Protecive Decal for Bonnet Holes

[Rally Pack 2000]

The paint keeps cracking around the bonnet slam holes especially the one with the spring in it on Mk2 Escort. Has anyone ever come up with a decal or something to put around the hole to shield the paint from cracking at all? Thanks

[Vista Estate]

I've seen a few have larger alloy discs fixed to the bonnet where the pins come through both above and below. The fixing holes go through so they act as a sandwich. It means the spring below has something better to act against. Didnt seem to affect being able to put the locking pins in.

[Rally Pack 2000]

20 hours ago, Vista Estate said:

I've seen a few have larger alloy discs fixed to the bonnet where the pins come through both above and below. The fixing holes go through so they act as a sandwich. It means the spring below has something better to act against. Didnt seem to affect being able to put the locking pins in.

Its mainly the spring for the release cable coiled in the hole and the ends that hold it into place must exert pressure around the rim of the hole as thats where the paint always cracks.

[Miniliteman]

Never heard anyone complain about that before. A decal is too soft after a few open/closure actions of the bonnet the spring would push through the decal. Look for a thin hard plastic item or loose the spring.

[katana]

On 26/08/2023 at 04:35, Rally Pack 2000 said:

On 26/08/2023 at 07:47, Vista Estate said:

I've seen a few have larger alloy discs fixed to the bonnet where the pins come through both above and below. The fixing holes go through so they act as a sandwich. It means the spring below has something better to act against. Didnt seem to affect being able to put the locking pins in.

The paint keeps cracking around the bonnet slam holes especially the one with the spring in it on Mk2 Escort. Has anyone ever come up with a decal or something to put around the hole to shield the paint from cracking at all? Thanks

I think the both of you are talking about different things! RP2000 is ( I think ) referring to std bonnet release mechanism in the bonnet and slam panel whilst VE is ( again I think) referring to the use of Bonnet Pins like used on comp cars that don't use the std bonnet latch method! As MM says I don't believe a 'decal' or similar would help - maybe be gentle with the bonnet slam process?

[Rally Pack 2000]

4 hours ago, Miniliteman said:

Never heard anyone complain about that before. A decal is too soft after a few open/closure actions of the bonnet the spring would push through the decal. Look for a thin hard plastic item or loose the spring.

The spring is an integral part to the bonnet release so cant really change it. Its just the rim that surrounds the spring it doesn't actually touch any part of the rim of the hole. Nothing does but the springs anchor location in front of it must flex the rim of the spring hole in some way that it cracks the paint. The acrylic I use it chips very easily in this situation. Given the decal wouldn't be touched by the spring at all as such I thought it just may prevent a bit of paint cracking at that point or at least cover it so you cant see it and hold the paint chips in situ.

[Vista Estate]

A few pictures may help us out here @Rally Pack 2000.

As @katana has said I think we a getting the wrong end of the stick (or pin 🤣)

Edited August 27, 2023 by Vista Estate
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[Miniliteman]

Think this is the area James is talking about.

 

[Rally Pack 2000]

10 hours ago, Vista Estate said:

A few pictures may help us out here @Rally Pack 2000.

As @katana has said I think we a getting the wrong end of the stick (or pin 🤣)

 

6 hours ago, Miniliteman said:

Think this is the area James is talking about.

 

Sorry my description isnt very precise. Its actually this hole where the spring is but in the case of my Escort its actually on the other side to the one pictured. The centre one Miniliteman has circled does have a but of wear on it naturally as the bonnet lock slams into it so wear there is understandable but where my paint cracks is always that hole that surrounds the cable return spring and the spring doesn't even touch the edge of it! If I ever paint that slam panel again I wont use grey primer it will be white!

I was going to get you a photo as suggested but it was the middle of the night when you posted so couldnt take one straight away. 😀 I can still take one if needs be but his does the job nicely.

[Vista Estate]

Hi @Rally Pack 2000, its interesting that the paint in this area is cracking. Ive not seen that before unless there has been a build up of paint that's not fully  keyed in.

Mine is painted in 2k and was down to bare metal with an etch primer base. No  cracking. Do you think that there is some old paint still left when you repainted and it's this that's causing the cracking of the upper layers 🤔 

[Rally Pack 2000]

16 hours ago, Vista Estate said:

Hi @Rally Pack 2000, its interesting that the paint in this area is cracking. Ive not seen that before unless there has been a build up of paint that's not fully  keyed in.

Mine is painted in 2k and was down to bare metal with an etch primer base. No  cracking. Do you think that there is some old paint still left when you repainted and it's this that's causing the cracking of the upper layers 🤔 

Yes its a strange one. It only does it on the side where the spring is so there has to be some slight pressure and flex placed on it when you pull the bonnet release. Yes Im sure it wasnt the best paint job when I did it at the time, It was just the slam panel on its own.