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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Quarterlights

I have a car where I am asked to renew the seals on the quarter lights - does this mean dismantling the doors? How long can I expect to take to do this (I have good dexterity and don't have hands like frying pans) - I know it is likely to be coupled with blood and swearing!

I'm grateful for ALL tips and secret methods..... and tool recommendations (can never have too many tools)

dominic clancy

Welcome back buddy, you have been missed.

Dude ... if its not your car, BAIL !!!

Thank god, ive not had to do this, but it dosnt look like fun... id try some black silicone 1st and just smear over the top using masking tape and see if that works 1st

Next ive often wondered to my self if you cant just slightly adjust the triangle up, tear out the old and cut the new seal on the cockpit side, then slide the new (cut) seal around the area that is goes, add some silicone and call it day.

If you really have a strong desire to be someones boy toy sex slave and have to do this there is a great how to artical on the

Mg experiance web site under " library " ibcant remember the name of the artical but its something like door assembly/disassembly its written by Dave ( O' neal ??) Its a great article, and well written...my apologies to the author, the spirit is willing but the brain is fried...haha

But I do think the door has to be removed and the guts have to come out because that idiot triangle has a huge tail that goes the length of the door

Another simpler and probably cheaper time wise solution would be to find a fully complete door, and just repaint it to match the car, hang the door, adjust the door,shut the door... done 1 hour tops, simple and
easy

Let us know what happens... but really, but the guy a steak at your favorite truck stop/bar and talk him out of this freddie crouger nightmare ... or help him find a body shop thats stupid enough to.take. this one, I love my MG friends, but im not doing this project for any of them, there on there own... its okay to say no, I have to wash my hair, (sorry I forgot, i meant polish my bald head... haha)

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Finally something Prop and I agree on :-)
Walk away if you can....
If you can't, try the cut and shut around the pivot point as Prop suggests (wish I had on my B!).
If you must do it right you'll probably end up renewing the pivot pin, stainless self-tapping screws and various nuts, bolts, springs and seals.

No special tools AFAIK but be prepared to spend a great number of hours (well at least 4hrs).

Best of....
MGmike
M McAndrew

Here is the link

Its written by norm kerr... sorry about that

In the library section there are a number of articals about MGB window seals so that may be of some value im not sure how similar they are... but I think this artical by norm will get you "in the door,"

http://www.mgexp.com/article/spridget-door-assembly.html

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

No special tools AFAIK but be prepared to spend a great number of hours (well at least 4hrs).


MGmike,

4 hrs... haha, I think you mean thats the time needed at the doc office getting a tetanus shot, blood top up, and stitches from all the sharp edges inside the door... :-)

I spent about 2 days per door when I rebuilt mine... and would have easily qualified for the loon house when finished


Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Just finished refurbishing mine. The door was completely stripped but I think it might be possible to remove the 1/4 light on its own. I think you would need to remove the screws holding the rear window channel and perhaps the regulator as well to allow the glass to move far enough rearwards to come out of the front channel. Access is ok so you shouldn't lose as much blood as you would in a complete door rebuild.

If the lights open and shut freely then you should be ok with the swivel pins, mine were very stiff but freed off with a bit of effort. You shouldn't need to disturb the self tappers BUT be aware that if you snap the stud plates (I broke all four) these are £8 odd each and not available currently. I ended up having to make stud plates.

All in all it might be worth trying to cut the seal to go round the swivel pin but to be honest it is not a job I would be volunteering to do on someone else's car.

Cheers Bill
W Dunsmore

Thanks for the tips - much as I expected, and I hate doing doors anyway.

The owner will pay me by the time I spend on it, I just want to warn him of what it's likely to be. But the old seals are really perished and he does drive the car long distances, so they do need doing.

I also have to sort out the door locks both sides, so the doors are coming apart anyway. The car is an import from the USA, not rusty but lots of small things wrong (like no anti-rattle bits under the gearstick which is driving him mad but easily sorted)

Is there any source for the gaskets under the front fender orange side markers (US spec car) ?
dominic clancy

Ooohhh,

If your also doing door locks and handles... and doing this paid by the hour, Id find good complete doors and repaint, I think you will be a head of the game time and money

As to the side markers... this is mine, 1971 usa spec ... it has a thick plactic between the assembly and the wing, ( fender? yeah now your speaken american lol ) and there is a 2nd thinner gasket between the holder and the amber plastic lens... btw, check that the amber lens is glued tight, or you get my lens... mine just fell apart and 1/2 off in traffic about a year ago, I didnt know what the sound was till several days later, (safety fast, its an MG) lol

1 0f 2 photos

Sorry... ill have to up load the 2 photos later, the super slow, unreliable sprint network is crying like a little worthless bit#h at the moment



Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Lets see if sprint has stopped being a looser for 5 minutes

Photo 1

Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Here is the photo you can see the thin black rubber gasket thur the broken amber lens that seperates from the chrome housing and the amber lens

Prop and the Blackhole Midget

It seems to be missing the plinths, so I will see if I can find them on Moss USA (unless someone can give me a part number.....)
dominic clancy

Hi Dominic,
I have used Sugru to repair the 1/4 light rubbers on my Jag. It seems to have worked very well. The rubbers were split, not too badly though. May be worth a go.

https://sugru.com/

How do you make links clickable?

Dave
Dave Brown

Clickable....manually single handedly, with superhuman intelligence ripping out the ""S"" from https ... take that superman !!!

Im such a techhy Manly man... haha

https://sugru.com/

VS.

http://sugru.com/


Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Nice, I like it even better then using black silicone and smearing it over the old seal that I had suggested... looks like great stuff, Im looking forward to it comming to the states.

Thanks for posting that

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Dave, that stuff looks great.
Prop. If you read all the stuff on the link,it seems like it's already in the U.S.
Bernie Higginson

This thread was discussed between 24/08/2015 and 26/08/2015

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