MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Door striker plate differences

I replaced the doors on my 1500 one of which i have now discovered is an earlier door, age unknown.

I have come to mount my 1500 door latch mechanism and I have hit a problem. The latch doesn’t fit into the end of the door, the top screw is in the wrong place by about 1/16 inch. Fortunately I have the older style lock for that door, so I can use that. However it’s incompatible with the 1500 striker plate and I don’t have an earlier one.


The rest of the door opening hardware seems to be compatible, so I think it’s just the striker plate I need to replace or modify. The top section of the striker plate in the picture is too wide for the latch to engage with. I’m fairly sure it just needs narrowing at the top.

Has anyone had to solve this problem before?
Has anyone got a picture of an earlier striker plate please?



Chris Madge

I had that problem in about 1982, when I bought an earlier door for my ‘70 midget. I managed to get the latch and striker from the guy I’d bought the door from, so problem solved.

It would certainly be worth having a go at modifying the striker plate.
Dave O'Neill 2

I found a picture on eBay of an earlier striker plate. I think it’s ‘just’ a case of trimming than top section? Although the base is a different shape.....




Chris Madge

Chris, l'm a bit confused as to which one you are after, but if these are any good to you I can post them.


GuyW

Hi Guy

Yes it’s the earlier type of striker plate I need.

If you are sure you can spare them I will happily take them off your hands thanks. Please let me know how much you want for them


Thanks :)
Chris Madge

Chris, yes I can spare them! They are NOS ones I bought years ago at a show for my 1971 car and then found that they didn't fit. Presumably for the flip side of what you have found, though I didn't realise at the time that there were supposed to be 2 sorts.

Definitely surplus so they are free, they just come with goodwill which you can share with someone else when an opportunity arises!
I will email you for the address.
GuyW

The striker plates have dates stamped on them somewhere. Here is one on my 1966 Sprite with a solid plastic spacer I had to make in order to fit - this replaced the metal spacer which should be there.





I L Cooke

Thank you I L Cooke


Guy kindly sold me a pair of the older style plates which I have fitted. The door latch engages with the plates perfectly now.


The only difference between the older and newer plates is the shape of the piece that the door latch engages with - its thinner. The older plate is thicker with a taper at the start. The base of the older plate is a slightly different too.

Interestingly, the engagement with the older latch and plate 'feels' softer/smoother and not as clunky as the newer system. I suspect the newer plates and latches are stronger and less likely to burst open in a crash though.
Chris Madge

To correct my previous post - Guy generously gave me the door striker plates.
Chris Madge

Does anyone know what the purpose of the two little holes in the upstand edge of the door latch plate are for. Clearly seen in that photo that I L Cooke posted of his driver's side door. Only one of the two plates that I gave Chris had the holes, but I think it was the passenger side one. What are they for?

PS, And Chris generously insisted in makeing a donation to a charity that he supports.
GuyW

They take a little plastic buffer in some applications - GT GHD4-139471 onwards (nov 67) & all V8s - see pic below.


Chris at Octarine Services

This thread was discussed between 02/05/2020 and 07/05/2020

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.