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MG TD TF 1500 - Gull Wing Bonnet Prop Design

Just completed my TD bonnet prop. The hinge is mounted using a firewall bulkhead bolt. The prop itself is simply a 5/16 in steel rod and the hinge bracket is bent up sheetmetal with sloped hinge ends to clear the top of the bonnet when closed. The rod is located laterally at the hinge so when it swings into a deployed position it clears the horn. It's held in place with washers and cotter pins on either side of the hinge bracket. The bumper end has a size up bushing pinned to the rod with a 5/8 in rubber cane tip. The bumper happens to line up with the footwell bolts when stowed so I made a stowage clip and used one of the bolts to mount it. Since the hinge bracket is held by only one bulkhead bolt, to prevent any rotation in use, I added a small sheetmetal screw through the hinge bracket. Both left and right props can be used simultaneously, holding the bonnet sides open in gull wing fashion. I'm working on a safety feature which would clip the bumper end to the bonnet latch spring in the event wind or a shoulder bump may be a lifting off factor.
Luv working on my TD
Mike
I'm posting a comment for each photo (only way I know how)

Mike I

2nd Photo Prop deployed

Mike I

3rd Photo..Hinge bracket

Mike I

4th Photo...Bumper engaged

Mike I

5th Photo...Stowed bumper clip

Mike I

Beautiful!
Gene Gillam

Great engineering, and totally reversible without any damage to the car. That is perfect. Do you have one on either side?
Bruce Cunha

Thanks Bruce
Yes I installed it on both sides and both sides can be propped open at once.
Mike
Mike I

I understand that you are working on a lift off attachment, but what is going to prevent a Blow Over even if the bumper is attached to the side panel?
Steve
SPW Wincze

Steve
You'll find many prop designs using the same support point. It doesn't tend to collapse. If it is prevented from lifting off the bonnet lock spring, it's pretty stable. Of course, you're not trying to make it stand up to very strong winds. But then again, you wouldn't open it then either. Whatever is done to prevent liftoff is better nothing , which is what most props that use that support point have.
Mike
Mike I

One for a TF

Jan T

J Targosz

With it folded down. Should have put a right angle bend in the rod where it fits into the bonnet catch to prevent the wind catching.

Jan T

J Targosz

The TD device looks good but for the TF I use a lathe (of wood with Vees cut into each edge to locate on the bonnet catches to stop it collapsing.

It works, its cheap and simple.
R J Marshall

I use a couple of wood dowels. Store behind the tool box when not in use.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Mike's design, along with a number of others, can be found on Ttalk at http://www.ttalk.info/bonnet_props.htm Bud
Bud Krueger

Followup: Most props that I've seen where the prop bumper is inserted into the bonnet lock spring, there is no provision to prevent lift-off in the event of an accidental bump of the shoulder or a minor wind gust. This latch has been added to my Gull wing prop design shown in another thread and provides for some protection in the event such occurrences may happen. This is not meant to protect against high winds, under which you should not use the prop in the first place. Improvement suggestions or comments are welcome.
Mike
TD15250


Mike I

perfect solution!
Rgds Mike
Mike Fritsch

This thread was discussed between 14/06/2017 and 05/07/2017

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