several manufacturing faults in the course of 8 years owner
ship, but being a 27 years old car, I don't think the Rover group will accept
the warranty claims!!
Peter H