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MG MGA - Grab handles

I've just mounted the grab handles on the scuttle, and I find that each side there is a 3/16" gap between the screen side members and the grab handles. If I grit my teeth I can close up the gap, but this puts a stress on the body and the screen. Should there be packing strips here? There is no scope for adjustment that I can see.
Art Pearse

There should be a couple of pads underneath the grab handle, but nothing between the windshield and the grab handle.

The scuttle has captive nuts, can you file out the holes a little to let the grab handle move to the side?
Larry Wheeler

Larry, that may have to be my option. I made some thin pads for underneath to protect the paint, and the captive nuts are gone. I guess the elongation will be hidden. I'm just surprised it doesn't fit right in the first place. Or I could just make up some spacers out of 1/8 aluminium and pull up 1/16 on the screws.
Art Pearse

Art, do you have spacers on the outside of the post in the pocket? When you placed the windshield in the pocket, if there's any left or right movement you should shove a spacer in each side so the windshield doesn't flex (to prevent cracking the glass).

If there aren't any spacers, tightening down the bolts may have pulled the uprights apart causing the problem you're seeing.

Having said that, I didn't have room for spacers in mine, it was tight against the sides from the start. The Moss grab handles I purchased fit fine.
Larry Wheeler

Larry, yes I have an 18 gauge spacer each side to close the gaps between the frame and the supports. These do not affect the gaps I'm seeing at the braces, b/c the frame is a fixed object.
However, I just found that if I shim the inside foot of each brace using a 1/32 piece of sheet gasket, the gap closes up substantially and can be bolted nicely.
Art Pearse

Loosen the windshield side post uprights where they bolt to the car under the dash, then do the grabhandles, then retighten the side posts.

JIM
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This thread was discussed between 01/08/2013 and 09/08/2013

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