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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Frogeye hood

About to order a hood for my Frogeye, having deliberated over it for far too long!
I assume, and as far as I can tell, they do not come with the front bar that hooks the hood fabric into the windscreen chanel (2 stud screen).

Is there much to this bar? I have never seen what they look like. Is it worth making one as I do have access to free supplies of steel and aluminium bar in most stock sizes. I assue that the section and fit is quite critical so that it fits snugly into place and won't pop out as soomn as I go over 60mph!
GuyW

Guy, front bar is very easy to make. Hopefully someone will give some dimensions but I definitely wouldn’t buy one.

My new hood didn’t come with one.
John Payne

The rear bar is a different matter, I definitely would buy one instead of making your own!

John Payne

The front bar is I guess 3/8 x 1/8 flat bar cut to length. If you use the ‘black’ steel you get nice rounded off edges so you don’t even need to de burr it along the long edges.
John Payne

So is it just a straight piece, or is it curved, like a long thin banana?
GuyW

I could send you photos of my 5 year old Don hood, seams leaked at 3-4 years old, too short from new and them fitting it, and shrinking now, edging strips cracking.

Or it could just be me, a one-off sour grapes customer - but Bernie also moaned about his Don hood not long after getting it, so just the two of us!
Nigel Atkins

Have you investigated having a bespoke hood made. A local upholsterer made mine over 25 years ago. Superb fit draught free. He told me, at the time, that it would outlast him: it has.
Alan

Alan Anstead

I have 2 front bars. They both measure 36 1/4" long and 1/2" wide. One is about 1/16"thick, the other is about 3/32". They both came out of old. I think the thinner one is a repro as the one in the car is the thicker one. The ends are rounded.

My hood came custom made by a trimming company in East Sussex and is like Alan's quite draught free. However its only 5 years old!
Bob Beaumont

Thanks Bob. Certainly enough detail there to make up a bar. From reading elsewhere I also understand that for a good fit the bar thickness may need to be matched to the type of hood material used, some being thicker than others.

When you both talk of "bespoke" and "custom made" I presume this means that the upholsteror would need to have the car in order to get the specific fit right. I know a local sadlemaker but I don't think we have any upholsterors around here these days.

A thought though, there is a sailmaker at Windermere. They probably do boat covers and awnings.
GuyW

In my case, they had an original NOS hood they used as a pattern. But given the hood design is not that wonderful even when new (why did they have drain holes in the floor!!) they had the car in to adjust it accordingly.
Bob Beaumont

Guy
A sailmaker make a bespoke bag for my Sebring Sprite sidescreens and a local club member's son, who makes boat awnings, has made tonneau covers and recovered seats for local Masc members. Worth asking your sailmaker.
Alan
Alan Anstead

The front bar is shaped to fit in the slot. It bends gently to fit the curve of the screen.
When you slide it into the pocket don't forget it will be upside down when you slot it into the windscreen so get the curve correct or it will be difficult to engage the slot.
Rob
MG Moneypit

My front bar wasn't curved, just straight bar. It fits nicely in the screen though is very tight.

I think it would be a good idea as suggested to wait till you have your hood as they are (and need to be) a very snug fit in the pocket.

John Payne

This thread was discussed between 14/10/2020 and 15/10/2020

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