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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Pop quiz, hotshot!

Ok, gang!
I have got a question for the experts, maybe one of you know the answer to this one.

What is this hole for? (see attached image, circled in red)

I have one on my car, and this photo is from BMH that shows it on new bodies. As far as I can tell, it isn't for anything, but one of you can maybe prove me wrong!
I am idly wondering if it was meant to be a breathing hole, to vent the enclosed space behind the toe board. But, if so, then it ought to be a hole into the passenger compartment, not into the engine bay (both get wet, for sure, but the water spray will be greater from the front, rather than from down deep under the dashboard, if it was a hole in the toe board instead).

Also, I haven't seen a hole on the LH side, and my car only has one on the RH side, so I am wondering if it was for something ELSE?



Norm "inquiring" Kerr

(weird, I thought I had posted this earlier today, but that was apparently a "virtual" posting, so here it is for real this time!)


Norm Kerr

could it be for the wiring to the early type foot-operated dipswitch? My RWA does not have a hole here...
David Smith

As I am currently ripping out the rust in that area I think it is put in to allow water and hence rust, thereby ensuring that you buy another heritage shell in 20 years time..
Alternatively it is for pumping in waxoil to prevent further rusting
Tim
T Dafforn

Attachment point for a clip holding the brake line going to the rear of the car.

Nick, '63midget
D.G.J. Herwegh

D.G.J., do you have a photo of what that looked like?

On my LHD, the rear brake line was attached to the same point that the clutch line was (see attached), quite a bit above the hole in question.

The hole I'm asking about has a piece of black tubing temporarily stuck in it, in this attached photo, to make it stand out.

David Smith, the dip switch couldn't attach here because this hole is behind the toe board (that was my first thought too). The spot welds for the top of the toe board are just visible in this attached photo, in a line below the clutch/rr brake line attachment.

I think that T. Dafforn is correct, it was put there by BMC engineers to collect water and rust behind the toe board!



Norm


Norm Kerr

Photo enclosed.
Sorry about the quality but I don't have a better one. The clip is identical to the ones which attach the brake line to the front crossmember.
Hope this helps.

Nick, '63Midget


D.G.J. Herwegh

OK

when I first saw this topic I thought the "hole" might be a noptical illusion, then a hole with a rubber tube in it on a nicely prepped red car changed my mind... doh!

I searched the BMH visit pics for corroboration and voila yer'tes

here is the hole before the box section was built around it, even has its own patch of distressing around it

I haven't wormed my way around the nearside wing of Lara to open the bonnet to see if she has it, but how about it being there to allow air out when the bodyshell is Phosphoretic dipped at the paint plant.

Which isn't done at BMH's factory

Nick's "clip" looks higher on the panel than the mystery so that seems to rule that out

I'll stand by air venting as the reason... and a rubber blanking grommet to keep water out (for the first twenty years of the bodyshell's life span)


bill sdgpm

I think Nick's brake pipe is too low. It normally travels down the tunnel, not under the floor.
Dave O'Neill 2

yes mine's inside the tunnel

lots of room there up alongside my left leg
bill sdgpm

when we design bodies for dip coating here at work, we have to provide much larger holes (at the top of the cavity) than that to let the air out at a fast enough rate to deal with the production line speed (I forget, like minimum 15mm dia, with consideration for larger volumes requiring it to be increased up to, say, double that). Also, an equal or larger hole is needed on the other end to let the liquid in (the "top" and "bottom" are decided by what the angle is of the body as it dips into, then rises (and drains) out of the tank).

This little hole is barely 1/4" (6mm), and is located about 1/3 of the way up.

If it is NOT for holding a rear brake line on an early 1-pipe system, then I am betting that it was for holding something else quite like it!

Norm
Norm Kerr

AFAIK my brake lines run in the original position for a Mark 1 Midget; that is under the floor (along the seat rail stiffener as on the Frogeye). Not through the tunnel.

Nick, '63Midget
D.G.J. Herwegh

This thread was discussed between 05/01/2010 and 06/01/2010

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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