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MG MGB Technical - MGB chrome side molding application

My 1980 MGB does not have chrome side molding presently. When the car was painted (previous owner) the side molding holes were filled and the molding was left off. I wish to put new side moldings on my car , but am not sure where to locate the proper position on the side of the car to drill new holes for the clip rivets and stud plates. I have the hardware set and side molding presently. Any help would be greatly appreciated
thanks, WRD
WRD William

The plates with threaded stud go at the front of the front wing trims, the back of the rear wing trims and the centre of the door trims.

The rivets go every 6 inches or so - position so that the top of the trim when fitted is just below the crease line.

When fitting the rivets dip them in some sealant goo or underseal - it will help delay the inevitable rust - which is probably why the PO got rid of the trim in the first place - lets hope you dont find horrors like bondo under the paint...

Chris at Octarine Services

If you find yourself going though anything thicker than a single panel then the rivets in the fitting kit won't lock behind the hole, but expand in it and come loose. I had to use long rivets with the cups that came with the kit. Also if you end up with a large or irregular hole for any reason the same thing will happen, you can get special washers to go behind the panel, which will need the long rivets.

The plates with the threaded studs in the doors are a moot point. Those in the wings are presumably to prevent the ends getting pinged off the cups and spearing the unwary who brush past them, or get brushed past. The ends of the trim on the door are pretty well shrouded by the ends of the wing strips so the stud plates aren't really needed, and being in the middle of the door would seem to defeat the objective anyway. As the car is more likely to be going forwards than backwards, at the front is probably marginally more logical.
Paul Hunt

Thanks for your input Paul and Chris. I'll be sure to check the side panels with a magnet to see if there is any bondo present.
WRD William

My theory is that the plates at the ends of front and rear trims are there to hold the trim against the curve of the wing - the riveted discs aren't up to securing the trim properly there.

As for the door I think the plates are there simply because it is too easy to ping off the trim otherwise - especially the modern trim which is a looser fit.

To be honest if you run into issues of too thick a panel or irregular holes then abandon the riveted discs there and fit additional plates with washers & nuts.
Chris at Octarine Services

Chris, I've had cars come in without the studplates, just the clips and while they seem to hold them on OK one problem they have had is they slide along lengthways easily, particularly the door ones, and get damaged on the ends.
Paul Walbran

I paint all the clips with Hammerite before fitting and when they are on I fill the round ones with body caulking and Waxoyl behind the panels. On my three year old MGB GT in 1981 they were going rusty, but treated like this they last over 30 years.

John.
John Prewer

This thread was discussed between 12/08/2013 and 14/08/2013

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