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 TD TF 1500 - 51 TD convertible top project - padding question

Ok, the weather has cooled down here in Tucson so I'm back to work on the MG. Today I reinstalled the convertible frame. When I took it out, the holes in the body were trashed so I filled the screw holes with epoxy and redrilled them. I took the frame down to bare metal and primed and repainted. Purchased a new top wooden rail and bent it to the right curve and mounted it to the frame with new brass screws. Everything looks pretty good. The next step is to wrap the front top wooden rail with the canvas front piece.
My question is: what do people recommend to use as a weatherseal between the wood and the cloth on the underside of the wooden rail where it matches to the windshield? I've read of foam and fiber padding, but was wondering what others have used. I was thinking maybe some of that rubber weatherstop material that has grooves and is used on the underside of doors might work well... suggestions, anyone?

Here's a pic of the current project...

Geoffrey M Baker

I haven't got that far yet Geoff but re bending the timber so that it mirrors the curve on top of the windshield, I was advised to leave the timber a bit straighter than the top of the windscreen so that when the top is pulled down onto the screen & secured it forms a tight seal. Apparently this is why the timber from Moss at any rate has less of a curve than the top of the screen. This is what gives you the seal. I have also read of people bending the timber to follow the curve but as I said I've been advised against it, which does seem to make sense. Not sure what you would use to pad the bottom of the rail however. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

I heard that too, Peter; which is why mine is also a little straighter...
Geoffrey M Baker

I don't plan on ever driving in real rain so I skipped the padding. I also left the wood bare on the side that the frame screws to just 'cause I thought the wood looked good. To each his/her own. Jud
J K Chapin

I put some sponge rubber down on the wood and the wrapped the whole thing with the fabric. Enough cushion to form a nice seal and it doesn't show.
MG LaVerne

I decided to go with a vinyl strip which had a tube on one side... like a lower case d turned horizontal. It allowed me to run two strips on either side and staple it easily into place. When I lock the convertible frame down to the windshield, the clothwrapped wooden rail fits very comfortably and snugly over the windshield now with no gaps... so far so good! No I've just got to "dart" the ends...
Geoffrey M Baker

This thread was discussed between 11/10/2014 and 12/10/2014

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG TD TF 1500 BBS now