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MG MGB Technical - Side Molding Install

I need advice on how to install the side moldings. The previous owner had glued on body color vinyl strips that are ugly. I have acquired a set of stainless steel side moldings with the mounting hardware set. The hardware consists of 6 stud plates and a number of pop rivets with cup washers.
Having never seen the original, where do the 6 stud plates w/nuts go? (I would guess trunk).
Do you pop rivet all the washers on, flat side against body?
Fortunately all the holes are OK on the body, my biggest chore is scraping off the silicone sealer the DPO used to make the stick on moldings water tight. Any ideas how to remove hardened silicone beside my finger nails?
Joe

Joe

Yes the cup washers are pop riveted to the body panel from the outer side of the panel, flat side against the panel.

Before snapping the strips on, make sure the studs fit the holes. If this is an original fender then the holes should be easy to spot, they are slight bigger than the 1/8 inch holes for the cup washers.

Three of those studs go on each side. That's one stud per strip. The plate slides on the strip first, the stud is bolted down loosely. Make sure the strip is centered on the panel, because once the strip is snapped down, can be hard to move. Then snap the rest of the strip over the cup washers. When the strip is completely snapped down, go back and snug up the nut on the stud.

The stud positions are, leading edge of front fender (first one behind headlight), next is middle of door, and last is the trailing edge of the rear fender (last one before taillight). Be careful when doing the rears, the end with the slight taper is taillight end.

Safety Fast
Rich
Richard Stinchcomb

Richard,

Thanks for the advice, looks like the only tough part will be removing the door panels, which hopefully won't disintegrate upon removal. I puchased the car in CT nearly 2 years ago.
Joe

My 1977 B roadster just went in the shop for new paint so I'll be doing this in about a month. Any thoughts on trying to seal the rivet holes to help prevent paint pitting in the future. I was thinking about a very small amount of silicone sealant on each rivet as it is put into place. Is this a good or bad idea?
Mike Crowley

Just a thought on pop riveting on fresh paint. Use a soft towel around the head of the rivet tool as they tend to jump when the rivet snaps. What jumps up will come down and if it's on fresh paint, CHIP!
RIC
Ric

Have a look at http://www.mgb-stuff.org.uk/wn_bodyframe.htm and click on 'side trim', too much info to retype here.
Paul Hunt

Thanks, Ric and Paul.

Mike Crowley
Mike Crowley

Hi Mike
When I did this job on my car about 8 years ago I put Waxoyl in the rivit hole and dipped the rivit in Waxoil before installing it and have had no problems with rust even in the west coast of Scotland
Ron
r algie

This thread was discussed between 30/04/2003 and 02/05/2003

MG MGB Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGB Technical BBS is active now.