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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Template for sill letters

I need to fit the midget letters to the sills and rather than end up with letters out of alignment, I was wondering if anyone had a template that they could send to me with the holes marked?
Thanks
Robin
Robin Cohen

see

http://www2.mg-cars.org.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=mgbbs&access=&mode=archiveth&subject=97&subjectar=97&thread=2010071418140516350
mark 1500 on the road Preston Lancs

Yepp

Thats the one..

Take one of the midget letters with you when you print it at the print shop and match up the letter studs to the the photo paper templete and adjust the prints size copies untill the stud of the letter lines up on the holes on the paper

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Here's the drawing from the archived thread.

The datum is the LH pin on the letter 'M' which is 166mm from the centre line of the letter 'T', which in turn is 125mm from the leading edge of the sill.

This is for the o/s or RH sill.

Using the same measurements for the nearside sill, you will have to deduct 13.5mm from 125mm to achieve the correct position from the front of the sill.



Dave O'Neill 2

Robin,
I have still got the templates that Tim Hipwell sent to me 20 years ago! It is clear perspex with all the holes marked. Worked well for me. Let me know if you want it - no charge. email me geoffreydottymearsatskydottycom
Geoff Mears

Personally I wouldn't fit them. Every hole is a potential rust start-up point. The car looks just fine without them.
Mike Howlett

Mike,
I felt the same too. It took a couple of years before having enough courage to drill a 'brand' new bodyshell. I'd kept the original bit of the original sill as a template but it is quite a faff ensuring they are lined up ok.
Quite a bit of effort went into rust proofing the holes and I still take the letters off occasionally to inspect and if needs be, touch up the holes, probably caused by taking the letters off...Hohum.
Still haven't had the courage to drill the holes for the stainless steel strip though. Did try magnetic strip cut to fit, it worked but was easily knocked out of alignment so now without. The sills are body coloured so the strips omission is not critical. Anyone had any success attaching these strips without drilling the body work? 3M products?
Jeremy Tickle

Jeremy,

I was considering this just last night. Wifey thinks (for whatever reason) the lettering is a must, and I also want to put on a strip to hide my black/colour paint join.

I am going to try stick-on letters and strip as I am not too keen on drilling holes in my sills. Plus, there is a considerable (and favourable) cost difference :-D

Malcolm.
M Le Chevalier

Just restoring this thread from a couple of weeks back.

I bought some stick-on chrome strip and letters for <£20 for both sides. Looks good, the letters are very close in size and style to the originals. I can't comment on longevity at the moment though.

Cheers,
Malcolm


M Le Chevalier

Where from?
Dave O'Neill 2

I bought the correct (pin type) letters then ground the pins off flush and used double sided tape to stick them on. The correct look without risk of rust :)
Glynn (1275RWA) Williams

I don't think the letters cause rust do they? They are pushed into plastic plugs, and they don't appear to have rusted my sills in those areas. The rust came in from the front, the a-posts, and the rears.
Lawrence Slater

Both found on eBay Dave, can link you the specific listings if you want?

Malc.
M Le Chevalier

Looking good Malc, the letters look damn as near it original.
If you have a link for the strip that would be good :)

Glynn what tape did you use, 3M? I'm tempted to paint the sill satin black as originally.

Jeremy
Jeremy Tickle

Strip is eBay item no 252042407117, 12mm wide, 3 metres length is sufficient. Comes with 3M tape on it already, just peel and apply and try and make it straight!

Letters are item no. 161612795248.

No specific reason why I chose the two above, there are a lot of people selling the same thing. Just search "self adhesive chrome strip" and "self adhesive chrome letters" or similar.

Cheers,
Malcolm
M Le Chevalier

Thanks Malcolm,
that's really helpful, will order some of the strip.

Jeremy
Jeremy Tickle

Thanks everyone. Like a few of you, I've been delaying and delaying drilling a new body shell! I'll paint waxoyl in the drill holes, sure it'll be fine. The shell has gallons of waxoyl in it (I soaked the inner wings, from and rear, sills etc when I did the shell and 10 years on there isn't any rust anywhere on it.
Robin Cohen

This thread was discussed between 24/08/2015 and 17/09/2015

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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