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MG MGA - Boot lid catching

Hi.
Having a problem with my re-skinned boot lid (trunk), which catches the rear (hinge) edge when opened. I've tried various things such as packing the hinge mount plate and bending the hinge in (& upwards) but none of this has made much difference.

I'm using the boot seal with the hollow core but the lid seems to seat too low when closed, meaning it has too far to travel before it clears the edge of body.

Not sure whether to pack this seal or pack the hinge plate some more?

Chris

Some pics attached.

Chris Bond

Catching when opened

Chris Bond

Packed hinges

Chris Bond

Fortunately I had no trouble with my boot lid but I did have with the bonnet. My bonnet was lower than the surrounding body and catching on opening. I raised the bonnet rear by packing under the bonnet buffers and moved the bonnet to increase the (windscreen edge) gap. Packing under the hinges made no difference.
I would try raising the height of the boot seal first at the top edge by putting a strip of something (foam?) underneath. Also move the boot lid away from the top edge as much as you can to stop the catching.
One thing I thought of trying on my bonnet hinges was to use rigid tapered (front to rear) packing but I didn't need to try this and therefore don't know whether it would work.................................Mike
m.j. moore

Chris, you need to either bend the hinges or just pack the two holes at the hinge end, so that the lid is at an angle to the hinge. Packing evenly just means the hinge doesn't move as far! (OK just for any pedants there will be a very small change in angle, but not significant enough to noticeably alter the height of the lid)

Try bending the flange of the hinge down slightly where the single bolt passes through into the lid and sticking a couple of washer between hinge and lid for the other two. You will see how much you need to pack/bend to get just the height you need.

I had exactly the same problem and this worked perfectly for me. I wasn't strong enough, or brave enough to bend the hinges using the lid!
Neil McG

Thanks for the comments re: angle packing! I have to apply that to my bonnet lid.
Art Pearse

Thanks Guys.

I'll try both and let you know.

Chris.
Chris Bond

Damn damn damn...(not the words I used in the workshop but there is no moderator in there)

In trying to to this, I've stripped the thread of one of the captive nuts in the bootlid.

It is the rear most one on the bracket, so my question is what the best way to repair it?

I'm thinking of drilling out the spot welds and bending back the bracket to access the nut holder, then lifting the edge of the nut holder to access the nut.

Does that make sense?

Chris.
Chris Bond

Drill out and tap next size up?
Art Pearse

These 10-32 nuts and cages are a nightmare!
I think I would grind away a half of the plate complete with dud nut and cage and weld back in a new piece with new nut and cage...............Mike
m.j. moore

In other more accessible locations you an bend up one side of the cage to replace the square nut,but not here.

A "clean" repair would be to grind out the spot welds to remove the plate holding the three cage nuts, then bend open the cage to replace the damaged nut, re-close the side of the cage. Plug weld the plate back in place, grind smooth, and repaint.
Barney Gaylord

Chris, maybe a self tapping sheet metal screw would work. They are available with a hex head so the replacement wouldn't be noticed...

George
G Goeppner

Job done - thank you all, your suggestions worked a treat.

Boot lid now fits without catching.

Chris.
Chris Bond

Cris, so what did you end up doing?
Art Pearse

This thread was discussed between 06/10/2013 and 15/10/2013

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