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 MGA - Hood header rail..preserving

Just got a couple of new ash hood rails from Moss UK. I'm looking to coat these with some sort of preservative, or does ash not need it? What have others done?
Gary Lock

Check they fit first, I had to get one elsewhere and return the Moss one because the end holes were in the wrong place
Dominic Clancy

Thanks Dominic..yep, all good with fit.
Gary Lock

I don't have a hood, but, for the floorboards, I immersed them in "Thompsons Water Seal" for a week, before letting them dry and painting them. Might be worth a try on the rail? Alternatively, some timber decking preservative?

Regards
Colin
Colin Manley

Aspen isn't great wood for holding screws over the long term. I can't recall if there are screws into the wood or if they are only tacks.

If there are screws you might want to consider bedding them with epoxy. The process is a bit of a PITA.

Drill out the hole in the desired location to the diameter of the largest screw thread.

Coat the screw with wax as a release agent. A wax toilet ring works well.

Put epoxy in the hole.

Screw/Push the screw into the hole to the desired depth.

Clean excess.

Let set. After the epoxy has set, back the screw out.

I've had to do this on the window cranks all over the house and it works well.
Tysen McCarthy

Tysen, it's ash, not aspen! Ash is hard.
Art Pearse

Yep, Ash is hard, even harder than Oak. But it doesn't hold up to moisture as well so the screw holes can degrade.

Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things just offering up ideas.
Tysen McCarthy

Gary,read this http://www.rotdoctor.com/products/cpes.html
it's not just for rotten wood. I realize that the small amount and the shipping would not be worth it but you can make a similar product by using an epoxy resin, mixing it with it's activator and then thinning it with acetone. I have used the rot doctor product in my other vice,picture included

gary starr

Thanks Gary. Nice looking boat...is it a classic? Also love the air horns.
Gary Lock

Yes Gary, it's a 1969 Correct Craft Mustang SS powered by a Holman Moody Ford 302. Like my MGA it followed me home ;)
gary starr

This thread was discussed between 22/02/2017 and 23/02/2017

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGA BBS now