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MG MGA - Mystery screws

I am just about ready to move my restoration into the “put it back together” phase, but I have run into a couple of questions that I would like to pose to this knowledgeable group.

First, after stripping the frame down to the “last bolt”, there is a vertical row of 4 or 5 large phillips-head screws in the frame (driver’s right) panel next to where the vertical wood floorboard would be. In a finished car, these would be just to the right of the passenger’s right foot. These don’t appear on the left side of the car. Is this a repair? If not, what do they hold and should they be removed as well?

Next – I am going by the general rule that everything that came off with the “body” should be painted body color – inside fenders, splash panels, inside boot and engine compartment, and everything with the frame and all of the assorted brackets – pedal/ master cyl. Brackets, tunnel parts, etc. will be (in my case) satin black power coat. Is this correct? What about the small, removable firewall piece under the heater shelf? Also, can I assume the latch rods and brackets for the hood and trunk lids are body color?

Thanks again'
Frank
F. J. Bruns

Frank,
No need to remove those large Phillips head bolts. I believe they are a legacy of the conversion to Left Hand Drive.
Barney's site has a good section on what should be painted, or in your case powder coated, in which colour. You have it about right, but there are some anomalies. The lower firewall panel is usually black, I believe, as are the floor boards. Some cars have the boot and bonnet props in body colour, while others have them black. Clausager's book says they were black originally.
Peter.
P. Tilbury

Peter -- Thanks for your quick response. I should have known it was in Barney's site somewhere. Unfortunately, every time I to to his site I get distracted by all the information located there and, two hours later I have learned a great deal about the car, but have totally forgotten why I went there in the first place.

One other question, if I may. The piping I received is a silver colored plastic (and the "padding" under the taillight plinth, as well). I guess I was expecting to cover the piping with black vinyl as it was prior to tear-down or body colored vinyl, the way my TD was restored. What is most accepted? I'm not looking for concours points.

Frank
F. J. Bruns

Silver colored piping is correct for all color cars.

It is your car. Do what you want.
Chuck Schaefer

Fran,
If your car is a 1600, then silver PVC light plinth gaskets are correct. The 1500 had black rubber plinth gaskets. Chuck is correct in that silver/grey piping for the wing/body joints is correct for all cars. Some owners have piping made to match their upholstery, but this is not original.
I agree that Barney's site is so conducive to "wandering"! Peter.
P. Tilbury

Mr. Tibury,
How sure are you about the black piping for a 1500. Everything I see says silver and that is what I used. I do not recall ever seeing a black piping on MGA's but at the same time I have a roll of it in my basement that I bought from Moss back in the 80's.
Gordon Harrison

The taillight plinth rubber on 1500s are black. The plinth rubber on 1600s are silver. ALL cars used silver fender welt beading. Just as Fran stated. They then went back to black on the 1600MK11s taillight plinths. see picture.


R J Brown

Bonjour Gordon,
Silver grey piping on all cars. Black rubber light plinths gaskets on 1500. Must have lost something in the translation to Quebecois!
Cheers, Pierre.
P. Tilbury

Then the later MkII tail light plinths were mounted with sealant! How many people stick with that on a resto? I have mine to do and the gasket seems like an easier alternative!
Neil McGurk

Neil
Sealant?
I believe Original part# AHH 6116 was a black rubber gasket.
I used the gasket believing it to be as original.
Though I did not dissasemble this car.
Any documentation to support the use of sealant?
http://www.mgaguru.com/mgtech/books/spl/spl_1600_n.pdf
Randy
R J Brown

This thread was discussed between 03/03/2010 and 06/03/2010

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