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MG MGA - Batten

There is a wood batten mentioned in connection with the door trim. Where does it go and what shape is it?
Art Pearse

Art

See here. Barney has it covered (my fingers) : http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/interior/int103a.htm

Steve
Steve Gyles

Thanks Steve! That makes sense as my h/m panel was bowing in at the area.

Next question - at what height is the botttom of the door pocket? I cut out Barney's pattern for the pocket backpiece, and if I let it drop all the way, it looks too low - can see all the rubbish paint above it.

Art Pearse

I made up the two battens 1" wide and I didn't think they gave enough support for the trim panel. So I used a straight edge across the door to see what gap there was and remade a pair 2" wide by 18" long to suit. The section came to 1/4" x 3/4".
I toyed with the idea of making them slightly dished which would have given even better support but in the end didn't bother.
Space them from the top so that there will be no interference from the long fixing screws on the cockpit rails.........................Mike
m.j. moore

Missed the door pocket question. I got my dimensions from looking at pictures of original trim and scaling. Ellman-Brown's car in Clausager is a good example.
The width of the pocket is determined by the steel strengthening strip across the pocket bottom. The turned over section is 15" long and I estimated the radius of the cornerto be 1" so I made my pocket hole width 15 + 2R = 17".

The top of my steel brace was fixed 7.5" from the door bottom and the left hand side of the lip was 6.5" with the RHS being 7.5" from the rh edge of the door. So basically the bottom edge of the pocket is 7.5" from the door bottom. The top of my pocket was about 3.75" from the top of the door...............Mike
m.j. moore

Mike, did you make the pocket wider at the front (hinge) end of the door as there seems to be about 1/2" more gap there?
Art Pearse

" So basically the bottom edge of the pocket is 7.5" from the door bottom. The top of my pocket was about 3.75" from the top of the door"
Mike - this would put the floor of the pocket flush with the panel opening! Did you mean this?
Art
Art Pearse

The floor of the pocket sits on the bottom of the opening in the steel door shell. There should be a downward bent flange on the floor of the pocket that will be screwed to the face of the door shell. Then the steel reinforcing bar as screwed to the door, followed by installation of the panel. You need to use the panel as a guide to determine height position of the reinforcing bar, as there is variation in replacement panels.
Barney Gaylord

OK thanks Barney, so as low as it can go.
How is the flange "screwed" to the door shell? it is only cardboard. How do the screws hold fast?
I made the backer board from your pattern, but if it sits all the way down, there is a lot of paint visible.
Art
Art Pearse

Sorry Art I thought you were asking about the panel opening. My 'pocket' dimensions wouldn't help you as I made them up as four sided,enclosed wooden boxes with hardboard backs...............Mike
m.j. moore

Ok Mike, I understand the arrangement having found the right pic on the guru site.
But I'm doin something similar to you. 1/2" ply floors and ends, with steel flat plates to attach to the door instead of cardboard flanges.
Art Pearse

This thread was discussed between 26/03/2014 and 27/03/2014

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