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MG MGF Technical - Upgrading Mk1 Hardtop Catches

Hey All,

Anyone happen to know whether it's possible to upgrade MKI catches on a hardtop to MKII. I'm fedup with having to put bits of sponge everywhere to avoid paint work damage. Would I have to upgrade the seals as well or would the catch upgrade do the job?

I've had a quick look in the archive and, although I do remember reading about it somewhere, couldn't manage to find the thread. Any ideas on where I could buy the catches? Mike S doesn't appear to have them on his website.

Cheers all and enjoy the sun whilst it lasts,

Jon.
Jon

Jon

Why do you need to put 'bits of sponge' everywhere?

I have a hardtop with the MK1 catches and I don't have to do this.

Just as a matter of interest has your hardtop got the correct seal - a sort of tubular rubber stuff, similar to that round the doors OR the original foam draft-stop which was replaced by my dealer FREE OF CHARGE back in '97. Also does it have the two large rubber pads that sit on the car and hold the top clear of the bodywork.

Ted

Ted Newman

Mine doesn't.

Now have nice neat scuff marks where the hard-top was rubbing all winter.

Wonder if there's a part number for this rubber?

Wonder if anyone on this BBS has it to hand ;-)

paul weatherill

Paul,

Sorry I don't have the part number to hand, but I had the same problem with my hard top. I, like you, did not manage to get a free up-grade and so bought the seal from MGR about 30 quid I think. Once fitted you won't have the scuffing problem any more, and really you don't need to have the MKII clamps. However, I found that one the new seal was in place the hard top just didn't fit around the windows any more. So, in addition to the bottom seal you'll need to get a new set of window seals (MKII) too. Now fitted the roof is water tight and has less squeaks when fitted. For the seals I would give Victoria a call, she's bound to have some.

Tim
tim woolcott

<<Also does it have the two large rubber pads that sit on the car and hold the top clear of the bodywork.>>

Does anyone have a picture of these rubber pads showing where they fit?

Bruce
Bruce Caldwell

Deiter has a lot of information on upgrading the catches and seals.

Bruce, pads are shown near the bottom of this page (from Dieter's site)

http://216.239.39.104/translate_c?hl=de&langpair=de%7Cen&u=http://www.mgfcar.de/hardtop/index1.htm&prev=/language_tools
David Clelland

Can't get the link to work. Try http://www.mgfcar.de/index.htm and then look for "hardtop" on menu on left.
David Clelland

Thanks David, Should have thought of Dieter's site.

Bruce
Bruce Caldwell

Hi,

direct is http://www.mgfcar.de/hardtop/convert.html

I did my 96 HT to a newer MGF without changing the catches. It doesb't rub paintwork at the rear where these rubberpads are, but on one of both sides.

See the gap on both side, left and right.
http://www.mgfcar.de/hardtop/dcp_1675.html
http://www.mgfcar.de/hardtop/dcp_1674.html

The right hand side would be better with the newer design catches.

btw. at the rear happens nothing. These mentioned rubber pads never meet the chrome bars. But theres a 5mm clearance between chrome bars and rubber pad.

HTH
Dieter
PS. the site is though mainly due to giving ideas for sealing changes at the windows.
Dieter K.

Jon,

It's no difficult at all, but change both the catches and the seals if the latter have the old sponge version across the rear of the hardtop.

Have a look at

http://www.apttony.co.uk/Servicing/HardCatches.html

There is also a page about the seals as well.

Tony
Tony Thompson

This thread was discussed between 04/08/2003 and 08/08/2003

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