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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Fitting Fibreglass doors...

Has anyone had any success doing this? Ive only managed to find them at PaterMayEngineering.co.uk @ £91 a peice...
Rob McGeown ( LMG 5K - '72 RWA)

A few people here. AFAIK they are not recommended on the standard hinges and one of the TSR guys here used mini hinges for more strength.
Rich Amos (1330cc Blaze Red '72)

I was planing to fit them as well and have had contact with PM.
He says you can use the std hinges and lock
The window wind up mechanism is an othe point and he could not guaranty that this would work well
o Könemann

from what little experiance I have with glass, its best to use an electric window winder system instead of a manual for F. glass doors....

Apperantly has to do with ambeant air temp. hand torque and uneven power applied to the crank handle of doing it manual, but the electric is a consistant power and torque.


prop
Prop

LOL Prop :-)

Here's Rob desperately trying to lighten his car by fitting fibreglass doors and you tell him to shove lots of heavy electrickery inside them.*

Marvellous

Rob I think two thin plexiglass windows ought to be on your agenda, like sliding Mini windows, etc.


* mind you I doubt if there's much difference with some systems in modern use. The centre slide system in my Saab is probably not a lot heavier than the midget's Pantograph system

Bill

I wouldn't bother, the saving in weight over standard shells isn't worth the hard work, you save much much more weight by junking the windows and winders. If you put those into a fibre door, you're wasting your time, they're where the weight is.

Steel ones give you a bit more protection in a shunt, too.

My race car has standard doors without the windows and I got caught for underweight car at the end of last season.
Max T

LOL...

Hey, I try and help where ever I can....LOL

I didnt realise he was trying to save wieght, guess I should have read a little closer

But I agree...some plexyglass on some sliders is the way to go.

....Still that is funny...LOL

prop
Prop

The problem is my steel doors are heavily corroded. rather then repair them, or buy new steel ones, i though about fibreglass.

I guess i could repair them, then junk the glass and winder and come up with some plexi windows and a mechanisim.

Is there any curvature the the glass?
Rob McGeown ( LMG 5K - '72 RWA)

yes the standard door glass is curved, not very much tho'.
Maybe your easiest solution would be a cheap-ish pair of complete secondhand doors in better condition than yours (seen the pics!).
David Smith

Yeah there pretty bad in the usual places. Im thinking about re-skining them and replaceming the botom with a repair panel...but might be cheaper to buy second hand as you say.
Rob McGeown ( LMG 5K - '72 RWA)

In Motorsport lightened doors = requirement for door bars. So the weight saving = ?
Daniel Thirteen-Twelve

Ok, so FG is out. How about re-skinning the old doors. Nice to keep the original.

How difficult is fitting a new skin and bottom section? any photos of the job?
Rob McGeown ( LMG 5K - '72 RWA)

TBQH there's a lot of good quality s/hand doors out there, with or without winder mechanism. Saves a shed load of time and money for more important work like beer drinking.

Someone here's bound to have some ;-)(doors I mean, not beer!)

Max T

Best bet is to search for replacement doors. Most likely they will be less than a set of door skins and bottom repair panels.

I have some pics from doinf this on the bugeye; http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2203663/3

One of the more pleasant jobs I did since it goes quick and results are obvious.

Why are you so desperate to shed weight on this project?

Pete
Pete

Not "desperate" to shed weight, but just though it might be nice.

Got a rivers door already re-skinned and rust free for £20, plus £9 del, so im appeased now.
Rob McGeown ( LMG 5K - '72 RWA)

Rob I got a complete door from andy jennings rust free I was very impressed, was around £40
I Pickering

I have Re-Skinned My drivers door....DONT DO IT!!!

I had a professional long time est. shop do it...It was an expensive way to go....door skin was $60, and $125 to have it installed, AND I had to re-install the guts myself..

PLUS

Its hard to get the shape of the door, the new door skin makes the door want to "spring out" and be flatter.. so the bottom of the door is sort a winging out...I ended up using large blankets and pillows and using some srong armed help and force adding some curve back into the door...it still wings out abit, but I can live with it ...but wont do it agian

prop
Prop

Rob,
eBay Item number: 230285883693 if you still need it. As Pete shows it's not daunting to put on a skin. About 20 minutes with the angle grinder and about the same to throw the flange.
f pollock

This thread was discussed between 15/08/2008 and 01/09/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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