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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 - Bonnet to cowl rubber molding

I do not like how the current available bonnet to cowl molding fits and remember reading in the archives where the profile is different than original. I have previously purchase from Metro Moulded Parts and like their products, they even provided me with thicker gaskets for the windshield staucheons when I was having issues with gaps due to a poor fit. I sent them an inquiry about the possibility of getting a correct profile cowl molding made up, and below was their response. Unfortunately, out the 3 moldings I have, all are different and none are the original part. I was hoping someone on the board might have a small section of original molding they would be willing to send to Mike Hinshaw at Metro and see what he thinks.

Rich,
Thanks for the inquiry. Considering it is available from Moss Motors, have you asked them for the proper profile or to fix the profile? That’s where it should begin if you are not satisfied with what is being offered in the market.

I’m assuming you have already done this and are looking for a second option. No, we haven’t had any requests for this piece to my knowledge. However, I am willing to take a look at what you have in mind. If you have an original sample, please send it in to my attention and we’ll go from there. If the sample is on your car and is the only original you have, DO NOT REMOVE IT. We would like to avoid any hurt feelings if we decide not to get involved with the project. I trust you understand—this not only protects us, it protects you as well.

Thanks for your interest in Metro Moulded Parts, I look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,

Mike Hinshaw
New Product Development Manager
Metro Moulded Parts, Inc.
11610 Jay Street, P.O. Box 48130
Minneapolis, MN 55448
Direct Phone: (763) 231-7836
FAX: (763) 757-7228
E-mail: mikeh@metrommp.com

Richard Taylor TD3983

Mike,
I don't know if this will help but attached is a picture of what I did on the trim I got from Moss.
I just cut the piece off so it would fit properly.
I put the molding in a vise and cut about a foot or so at a time. It was all done freehand. Takes less time to do it than explain it. The cut doesn't have to be perfect since it isn't really seen.


Mort 1950 TD Möbius

Mort, that is much closer to correct. The several originals I have seen were even a bit wider front to rear on the raised part as well, with a flatter top contour, rather than round. This gives you much greater room to "correct" the rear bonnet to tub gap. I have a picture of some somewhere, but unfortunately no sample of the actual material. George
George Butz

This was timely. I wondered why my replacement molding was such a stinker to fit to the cowl. Guess I will have to cut it. The old one must not be original either (same cross-section shape as new one)as it was nailed on one side and stapled on the other side. Go figure! I know they are nailed based on the archives.
Mike
MW Davis

Mike,
You better check the archives or someone here who knows for sure but I believe they they should be screwed down.
Mort


Mort 1950 TD Möbius

Hi Guys

Mike Hinshaw is the Product Development Manager at Metro Moulded Parts.

I had required about a better bonnet to cowl moulding and he needs an original sample to see if it can be done.

Sorry for the confusion

Rich
Richard Taylor TD3983

They are definitely nailed down per the archives. Mike D.
MW Davis

Hi Rich just noticed our cars are 10 apart mine is 3993 assembled in South Africa 25 Oct 1950
Cheers
R J Orchard

Hi RJ, Its interesting how 2 cars so close in production ended up so far apart. I had noticed on the list of owners that several near my cars number are not in the US.

Regards,
Rich
Richard Taylor TD3983

After a long pause to attend to other projects I'm finally trial fitting panels prior to paint. Did anyone ever come up with the best cowl rubber?

Thanks,

Jim
JE Carroll

There has been considerable discussion about the correct profile of this rubber piece over the years. Image 239 of the original, unrestored TF 9052 appears to support the piece supplied by Moss is the correct profile. http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtf/Pictures/TF9052/Thumbnails/mgtf_tf9052.htm
Regards, John
JR Mahone

The correct scuttle to bonnet rubber can be purchased either by the metre or by the roll here in Australia. Scuttle to Bonnet Rubber from Spectrum Rubber & Panels P/N 234.008. I have compared an offcut of the original TD/TF rubber with a sample from Spectrum & they are identical.

The correct method of fixing is shown on Chris Couper's site, The Original MG TD midget. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Mort: You get the award for the tip of the month for sure. Good job.
Christopher Couper

Brown and Gammons has the correct rubber and yes their nailed down. I still can't figure out why Moss still sells the wrong profile rubber. PJ
Paul161

Here's a diagram of the correct rubber. The Moss rubber is also thicker than the original. I have a Moss rubber on the shelf still in the bag and won't use it. PJ



Paul161

Thanks guys,

Chris Cooper's site is invaluable, especially the photos of the original TF. Since I did not disassemble my car the pictures are the only good way of knowing how it goes back together and to figure out what is missing.
JE Carroll

JE there are a couple of parts suppliers that have detailed drawings showing what goes where. The coloured illustrations on the Anglo Parts site are particularly useful. The Moss catalogue is also worth having. While I no longer trust their parts I do use it as a working reference showing what was originally fitted where. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

My car came with a number of parts that were purchased from Moss in the 70's. Included was a cowl rubber with the same profile they are selling today. I ordered a new one from Brown & Gammons.
David Littlefield

OK, I'm confused. Most people say the rubber strip was nailed down. But Chris Cooper congratulates Mort for the tip of the month which is apparently that they were screwed down. Which is it?

Tim
TD12524
TW Burchfield

Definitely nailed originally on my TF.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Thanks Dave. But I wonder what the fasteners were on a TD.

Tim
TW Burchfield

Not screwed Tim. When I replaced mine in the early seventies I used blued tacks but can't recall if that was because I was replacing like with like. Chris's tip of the month was probably in reference to Mort's trimming of the ill fitting Moss rubber, which I can't say I was surprised to learn they haven't bothered to correct for over 40 years! Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Thanks Peter, didn't see Mort's earlier post , now it makes sense. I'll probably trim my the same way. Have you had any rust issues with the blued tacks? Do you remember how long they were and or the spacing?

Tim
TW Burchfield

I'm about to remove the rubber again Tim as the heads of the tacks do show some light surface rust & my spacing is inaccurate. I'll be replacing it with the Spectrum rubber. Chris's site has great detail on the original method of fixing. His approach answers all of your questions. Digressing slightly, but I've often wondered about the misalignment seen on many restored cars where the line of the bonnet appears too high & doesn't match up with the join in the scuttle. Could this be due to something as simple as the use of the overly thick Moss rubber? Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter,
I think the misalignment you are referring to could be due to either prior body damage(twisted or bent frame) or the improper location of the radiator(bottom mount or turnbuckles).

Chris,
Thanks for the award. Could you pre-date it to November 2011?

Happy New Year to all,
Mort
Mort 50 TD

My money's still on the incorrect rubber Mort as a thicker or tapered rubber would raise the finished height of the bonnet (hood) at the scuttle.

An update on the supplier I mentioned above. Spectrum Rubber have been taken over by MVR Industrial in Penrith however the product range is still the same. Contact is Matthew on (02) 91883493. The profile is 234.008 @ $16.63/m inc GST. Don’t freak out when you see the illustration on their website as it isn’t an accurate representation of the profile. The horizontal lines on the rubber are all parallel to each other including the bottom of the curve. They are presently redoing the catalogue & will change the drawing to accurately reflect the profile. 234.008 is correct for the TD & TF & I guess the TC as well. He is sending me a pic of the actual rubber which I’ll post here when I receive it. I'll be replacing mine shortly as the fixings are not correctly spaced, even though the rubber is otherwise in perfect condition. I'll keep the rubber when I remove it, cut it into small pieces, which I'll post to anyone who is interested. Cheers
Peter TD 5801

P Hehir

Thanks Peter,

Mine had new rubber from the '80s but the profile is the wrong one as in the illustration Paul provided. It was well nailed but I removed it to media blast the tub. That's another story in itself. We removed a lot of unnecessary bondo and my father in law worked his magic on a lot of panels. When he's done the only imperfections in the metal are the file marks. The patience and skill is amazing. He's a long retired body man and describes the tin as lovely to work.

Jim
JE Carroll

Well, I took a chance and ordered a new cowl/bonnet rubber from Abington Spares but got the same wrong profile as the '80s Moss that came with the car so it'll be B&G or Anglo or MRV.

Peter, thanks for the tip on the Anglo catalog; their illustration shows the correct profile.

Paul, thanks for the picture of the correct v incorrect profile; it'll be included in the return to Abington Spares.
JE Carroll

Peter,

Did you ever get the sample and was it correct?

Thanks,

Jim
JE Carroll

No sample Jim just a jpeg photograph that I can open & view but can't seem to copy & post. If someone can tell me how to do that I'll post it here. I did cut off a piece of the rubber that was fitted to my car in the 60's & discovered that it is the same profile as shown on their web page. If you get onto their website you can see the slight downward tilt under the arced section. This does sit flat on the forward edge of the scuttle however, when installed. It's a very good substitute for the original. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter: Shrink it to less than 1024x768 in pixels or send it to me and I will post it here.
Christopher Couper

Chris you have mail. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Jim. Compressed image courtesy of Chris. The underside of the curve & the underside of the flat section are not quite parallel to each other, however it seats nicely on the scuttle. Cheers
Peter TD 5801


P Hehir

This thread was discussed between 11/11/2011 and 19/01/2016

MG TD TF 1500 index

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