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MG MGB Technical - Help with the Top Cover

I have a 1968 mgb roadster to which I've fitted a 1971-on folding frame top. I was wondering how does the tonneau bar fit? I don't see any places for it to slide in. I don't currently have tonneau bars, just curious before I bought them to make sure they would work. Thanks for the help.
Jack Caulder

Jack;

It is an either/or proposition. You either mount the folding frame convertible top, or you mount the tonneau with the bar. They both use the same mounting points for the frame/bar and the hood/tonneau mounting studs.
Ron Kluwe

So how do put a top cover on a car with a folding frame? I've seen pictures of cars with folding frames with top covers in Clausager's book...
Jack Caulder

Jack,
Do you mean the bar that fits just in front of the top when it is folded? The bar I'm thinking of is made in 2 pieces that fit together and helps to support the top cover (boot) at the front so it won't rub on the plastic windows of the folded top and gives a neater appearance to the top cover when installed. It also helps to support thr tonneau cover in that area. If that is what you mean, it slips into 2 slots that are located on the mounting assembly for the top frame where it screws to the sides of the car The slots are about 3/16" or so wide and about 1" to 1-1/4".

Ralph
Ralph

There should be a plate either side with three holes - bolted on with the same three bolts that hold the hood frame - the plate goes between the hood frame and the car and has a socket on top to take the tonneau rail.
Chris at Octarine Services

I do mean the bar that fits in front of the top when it is folded to help support the top cover. It seems I'm missing the plate that goes between the hood frame and the car. Can someone confirm the part I need is Moss part #472-330, if that's not correct please let me know the part I need? Thanks so much for the help.
Jack Caulder

Jack

That is it. It is called "SOCKET, top frame & tonneau bow" and is used both for the tonneau bow and the pack away top frame.

Larry
Larry Hallanger

Just as a warning, the replacement sockets sold today are not correct. They sit too low. If you use them with a stowaway frame they will allow the frame to hit the body and scratch the paint. You should be fine with the folding top.
Steve Simmons

Just confirming that if you've got the later-model folding frame, there's no problem using the tonneau bars simultaneously. (If you've got the sockets, that is!)
Kim de B

And if you position the toneau bars *in front* of the seats when using the cover as a full length cockpit cover (and not just as a hood cover) it ensures that any rainwater runs off to the sides instead of pooling in the middle and dripping through the zip.
Paul Hunt

Thanks for the help - this forum is great.
Jack Caulder

This thread was discussed between 09/01/2004 and 12/01/2004

MG MGB Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGB Technical BBS is active now.