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 - Rear Hood Tack Rail

Do I cover the rear hood tack rail with a separate piece of vinyl or is there a single, longer, piece that also covers the semi vertical face of the top body rail. If it is the former do I use dome head screws with cup washers to secure the rail. If it is the latter do I sandwich the vinyl under the tack rail with the vinyl facing backwards and then pull it over the rail and glue it to the semi vertical face.


Cheers

Jan T
J Targosz

Jan, Are you speaking of a TF or TD? PJ
Paul S Jennings


Here is what moss says.


The corner tacking pieces for the convertible top should be covered with some of the bulk vinyl and installed first. These corner pieces were originally upholstered with a flap extending down into the body tub and tacked to the wood just above the wheel arches.
The top of the wheel arches and the top back rail (through which the gas tank strap bolts pass) were originally padded with felt. Reuse it if you can. If the felt is gone or deteriorated to the point where it cannot be used, 1/4” foam may be used.

The top back rail and the long section of the top tacking strip should be covered together. The screws for the tacking strip should be concealed under the vinyl which makes for an interesting challenge for the installer. The end of the loose material is tacked to the underside of the uninstalled tacking strip. After screwing the tacking strip into position, bring the material up, over and down the front side of the top back rail and tack it into position in the underside of the rail.
The gas tank strap bolts (originally painted) may now be reinstalled.

Here is what I did.
Your mileage may vary.

I started by coating the bottom and outside of the wood with contact cement, Not the top or the inside yet.
I coated the vinyl entirely with contact cement.
I stuck the vinyl to the bottom of the wood.
I then fastened the wood to the car with FH screws.
I then pulled the vinyl up and stuck it to the vertical surface smoothing it as I went with a heat gun.
I coated the top and the inside with two coats of glue also coating the underneath of the inside car frame wood.

I worked the Vinyl around the top and down the entire face of the inside lapping it under the inside wood.

Thus the screws are entirely hidden.

Jim B.



JA Benjamin

It is the latter. Rail is put in place with countersunk wood screws, then fabric pulled over. I would give pics , but camera broke.

... CR
C.R. Tyrell

The TF is slightly different as the corners, they are a full 90 degrees. The long piece has square ends. The corners look like a real bear to cover. I'm not there yet and in no big hurry to do them. PJ
Paul S Jennings

The TF is done quite differently to the TD, the pieces are covered separately with the screws showing.

Matthew.

M Magilton

Thanks everyone especially Matthew. A picture certainly paints a thousand words. Found some useful ones on the Original MG TF site - section on reupholstery - but they all show the lower part of the rear panels. I still have a few original bits and pieces including the rear quarter panels. How people manage with "off the shelf" replacements beats me. My original panels ALMOST fitted the rebuilt body but the almost meant the front edge fouled the door and the top rear corner was above the body panel.


Jan
J Targosz

Jan, I suspect that you're going for original so this suggestion will be heresy but consider forgoing the vinyl altogether, sanding and polishing the wooden tack rail, adding a bit of stain and showing off the beauty of wood. Just another alternative. Jud

J K Chapin

You might consider Jud's suggestion. I finished my TF refurbish this summer. The rear hood tack rail was possibly the most difficut, troublesome part of the job. I bought new wood. I first had to do quite a bit of shaving and plane work to make the wood fit. Then, covering with my rexine/vinyl was an absolute bitch of a job.
I drilled holes with countersunk heads. They are exposed as Matthew showed.

Tom
'54 TF
T Norby

I'm glad to see this thread. My TF has a tonneau, but no top, so the top rail is just painted metal. I have considered making the wood trim and covering it with biscuit/tan vinyl, but haven't yet started that project. My next step is carb removal and shipment to ?? for restoration. I'm considering Joe Curto, or Rocky Mountain Roadsters.
Cheers,
Frank
Frank Bice

Frank, who are Rocky Mountain Roadsters? Never heard of them. I personally would have Joe Curto do them and you know your getting a professional job. SU carbs, especially the models on the T series should be rebuilt by people who know H2 & H4 carbs. Never heard of those other people. JMHO. PJ
Paul S Jennings

This thread was discussed between 21/11/2014 and 24/11/2014

MG TD TF 1500 index

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