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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 - Clear side screens

In 2013 I became interested in clear side screens because I find the visibility much impaired by the standard curtains.
I want to thank Allen Atkins and Norm Peacey for the help and advice at that time.

Here we are four years later and it finally came to the top of my list.

After a few trials, I selected a polycarbonate sheet with a sliding window. I made it rigid enough to eliminate any frame thus increasing the visibility.
For the seal between the polycarbonate and the door I use a heavyweight clear vinyl. I fabricated the brackets out of iron flat bars.

We are expecting some rain tonight so I will get a chance to test the project going to and from our monthly car club meeting.

In addition to improving the visibility I hope to reduce wind buffeting when the top is down.

Mort


Mort Resnicoff

Does this eliminate the rear side screen? It's hard to see what this is from the picture. Could you post a pix with someone in the car perhaps? Maybe there is a market out there?

How is this stored in the car when not in use??
Ed
efh Haskell

I started making a set a couple of years ago after seeing the set on TTT2. The move down here totally put the end to that project. I'll be anxious to hear how yours work out. My best to Fredda. BTW, Doris has a white Prius, but it's never under Lazarus. Bud
Bud Krueger

Here are sliding side screens on a Morgan, which I am contemplating a pair for the TF. Using the original frames, they shouldn't be too hard to make. The sliding window would be an asset. With the frame the same size as the original window, they should be easy to store. PJ


PJ Jennings

Ed,
Look close. There is a rear clear polycarbonite side screen.
Mort
Mort Resnicoff

Here is a better photo.

Mort Resnicoff

I think you're trying to make the T into something it's not and it looks it. As far as storage, I don't know about you guys, but I've tried the two variations found in the MG literature to squeeze those side curtains in the rear compartment. One was near impossible and the other takes one helluva job to get them in. With those thick slide window frames and the vinyl overlap seals, storage doesn't look very promising, at least not in the original designated area.
Mike
TD15250
Mike I

You are correct Mike. I have made my TD into something it was not intended to be.

I have made it:
Reliable
Safe to take on modern highways
Improved the steering and handling
Eliminated the oil leaks
Weather-tight
Improved visibility
Comfortable

In summary, it is a pleasure to drive both locally and long distance.

I know that T series owners fall into two basic categories. Those that restore their cars to factory specifications and those that don't.
I am obviously in the "don't" class.
To each his own.

Although I never had a problem fitting my original side screens into the rear compartment I know that the new ones will not fit in.

My next project is to build a case for these side screens.

Gotta have a project.

Mort

Mort Resnicoff

Test drive report:

Yesterday, my wife and I took a 35 mile, back road ride to a wonderful tavern we know.
The outbound trip was with the top down and the side screens in place. We were testing the aerodynamics. The wind buffeting around our heads was vastly improved. We were very pleased.

We knew it was going to rain later so I put the top up when we got to dinner. The trip home was mostly in a heavy downpour. The cab is completely watertight. When necessary the sliding windows provided some air circulation. Once again, we were very pleased.

Mort
Mort Resnicoff



Mort, way to go "Safety Fast" in your own way. Your car, your mods.

Jim
James Neel

Mort,
Far be for me to criticize you. I have followed you on this site and have appreciated your contributions to TD owners. I know that you are an engineer (me too MSME 35 yrs) and have followed your efforts, especially from your TD door adjustment concept to your fuel sensor float fix. As one engineer to another, I'm sure your side curtain window design will work perfectly. I hope you will respond to my future problems as I will need all the help I can get. Glad to hear you were kept dry with your new design.
Mike
TD15250
Mike I

Mort, I like your approach vs. the one from TTT2. How thick is the polycarbonite that you used. I'm thinking of doing the drive to my brother's in Texas in October. The weather uncertainty has me giving thought to your idea. Bud
Bud Krueger

Mort, back in 2013 you did a thread about an approach to prevent billowing of side curtains (Side curtain clips). What did you do on the clear curtains? Bud
Bud Krueger

Bud,
This was a very big and complex project. I have been saving large sheets of cardboard from various shipping cartons. I used this cardboard to make many templates.
Due to the geometry of the various sections of the car and my desire to keep the clear side screens as flat as possible to accommodate the sliding window, I put a bend in the front edge of the front side screen to have that edge butt up against the windshield frame.
Both the front and rear side screens are basically the same contour as the original side screens. I kept the bottom edge about 2 inches short of touching the door or chassis. That section I wanted something soft that would not mar the paint on the car and yet form a good weather seal. For this I used a clear flexible .12" thick vinyl sheet from McMaster Carr.
https://www.mcmaster.com/#1894A855
The basic screen is a 3/16 inch thick polycarbonate (same as Lexan).
Bending the polycarbonate was a little more problematic then I anticipated. I have a 45 year old heat strip that I have used on occasion, to bend acrylic sheets. The polycarbonate was much more difficult to heat. By the time I got it hot enough to bend easily it formed some bubbles. It is fully functional but not extremely professional looking. Polycarbonate can be bent in a brake press. Do a YouTube search. Acrylic is much easier to heat and bend neatly. Acrylic is also more resistant to scratching and easier to polish out the scratches. However, acrylic will crack or shatter on impact and polycarbonate is virtually indestructible.
Right now I have all the brackets off and primed and I will paint them during the week. I will post here a few pictures without the brackets. I can post more later in the week.
As to your question about billowing, these curtains are rigid enough not to billow much but where the plastic meets the windscreen it will rattle when going over bumps and will pull away from the windscreen at speed. To resolve these issues I took some vinyl tubing and slit it open lengthwise and siliconed it in place on the edges of the poly carbonate that touched the car. That resolved the raffle when going over bumps and forms a good weather seal. I also use a small 6 inch bungee cord attached to my sun visor and the Side screen. Pictures later in the week.
If I had known from the beginning how much work and money was involved I probably would have thought twice about this project. It is not the type of project I would recommend lightly.
I will be glad to help with more details and photos when they are reassembled, if you are still interested.
Between gathering the proper material, all the templates, all the trial and error, I doubt that you could be ready for your October run unless you plan on spending full-time on this project.
Mort


Mort Resnicoff

#2

Mort Resnicoff

#3

Mort Resnicoff

Thanks, Mort. You've answered a lot of my questions. The Texas trip is also planned for my brother's 90'th in 2019. That's in mid-May. Worse weather liklihood. Think I'll do October as is. Bud
Bud Krueger

Mort, are a genious. Once again, I am impressed. I see some technical seminars at future GOFs.
Be well,
David
D. Sander

Mort,
Well done as are all of your projects !! Now you will have the side curtain box available for spare parts like an axle half shaft with bearing and nut, torque wrench, gear pullers, etc.!!

Steve
SPW Wincze

This is a picture of the final product just before we left on an overnight trip to Pennsylvania. On Saturday we visited the "America on Wheels" museum in Allentown PA. It is a very nice museum dedicated to the history of the automobile. On Sunday we visited the "National Museum of industrial history" in Bethlehem Pennsylvania. Another great museum dedicated to many of the Great industrial machines that started the industrial revolution.
We had a good weather and great roads but I kept the side screens on to experience their aerodynamics as a windbreaker.


Mort Resnicoff

It looks totally different with the top down.
Gene Gillam

Could you provide the layout you used?
I would like to put my hand to it.

thx

M Grogan

M Grogan,
Let me start by saying that this custom job was difficult and time-consuming. There was a lot of trial and error. It took much longer and it was much more expensive then I anticipated.

For the screens I used a 3/16" thick poly carbonate.
For the seal between the screens and the car; 1/8" thick vinyl sheet.
For the sliding window track; Architectural 6063 Aluminum U-Channel 1/16" Wall Thickness, 3/8" High x 3/8" Wide, 4 Feet Long.
For the brackets; Low-Carbon Steel Bars with Rounded Edges
3/16" Thick, 1-1/4" Wide, 6 Feet Long
1/8" Thick, 1" Wide, 6 Feet Long
For the mounting pin that goes into the door I turned the threads off a stainless steel bolt. Then I drilled and tapped the hex head of that bolt to hold the bracket.

I started with the top up.
Then I made cardboard templates of the screens. I clamped and taped them to the top to get a better picture of the geometry required for the screen.

If you want to pursue this project let me know as up I have several more Photos.
Mort




Mort Resnicoff

Mort,

Thanks. I have placed an order for the
poly carbonate.

This could be helpful in getting my wife in the car more often.
With MS, she can not take the heat too much.
I am building a small CHILLER. With the Almost closed cab, I might be able to get the temp down to around 80 when its 108 out side.
As I get closer in building, I might contact you again.

Again thanks
M Grogan

M Grogan,
As you can see I remove the lower half of the hood on both sides during the summer months.
I know there are many who object to the hot rod look.
It is hard to describe how much more comfortable it is in the cab with the sides off. Almost all the heat that would normally come through the firewall is now dissipated so atmosphere. In addition the increased air flow around the engine keeps the entire engine compartment cooler.
We have driven many, many miles this season and not once, at any ambient temperature, was it uncomfortable in the foot well. This is the case regardless of whether the top is up or down, side curtains on or off, or any combination thereof.
Good luck,
Mort


Mort Resnicoff

Have not tried with sides of hood off yet.
But she needs the top up so she is out of the sun
I did in un-snap the back half and tucked it up under the top. I then tied the back half to hold the top tight. This has really help cool it off a bit.
I would like to close it up and run the chiller and see if that is good for her.
Still working on it as time permits.


M Grogan

Got the full size cut out.
I will cut this one at door seam.
Then built all the brackets that will hold this in place.
there will be 2 flat bar straps holding it up.
The front is cut kind of weird because of the mirrors. I also have wings that goes on the pillar. this will help keep the wind from cutting in and trying to pull the windows outward.

little bit at a time.




M Grogan

OK getting it done... Almost !

Need to find some clear flat vinyl for the bottom edges. And some more screws.

The bottom front is cut to clear the mirror.


M Grogan

another shot.


M Grogan

another shot.
Tried it with my chiller in the car.
Drove 10 miles with outside temp. at 109.
Inside was 82 whish is great.
So now need to clean it up a bit and I would be good to go on a 80 mile trip.
Come winter, the heater will blow us out with the side windows in place.
Only takes less than 5 min. to take off and pack away behind the seat.


M Grogan

This thread was discussed between 02/08/2017 and 10/09/2017

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