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MG MGF Technical - lightweight panels

Does anyone sell aluminium bonnets, boots, wings or doors for the F?
marc h

Nope. Or at least, not as far as I know Marc.

Some glass fibre panels do exist however (MGF Cup bootlid for example).

I did a little searching around when I thought about this last year. Smith and Deakin will fabricate any glass fibre panel so long as you can supply an original for them to make a mould. I didn't ask about alternative materials such as carbon fibre, but if you had the money, I am sure that it could be done.

The next question to ask is "which panels do I want to replace - and how will that help or hinder weight distribution?"

Wherein things get a little sticky. Shedding weight is a great idea. Definitely something that you should think of doing. But most of the panels that you'd think to replace - the bonnet, the front wings etc. are at the front of the car. Given that the MGF already has 60% of its weight over the rear wheels, dropping the mass over the front is only going to make the rearward weight bias more pronounced.

I haven't worked out how much of a difference we are talking about here - or whether it is actually going to be significant in terms of handling and braking (remember a rearward weight bias will mean that you need more braking effort at the rear) - but the potential complications have put me off somewhat...

I actually believe that you can get more of a weight saving by ditching much of the interior trim, sound deadening and replacing the seats with carbon-fibre framed race buckets. Probably at least 40-60kg to be saved that way.
Rob Bell

I noticed some fibre glass MGF doors on Ebay a few days ago.
Steve White

Steve,
That will save some weight all right, but I wouldn't want to receive a whack in the side.

Adrian
Adrian Clifford

Steve - sounds interesting. Have you still got the link archived on your PC?
Rob Bell

Here you go Rob http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=23012&item=7981316924&rd=1
Steve Ratledge

Thanks Steve - you can't argue with 10 quid... ;o)
Rob Bell

Hmm, interesting stuff Rob. Unfortunately I cant loose the interior trim in the MGCC sprint series standard class Im running in although I think I could for Road Going A (?). It would be ok to loose it for the ACSMC class Im in so maybe I'll just have to move up a class next year in the MG series. A glass fibre boot lid may also help. Any ideas where I can get one? As to seats, as per our other thread, I dont think there are any racing seats available that would fit over the floor box section (unless you have found out more about the sparcos?). Take your point about losing weight at the front - and share concerns expressed re side impact and gf doors.
marc h

Spoke to Marvin this morning about seats. He's worried about legal implications of welding a seat to an existing seat frame (probably the easiest/ cheapest solution to mounting an aftermarket seat into an MGF). The anxiety is that if the seat retaining welds were to break in the event of an accident on the road, the insurance company may look to sue the companies/ individuals responsible for the seat installation.

If this were the case, then I'd be equally cautious!

What's your thoughts regarding the legal situation with aftermarket fit seats Marc?

Regarding glass fibre boot lids, drop Marvin a line. He or Roy should be able to either source one for you, or find out who made them originally for the cup cars.

I agree with you - glass fibre doors may not be all that pleasant on a road car - but for a track car makes plenty of sense.

No reason why an intrusion bar couldn't be fitted to this door - not sure whether you could refit windows to it mind - there doesn't appear to be much of an inner door structure to bolt everything on to!
Rob Bell

Marvin is right on the liability point. I wouldnt risk it if I were him. I'll fit the B&G spring kit and see what it feels like. I'll call him re the boot lid - wonder how much weight that would save...?

Wont bother with the doors - still need the windows for those rainy days!
marc h

Marc, thinking about it, Malcolm may have access to some glass fibre panels as well - he too runs MGF Cup cars...!

Marc, what are the legal obligations involved in the fitment of seats? Who'd be liable if I were to fit a pair of seats to my car, using my own torx socket set, that were modified by someone else to fit into an MGF. Would that third party be in any way liable?
Rob Bell

Volvo did some work on pastc parts for 400 series cars. they weighed more than the steel ones!

Rob of course is right. weight reduction good. BUT from the rear! so that's perhaps why it was the bootlid that got the glassfibre treatment!

spoke to a few bods here about carbon fibre...it can be done!

remember what Top Gear did when they stripped out that knackered old XJS!


Neil

I have to say that those doors look very very scary.
I wouldnt fit them unless I could include some sort of crash protection.
Neil

>> spoke to a few bods here about carbon fibre...it can be done! <<

Do they have the facilities there Neil - and can they do a few parts for you if you asked very nicely? :o)
Rob Bell

Rob, depends on whose fault it was that the seats failed. If it was down to your instalation then the supplier / modifier would have no liability. If your instalation was fine but the mod would never have worked then the modifier will be liable. Its for these reasons that motor manufacturers have lots of product liability insurance.
marc h

Hmm. That doesn't sound all that encouraging. :o(

One option would be to get people to sign a waiver - but I suspect that that won't be worth the paper its printed on - especially if the car is sold to another party who then has the 'big off' and alleges he/she knows nothing of any waiver! :o(

Looks like plan Z then... oops, there isn't a plan Z! :o(
Rob Bell

Glass fibre Bonnet http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=23012&item=7982348110&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
Steve Ratledge

Not quite the bargin price as the doors - but nice Steve!!! :oD

I wonder who made it originally?
Rob Bell

rob, you cant exclude liability for personal injury or death caused by negligence so a waiver would not be worth the papaer its written on. In fact its illegal to try and exclude such liability, so such a waiver would be worse than useless.
marc

Thanks Marc - that is useful to know.
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 20/06/2005 and 22/06/2005

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