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 - Hood fitting problem


My Sprite has a replacement hood, which I'm getting ready for winter motoring. It's not the best hood, but was on the car when I brought and I can't afford to replace it.

I've fitted extra Tenex studs to stop the sides flapping and had hoped to fit the studs which hold the inner flap to the windscreen, but these flaps seem too short.

How tight do these flaps go and any suggestions on how I gain an extra 1/4 inch in lenth (for the flaps!), at the moment, the studs will fit with part of their body overhanging the flap.

And if this doesn't make sense, I will add a photo tomorrow!

Thanks
Andy
a borris

try a hairdryer and stretching!!
Mick - She's off the rotisserie

Andy,
I find that if I use those flaps either side of the screen as intended, it actually pulls the "vallance" away from the glass at the front corners of the side windows, creating a gap. It makes for a snugger fit if the flaps are shut between the quarter light frame and the rubber seal when I use the hood.
Guy Weller

Andy,

I have the exact same problem, hood fits quite nicely and is taught, I want to put tenax fastners beside the door instead of velcro, but no matter what I do, I can't get the buttons in the flaps to clip to the inside of the windscreen frame, I'm not too sure that a hairdryer will make it stretch enough either! sorry Mick(good idea though)

Jim
Jim Redmond RWA Midget

my current hood has the same issue - flaps are too short to reach the windscreen. I cant say it makes much difference.
Dean Smith ('73 RWA)

I ran my last midget for 3 years with velco by b post and flaps that couldnt reach the windscreen stud. I wasn't aware of any major issues.

Now i've fitted a hood to my current car with extra poppers (i could have used tenax though) on the b post and made sure that the flaps reach the windscreen studs. The difference is enormous. The car is much quieter and much more watertight along the window tops. Worth getting right. Although I susspect if the hoods already fitted and those studs dont reach, they never will (as they most certainly didn't on my last car).

Nick

I had the same problem, and really stretched them to fit a couple of months ago.

The hood looks (because it is) pulled though. I'm hoping it will settle down, though I could just leave the flaps undone, I suppose.

Nigel
N K Baker

would someone tell me how you replace the velcro with fasteners? I noticed the MGOC hoods have these and it seems a great idea
D Tetley


My car already had the extra hole for the Tenex stud in the bodywork, although I had to make a hole through the black trim which sits on the lip under the hood bottom. Then (very carefully!), while stretching the hood into place, cut a small X into the fabric. I then fitted the Tenex stud into this hole, trimming for a good fit as I went.

Much easier with the fitting tool that Moss sells too.

GF has a good hair-dryer, so will have a try at stretching the fabric to fit the wings. Will be using the car all winter and need to improve both draft and noise!

Andy
a borris

Had the same with a Moss hood a few years ago, 1" too short and about 1.5" too narrow (wouldnt even cover the width of the header), thought I had fitted it wrong (several attempts) until I read an article on how to do it and realised Id done it right.I made a couple of extensions to make it connect to the screen. the main problem is with the excesive taughtness the hood can deteriorate quite rapidly pulling seams apart and causing rips. The hair dryer might work now but in Winter the whole thing shrinks and is a lot less supple.Also found the tightness of the hood could pull the top of the screen up where the header fasteners are and this can lead to water getting in between seal and glass.
Any way a few draughts and drips are all part of the fun!
mike

This thread was discussed between 29/07/2008 and 31/07/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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