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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Hood fitting - can it be too warm?7

In connection with Willy's Shed thread, I'm waiting for the weather to warm up again so I can fit the Frogeye hood (new Don one, yes I know Nigel). I've read a lot in the archives about hood fitting and the general consensus seems to be to get the hood very warm in the sun before fitting. But then a lot of people here have commented on how difficult hoods are to fit in cooler weather WHEN YOU NEED THEM MOST.

So, I'm wondering if it's better to go for an "average" sunny Spring day when the hood gets warm (before fitting) but not TOO warm I.e. so the poppers are easier to fit on a cooler day and you're in a hurry etc. etc.

Does this make sense? I've already done a trial fit with the front and rear bars (this is the basic hood design) and I can get it on. The hood frame is early Frogeye lacking the spring adjustment so I don't expect (or need) an amazing fit.
Bill Bretherton

Warm day? When's that going to be then? 😅

But I don't see a problem on a hot day, juat don't stretch it too much.
anamnesis

I did mine when it was was about 30 degrees and blazing sun! Probably a bit different as it's a pack away type so no real adjustment like the later header rail type. I think the most important thing is to leave it up through a few warm and cool days after fitting. I think that helps it to take shape and 'get used' to being in the up position.
John Payne

Do you actually stretch the vinyl or leave it to expand on its own in the sun? What is a warm enough day?
Bill Bretherton

Having fitted my vinyl hood in the summer, I find its a bit tight in the winter. I would fit the hood on a cool/cold day on the basis that it will be easy to fit in the cold.

During the winter when my midget is in storage I leave the hood up to stop it shrinking.



Chris Madge

i did mine in coolish weather and warmed it up with a fan heater got it a little tight but it is ok now

did a bit of a guide at the time if its of any use to anyone

https://www.flickr.com/photos/markythesparky/albums/72157633862111410/with/8915226227/?fbclid=IwAR2zvcPt4l1FMVEIBoJnuwcL039qAMcA2hHMWyAS5_FvNV5gsdWK9Izpel8
mark heyworth

Bill. Vinyl can be stretched when it is heated, and the more it is heated the greater it will stretch. However, when the vinyl cools, it will try to return to its original length/shape. As others have noted, the fitting of the "hood" in the full heat of summer can cause it to not fit in the depth of winter. Fitting the top in the depth of winter may cause the top to be slightly loose when driving in the hot summer. So, the real question should be: When is it best to have the top slightly loose.

My vote is a snug fitting top in winter with the possibility of the top being slightly loose in summer. At least as a starting point. A top fitted in this manner can, if necessary, be further tightened because there will be sufficient material to do so. If a top is fitted in the full heat of summer, the excess material that is cut away as part of the front fitting is lost forever and trying to make the top fit slightly more loosely is somewhere between difficult and impossible. Thus, fitting the top on a cool day might be an excellent idea, especially for the first time fitter.

I once owned a new MGB of 1979 vintage. The factory set up the top so that it was possible to put the top up in 60 deg F weather. (One seldom puts it down at lower temperatures.) With the factory installation, the top was drum head tight in winter and, in summer, would lift and move somewhat when driving at highway speeds. That would be the fitting that I would try for, understanding that slightly too loose can be corrected and too tight cannot be easily corrected.

Les
Les Bengtson

Thanks for the advice everyone. As I suspected, it sounds best to fit on a cooler day but not TOO cool like today!
Bill Bretherton

"The factory set up the top so that it was possible to put the top up in 60 deg F weather. (One seldom puts it down at lower temperatures.)"
- for MGB drivers maybe but this is the Midget & Sprite section, as long as it's not going to be much below 40 deg F (5c) when you need to put it back up that's fine as below that its too stiff and too much of a fight and you wouldn't want to drop at that temperature in case the window bits crease or crack.

I've stuck to this rule with all my plastic hoods through decades of winters now.

Bill, except for my latest Don hood which after a few years from new was/is a struggle out of the sun and a real fight anywhere near about 10-12c, often now I don't bother to drop it if I'm not sure it'll be warm or sunny enough when I get home (always parked outside).

Even when parked in a garage apparently the hood should be left fully erected.
Nigel Atkins

"fully errected". Titter titter. Schoolboy humour 🤣
anamnesis

This thread was discussed between 31/03/2022 and 01/04/2022

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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