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MG MGA - Radiator Pad?

In the process of doing final fit-up before painting. After checking radiator alignment I put the felt sealing pad in place on the bonnet and noticed that it doesn't sit tight against the radiator at the center. Quite a noticeable gap. Contacts nicely at the edges (grill must be out to check this). I'm wondering if this is because I'm using the later (twin cam) style bonnet that is more arched? The pad is constant cross section, not thicker at the center. Are there two different versions of this pad, one for the old (flatter) bonnet and one for the newer one? Should I put some additional felt in the center to cause it to fit tight to the radiator? Anybody have experience with this problem?

Thanks,
GTF
GT Foster

GTF

Good point. Often wondered why my centre pads keep falling off! Mind you, it was 5 years of driving before I found out that there were such items. Has not made the slightest difference to my cooling - possibly because of the air gap you describe!

Steve
Steve Gyles

Is the twin cam bonnet different than the 1600 bonnet? From photos that I've seen, I know that the twin cam radiators had an air seal built into the top of the radiator. I think the shape of that air seal is covex, which supports your theory.

Regards,
M.D.
'57 Coupe
M. D.

I believe the bonnet shape was modified to cope with the twin cam engine very early in development and all bonnets were then produced the same for all versions.

Pete
Pete Tipping

Gerry,
As Pete said, later A hoods were more concave than early ones, but the felt pad remained the same. So its not unusual for there to be a gap between the radiator and pad in the middle. I drove my A for over 20 years with no pad and never had any cooling problems. I only recently installed the pad for cosmetic purposes. Also the felt will "relax" over time and conform to the radiator a little better.
Bill
Bill Boorse

If that bulkhead is seald everywher else it might be worth it to ad som girth to the center area of the pad, maybe a slice from antother pad since there not that expensive.
Steve
Steve Meline

This thread was discussed between 27/03/2006 and 28/03/2006

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