MGB & GT Forum

Anyone come up with a way to take the wobble out of the hood prop bracket on the bottom edge of the hood?

Last year I tried remounting it with larger rivets but they've already become loose.

I've been thinking about welding a small steel plate to the rib on the hood where the bracket mounts and then drilling and tapping some holes.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
BH

Once you install telescoping struts you'll kick yourself for having waited so long to do it!

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Dave

Unless you do it on a alloy bonneted car and end up ripping a hinge off due to the previously non existent leverage they create, as one of our members discovered to his chagrin very recently !

http://www.mgexp.com/phorum/read.php?1,2741052,2741052#msg-2741052

Struts also have the disadvantage of being fixed and therefore compromising under bonnet access 2x as much as the original single mechanical one does which is why I recently modified mine to be quick release.

http://www.mgexp.com/phorum/read.php?1,2741176,2741324#msg-

TBH BH riveting is not an ideal solution for the bonnet bracket as there is too much potential stress and strain on it. Spot welding would be best of course and could be done with very little peripheral damage but a pair of reasonably sized self tappers would make a satisfactory and durable job of it..

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1) You cannot use a strut intended for a steel bonnet on an alloy or fiberglass bonnet because there can be undue forces placed on the bonnet resulting in damage.....but you CAN use a strut intended for alloy on an alloy bonnet safely. For years I would not sell my struts to individuals intending to use them on alloy or fiberglass bonnets as there did indeed exist the possibility of damage. HOWEVER...I now have a strut that is complete compatible with either alloy or fiberglass. I am so confident of this strut that I have it installed on each of my MGCs. (I also have my struts installed on all three of my MGBs - they have steel bonnets).

As Simon Austin states in the first above-quoted thread, "Not all gas struts have the same pressure. The kit Rick sells for aluminum hoods would not likely have as much of a charge as the steel hood struts. These hoods are old. They've been opened and closed a lot of times in those years. Welds give out."

Remember, too, that there are options as to how to install the bonnet struts. (See the photo of my struts installed on Mike Moor's MGB with a fiberglass bonnet)

2) My struts are easily unclipped (if needed) with a small screwdriver under the retaining clip..for quick removal (and installation).

I would not be offering any of these kits for sale if I didn't believe in them and trust them. My reputation is much more important than the small profit margin that they provide.

I know that Robert Clark of Clark & Clark feels the same way.

FWIW - YOMV

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1952 MGTD - 1969 MGC - 1972 MGB - 1974&1/2 MGB/GT V8 conversion - 1978 MGB

mowog1@aol.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014-07-26 12:47 PM by mowog1.

Rick's struts are EXACTLY what should be on an MGB I LOVED mine (sold the car) and will put a set on the car Iam building when I get to that point.

Can't understate the improvement in engine bay access either!

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Michael J. Caputo
'79, '77, '76, '74.5 (rubber dual SU), and '73 owner. 12v Audio System design. Vendor of Regalia and Promotional Products since 1993. Supplier of Accessories to MOSS. Forum Member since 2009. Warped sense of humor since birth.
Publisher of the annual MGB & GT Calendar, mailed worldwide. Buy one!

Hmm, I think I prefer the Mikel Moor placement. Especially if it's a windy day!

IMHO yhe solution is junk the ugly thing and add gas shocks.

....... "Not all gas struts have the same pressure. The kit Rick sells for aluminum hoods would not likely have as much of a charge as the steel hood struts. These hoods are old. They've been opened and closed a lot of times in those years. Welds give out."

I would not be offering any of these kits for sale if I didn't believe in them and trust them. My reputation is much more important than the small profit margin that they provide.

I know that Robert Clark of Clark & Clark feels the same way.


I would have to question this statement... my struts were purchased from Robert at C & C and nowhere on his website does it mention different strength / capacity gas struts for hoods [bonnets!] in different materials - in fact quite the opposite, it states...."Kit fits all MGB bonnets, both steel and aluminum" The installation instructions repeat the same statement. When ordering I was not asked the material from which my bonnet was manufactured. From the moment I installed them I felt that there was far too much force in the struts, to the point that I could not lower the bonnet without using one hand to push on the bonnet in the corners and help to compress the strut.

As I stated in my post..
http://www.mgexp.com/phorum/read.php?1,2741052,2741052#msg-2741052

my hinge bracket failure was not solely down to the overly strong gas struts but they were certainly a contributing factor, I believe a strut with between 30-50% less capacity than the ones provided by Clark & Clark will suffice for an ally hood. I would be interested to know the strut Newton rating for a fibreglass / ally and steel bonnet as recommended by the kit vendors.

The information that you request above is proprietary in nature.

I did my homework and provide a good quality product.

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1952 MGTD - 1969 MGC - 1972 MGB - 1974&1/2 MGB/GT V8 conversion - 1978 MGB

mowog1@aol.com

Ok, having experienced problems (sheared hinge bracket to ally bonnet) with vendors providing gas struts with far too much energy for an ally bonnet I did some research (having first repaired the bonnet - see other thread) and found that a 100 Newton strut (two struts per bonnet) is more than enough energy to keep up the bonnet without putting undue stress on the bonnet / hinge brackets. The 100N, I reckon is about a third of the capacity of the strut I purchased from a popular MG B strut vendor. For those thinking of a gas strut fitout for an ally bonnet be sure to check that the vendor has a specific reduced strength strut for ally bonnet or just by your own - PM if you would like further info on the strut and install details.

Paul, please be assured I care Very Much about my reputation and about producing a quality product. MGs are a life-long passion of mine, as they are a passion of most everyone on this blog.

I do wish you would have contacted me directly if you had a problem. I am Always very responsive to my customers. I have never known of another instance like yours with my struts on an aluminum bonnet and I have had several people with aluminum bonnets over the years tell me they love my kit. You had stated that there were "other factors" such as a prior repair to that bracket that may have contributed to the breakage, and it's possible a "reduced pressure" strut might have caused the same failure. Please email me about the details if you are willing?

Is there anyone else out there with my kit and an aluminum bonnet that has had this problem? Please let me know! That's what this community is all about, right?

Cheers,

Robert

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65 MGB Roadster 60 MGA Roadster
66 Etype Roadster
94 Miata Roadster 99 Miata Roadster
07 Tacoma Pickup
85 Ferrari GTS

http://www.clarkandclarkinc.com --Cool Accessories for British Sports Cars!
Holland, MI (southwest Michigan)

Thanks Robert - I have sent you a PM.