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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - have I got the wrong hood frame?

In my haste to be ready for May, I couldn't find my hood frame, so I bought one off ebay which was advertised as a 64 midget frame.

My car is an october 64 with detachable roof and wind up windows.

The frame which arrived does not "telescope" upwards to provide tension in the same way that the frame on my 62 midget did.

This frame also seems to make the hood sit too high, so high in fact that I cannot get the hood to fit onto the rear deck.

So have I bought the wrong frame?

John


John Collins

Also an idea of it with the roof slightly in place.


John Collins

John, mine's an October '64 Midget and I have to say that your first image looks like the same hood as mine - which is the correct item.

If I've got time I'll try to remember to check tomorrow.

Philip
Philip Sellen - MKII Midget 1964

John, it looks like the correct one to me. The Mk1 Midget / Mk2 Sprite is NOT the same as the Frogeye and is a two piece frame very similar if not the same as you have in your pictures.

Mark.
Mark Boldry

John that is how Lara's real hood frame looked when I (Blush...) gave it away, back in 1990

In my favour though I didn't know you would need it did I?

Gave it to a chap in the Lye/Stourbridge area, but can't remember where

I remember he gave me lots of useful stuff as a thankyou though

I did not see any push up feature on it
Bill

I've just been out to the garage to check - it's not even started snowing here! This isn't the same as the Mk1 Midget / Mk2 Sprite frame, which lacks the pantograph bit at the bottom.

There is a good pic of the Mk II Midget / Mk III Sprite frame top right of p. 78 of 'Horler', which certainly looks like what you've got there.

The resulting hood is strikingly upright and square, unlike any other model of Spridget. Which begs the question, I suppose: have you got the right hood?

All part of the joys...

Tom
Tom Coulthard

Thanks for all the above info, I will just have to mess about with the hood on the header rail end and see what I can sort out!

More important things to do on the car really first rather than be messing with a hood!

Thanks
John
John Collins

just looking at my frame and this dont match my 64 or my 62 midget
c bullock

Sorry it's taken so long to get back John, but here is an internal shot of my hood frame in place.

I hope this confirms your frame one way or another.

Philip


Philip Sellen - MKII Midget 1964

Philip,

thanks for the picture, thats the same frame as I have, so I guess that its wrongly fitted at the header rail end? perhaps off a car with bad sills? (I bought the hood with another dismantled car!)

John
John Collins

Yup, only the sidescreen cars have the telescoping frame.
Jeremy Cogman

You learn something every day. I did not know there was a model with a combination of rigid hood sticks and header rail. How long did that last, before the folding hood and frame appeared?
Nick

End of '66 Nick

Octoberish

Bill

Mind you John, I always put the top on by inserting the frame in the sockets - leave the rear bow tucked in towards the highest/rigid part of the frame - bring the hood over and locate against the windshield.

Then, with the header rail located and locked in position, I push the rear bow out until I can lock it in its correct position.

I think this is somewhat easier than trying to stretch the hood over the fuly opened out frame.

Might be worth giving it a go if you haven't already tried this?

Philip
Philip Sellen - MKII Midget 1964

Well I never. Thanks Bill.
Nick

Philip,

thanks for the tip! I tried to fit the hood as you say, and it fits much better now, I'm well impressed.

Regards,
John

Pics to follow at weekend
John Collins

This thread was discussed between 05/04/2008 and 10/04/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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