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MG MGF Technical - Soft top rear screen question

Should a new one zip straight in or does the new zip mechanism have to be stitched in to replace the old?

The dealer i bought the car off was meant to replace the cracked rear screen currently in it, but he reckons a new one wont zip straight in and that the new ones zip mechanism needs to be stitched in.

All help appreciated!
Neil

Depends on.
There was a change in 1997 regarding the zip pitch.
Though I'm not sure but this change I reffer to involves the window size as well.

Anyway, I think no new zip is to be stitched in if it's a later VIN then 'app.' WD024605.

Anyone with direct experiance out there ?

HTH
Dieter
Dieter K.

It's veering off at a bit of a tangeny, I know, but here's a tip for those who live in coastal regions and whose rear screens have gone milky or split.

Contact a sail maker or a boat canopy maker to stitch in a new screen. I did. To be honest the plastic in the new screen isn't as thick as the old stuff but it does the trick. And £25 for replacing a rear screen makes me feel pretty smug.

You can buy a rivet gun from Halfords (£12) and replacement rivets for about £2.
Steven Perkins

Neil,

It will depend on whether you have the MK1 or MK2 hood. The MK1 will have two seams running longitudinally along the top of the hood. If it is the MK1 then you will have to have a new piece of plastic welded in place. However if you have the MK2 then you will be able to purchace a new window for about £150. It does depend on you budget, but IMO I think a whole new zip in window is the better solution.

However if you have a MK1 hood you may consider replacing it with one of MGF Centres replacement MK2 hood, these are ridiculously reasonably priced (I have just got one)and work out cheaper than some companies replacement screens.

Now then if you are really prepared to never have the problem of a broken rear window ever again then splash out for Mike Satur's excellent glass window hood.

Getting back to the question, if you do replace the whole window and zip this really is pretty straight forward, all you need do is drill out the old pop rivets holding the window to the bittom of the hood frame and re-rivet the new window in place. Dead easy.

Tim

tim woolcott

If you just replace the window with its surround, where the new window zips into the exsting half of the zip still in place this is fairly easy, though takes a while, say 1.5 hours min.

However if you want to replace the whole zip this is fair bit more complicated and time consuming. There is a back issue of MG world that shows how to fit Mike Satur's replacement window (plastic) and that shows how to replace all of the zip.

I had a new window stitched in initially and it was a disaster and didn't fit. (Of course i only found this out after i had riveted in). If you are not going for Mike's glass window or a new hood i would recommend going for a new plastic window from Brown and Gammons which depending on Dieters very relevant zip info, just zips into the existing zip, (this is what i ended up doing my 1997 F, with the MK 2 hood). As with all these solutions except the stitched in window (if its not sent away to be done like mine was) it needs to be pop riveted in place, so you have to drill out the existing rivets etc.
Paul

Steve,

where did you get your screen done - as I live in Hampshire and would like to get mine sorted like you did.

Did you have to buy the clear plastic your self or did the sailing company supply it?

Regards,
Mike Gibson
M R Gibson

This thread was discussed between 19/04/2003 and 22/04/2003

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