Thanks again Minibitz,
Taking the Pickup over to Kingman AZ tomorrow for a quote on a custom paint job. When I get back I'm going to scrap all the brackets for the mock-up & design some purtier ones that will spread the load better on the bonnet (although most of the load is already on the crossmember sections).
M.

Nice one!

Good point on some less aggressive struts.

I've seen a few cars with those articulated hinge sets that allow the bonnet to raise up almost vertical. Seems this causes stress to the outer edge of the bonnet just past the area that has the spot welded brace causing the skin to crack.

Guess a blind chicken finds corn occasionally!
Geometry worked first time.
Still going to remake the brackets, replace a section that I ground out of the sidewall stiffener and find some weaker gas struts (takes ten people to close the bonnet)!
M.

Thanks Minibitz!
Watching the episode again they used the existing bonnet but on a totally fabricated frame.
I don't have the luxury of removing the engine, otherwise crawling up with the bonnet closed & spotting the holes would work.
Presently I'm welding some brackets on the underside of the bonnet with some captive nuts welded on and seeing where my guesswork lands me.
Thanks, Martin.

Not tried this but from memory didn't they fully fabricate the entire front including the inner wing area?

Fitting these to a regular unmolested mini front would be a whole start again and work it out yourself process as best as I can see.

Would not be too hard if car is a bare shell. You can mock the bonnet up in position then crawl up into the engine bay to take measurement.

Time for some CAD (cardboard aided design) just like the Binky boys I reckon.

Watching project "Binky" episode 8, I decided to get a couple of Porsche hinges & fit them to the hood of my pickup.
Has anyone tried this so that I can get some hints as to how it's done? The footage from the video clip seems to have them mounted too high for the hood to close.
Thanks, M.