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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Sill/floor replacement

Well I was pulling out my old seatbelts (those of you that have met me know just how bad they are) to replace them. One of the mounting points ripped clean off as it turns out the inner sills are going fast. The floor on the drivers side is ripping off and it has a huge hole under the left rear corner of the seat. I want to go to midget 50 in a few weeks. I don't care what the paint looks like for now as long as she's safe and solid. Originally it was bronze yellow. I hear that paint may be cheaper than green. I probibly have enough cash for new sheet metal and enough time, but not much for paint. The car is stored 1.5 hours drive away from where i live and work which is another problem. I need a good place to work on the beast. I havent ever done any bodywork before either. I may have access to a weilder via the local MG club. Any ideas?
S.A. Jones

Not sure what you are asking for. The parts to fix your car are going to be a new floor, inner and outer sills. ...And I suspect a few more bits if it is as rusted as you mention.

I can replace those bits with about 100 hours of labor. However, I know what I am doing, The first time took me five years.

If you want to drive to your show, leave the car alone and enjoy it for as long as it last while looking for a new car.
p p

I was hoping to autocross it and I need seatbelts for that. Of Course, I need something to mount the seatbelts to. I guess I'mwondering what would be involved, and what is the least expensive way to fix it in the time I have left.
S.A. Jones

the answer to your question is not what you want to hear: if the body structure is rusted enough that the seatbelt mountings are coming off, then it is no longer safe to drive (i.e., no seatbelt), and there is no longer anything else strong enough to use to attach it to.

to replace all of those panels, AND to learn the necessary skills to do it properly will take time that you don't have.

If you absolutely must figure out how to drive your car there, and so you need to have a seatbelt, maybe if you welded in a 1/8" sheet the length and size of your inner sill, with a weld nut on it for the seatbelt, that could maybe work. Stitch weld it all along the length of it, in hopes of finding enough metal (not rust) for it to be attached to, in the event that you actually NEED the seatbelt you'll need all the strength there that you can possibly get.

ignore anything to do with paint at this stage, because you'll not be leaving it that way for long enough for rust to matter, and it won't be visible anyway, down beside the seat.

My advice is to park it, plan on spending the next year redoing the floors and sills, and buying the tools and learning the skills, and drive your "daily driver" car to the show instead.


Norm
Norm Kerr

Follow this link to my first restoration. It will either make you feel better or worse. Regardless, the job can be done by a first timer if you really want to do so.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2203663/1967-mg-td
p p

S.A. I hate to tell you this, but the autocross supervisors do a vary detailed inspection before the event...because the floor pans are so crucial to the structure of the car and the seat belt mount is that badly rusted out.....i dont think they will allow you to compete

I would certianly contact ither trevor jessie or peter cardwell to see what you will need to do with the car before the autocross event
Prop

The answer is, as usual, it all depends ..... IF you can SAFELY put a weld sheet over the area, then yes, you can fix seatbelts to it - but, I wouldn't put anything more than a couple of inches square over it as anything more kinda implies that your structural problems are deeper!

However, I've seen way worse - but, if you're going to have to do it, it's ALOT of work, and takes alot longer than you expect, and, once you start, you will find more problems ........ so, if it's safe enough to drive, and you want to take it to your Midget50, then don't start, and don't enter the autocross if you can't get it through scruitineering - but, there's nothing stopping you presenting and seeing what they say (or don't notice ;)!)
rachmacb

Sa I have been thinking about your problem whilst buying the parts that you are needing for mine as I'm doing much the same as you will have to do!!!!

If it makes you feel any better - I'm missing loads of events and it's not looking too optimistic for M50 for me either, and I've had to be the ruddy secretary for the stupid thing :(!!

You say that you can get access to a welder via the local club - is there someone there who can help you as well? If you have a couple of weeks and all the materials AND help, then you have a chance, but, there is loads of cutting involved as well as welding and that's when your problems really start as, until you cut you don't know where the bad metal ends!!!!

Why not go to Midget50 and hope that perhaps someone will let you drive their car for the autocross and get involved in planning Midget25 - then don't start major works just before it!!!
rachmacb

This thread was discussed between 25/04/2011 and 27/04/2011

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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