Swage line

[BAS]

This is one to get you all thinking, I’m hoping to fit the bonnet and the inner panels to my Hawk soon and was wandering if there is a definitive dimension for the height of the bonnet at the front?

If you look at a Stratos from the side, original or replica the swage line appears to dive down on the bonnet line towards the front e.g. if you take a straight line along the swage line of the door through to the front of the car the bonnet swage drops down at an angel. Or if you project the bonnet swage line back it appears to run about 1" to 2" below the door handle.

I know they are all going to vary to some degree but maybe someone knows the answer.

PS if you do know the answer to this it should be worth some serious anorak points.

[guy mayers]

Brent, the important line is not the swage line on the nose panel but the height of the pointy bit (Stratos Technical Term) at the back of the bonnet. The top surface should lie flush with the top surfaces of the doors.
I've said this to many people but it remains worth repeating again and again! To get everything properly aligned mark the centre lines of the tub and the nose panel, make sure these two are aligned properly and the bonnet will be central. This allows you to fit both doors. The right one should fit easily but the left ones invariably need moving out slightly to match the side of the bonnet.
Then you need to radius the lip on the wheel arches so they are a smooth arc on both sides. When you are happy with this the rear ends of the arch should be aligned with the body tub arch section where the overcentre catches sit. Once you are happy with this fit then raise or lower the nose until the top surface of the bonnet matches the top surface of the doors and once happy with this you can finalise the position of the bonnet pivot pins. You will probably end up with enlarged mounting holes for the pivot bracket. I strongly recommend that once you have finalised the position that you mark the body very carefully, remove the brackets, glass up the oval holes, let it cure and redrill exactly the right size holes in the right place to avoid things slipping later!
And if anything isn't clear just call me!
Cheers
Guy