MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Hood frame

Can anyone identify these hood frames? I discover I have 2. First photo one has the spring legs, which is almost correct for a Frogeye, but not quite as it comes apart in the middle. I think that was introduced for the MK2 cars, unless some late MK 1 Sprites had that feature? Mine is a Sept. 1960 car.

The other mystery one doesn't have the spring legs and the hinging mechanism is more complex with extra levers. But it's the same width between the mounting brackets so also fits my car. Any idea what this fits? MGA perhaps?

Both need refurbishing and painting the correct colour.





GuyW

Guy. The second picture looks very much like my Mk3 Sprite hood frame, which splits in the middle.

The end of the frame that fits into the mounting tube at each side has a slight bend on it which "leans" it backwards. Pull down the overcentre bit which closes up the two bows, push them forward to fit the hood, then push the rear one backwards and push the overcentre part back up to stiffen the hood.
My friend Les Robinson's mk2 has a frame which splits in the middle and has the springs as in first picture.

Bernie.
b higginson

Yes my Mk2 Sprite frame looks like picture 1.
As Bernie says, it is in two halves.
Les
Les Robinson

That's what I have then, a MK 2 frame with the spring legs, which I will use, although mine is a MK1 car. I think the only difference is that is a 2 part version when it should be a single unit.

The other, with the more complex hinging and no sprung legs, is for a MK3 car. Were there any advantages in use?
GuyW

The mk3 hood, unlike the Frogeye and mk2 has a header rail which clips to the windscreen, so you erect the frame, then the hood is held at the back by a shaped bar in a sleeve locating into two lugs on the rear deck. Then you pull the hood forward, attach the header rail to the screen, then tighten the hood by the overcentre bars and several tenax and press studs.
It was supposed to be an improvement on the mk2, but I disagree. If ever Les and I are out together and the hoods need to go on, he always has his done before me.
Les will say that it's my age that makes me slower than him, but I say it's the hood design. The later cars with the fold down hood are easier, but I prefer the clean lines of the earlier cars, especially the mk2 when the hood is stowed in the boot.
b higginson

Guy your right, the later mk1 and mk11 sprite frames are the same apart from the mk11 being split. This was because the mk 1 frame is stored in the rear deck behind the seats. On the mk11 the deck is cut away so it was split to go in the boot. The early Mk1 cars had a different screen and it was not sprung.
Bob Beaumont

Well, at least I know which one to refurbish. I might even tack weld the 2 parts together since I already have the stowage boxes fitted on the rear heelboard.
GuyW

good idea it should make it more rigid!
Bob Beaumont

Actually one of the inserts where they join at the top has sheared off. It will be easier to weld it together than figure out how to remove the remnants and make a new insert!
GuyW

This thread was discussed on 31/12/2020

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS now