MGB V8 Roadster restoration project Report 138

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Rose Tucker
5 years ago
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fitting, as it may help those who decide to do this job on their own car.

carpet as the bracket holding the strap covered my slight mistake.

mounting bolts. The MGB is at last starting to look like a car.

1 24th May FITTING THE CARPETS - continued I have included quite a lot of detail and photographs on the carpet and trim fitting, as it may help those who decide to do this job on their own car. The hole I punched in slightly the wrong place on the transmission tunnel carpet did not affect the look of the carpet as the bracket holding the strap covered my slight mistake. The front and rear carpets were laid out in the car to settle in position before cutting the holes for the seat mounting bolts. The MGB is at last starting to look like a car. The shoulder straps for the 4-point seat belt harness fitted in the holes of the mounting bar I had made to fit between the wheel housings. This photo is to show how I have finished the front footwell side trim panels. The excess vinyl wraps around the panel joint and is covered by the door seal. V8 Register MG Car Club V8-restoration-Mike-Macartney-Report-138 1

MAKING THE NEW CARPET FOR THE BATTERY AREA The protective plastic coating peels off fairly easily

As I had previously mentioned I swapped the carpet section that came from Moss with the carpet

me. First, I had to make a pattern of the shape of the carpet.

2 Finished now for the other side. Vinyl glued down and ready to fit the door seal rubber over the vinyl. MAKING THE NEW CARPET FOR THE BATTERY AREA The protective plastic coating peels off fairly easily once you have managed to lift an edge. As I had previously mentioned I swapped the carpet section that came from Moss with the carpet kit, for a piece of carpet material, so that I could get Jaymic s coach trimmer to make one for me. First, I had to make a pattern of the shape of the carpet. Instead of cardboard this time, I thought I would use some thin foam sheet. I used some wood blocks to hold the foam sheet in place. The problem with the foam sheet was that it would not bend as easily as card. V8 Register MG Car Club V8-restoration-Mike-Macartney-Report-138 2

In the end I roughly cut the curves around the rear wheel housings.

the carpet over to stop the carpet fraying at the edge.

Using the dining table as a nice flat surface, I marked the pattern on the back of

wheel housing is. I then took the carpet back up to the garage for its first fitting.

3 In the end I roughly cut the curves around the rear wheel housings. I marked the front edge of the carpet where I wanted to glue it and eventually fold the carpet over to stop the carpet fraying at the edge. I decided to have a go at making the carpet for the rear floor. Using the dining table as a nice flat surface, I marked the pattern on the back of the carpet material, cut out the shape of the carpet and one of the sides where the wheel housing is. I then took the carpet back up to the garage for its first fitting. A bit off the back and a bit shorter on the sides. It sounds like I m at the barbers! V8 Register MG Car Club V8-restoration-Mike-Macartney-Report-138 3

As both wheel arch shapes should be the same.

the boot carpet and decided to modify this to use this

4 As both wheel arch shapes should be the same. I found an old cardboard pattern that I had made for the boot carpet and decided to modify this to use this for the front of the rear wheel housings. The cut line marked. It needs 85mm off the edge to get it to fit against the wheel arch carpet. Needs 25mm off the other end to bring the template nearer to the wheel housing. V8 Register MG Car Club V8-restoration-Mike-Macartney-Report-138 4

I marked a centre line on the carpet with

5 I marked a centre line on the carpet with the tailors chalk. This side is the template for the right hand side. Turn it over and it can be the template for the left hand side. Measuring the width between the LH & RH rear trim pads. What length of carpet do I need? V8 Register MG Car Club V8-restoration-Mike-Macartney-Report-138 5

I noticed that I had forgotten to trim and glue down the

where the rear carpet will be folded back on itself and

I found that a white pencil was the best method of marking

6 I noticed that I had forgotten to trim and glue down the vinyl at the front of the battery box, so I did it then, before I forgot. The template was used on the carpet to mark the fold line, where the rear carpet will be folded back on itself and glued down. All glued and stuck down. I found that a white pencil was the best method of marking the back of the carpet. It showed up a lot better than the chalk. V8 Register MG Car Club V8-restoration-Mike-Macartney-Report-138 6

As the material to turn back on itself is on a curve where the

over. When the contact adhesive was touch dry the carpet edge was

To get a good stick you need to let the adhesive be touch dry, don

The edge was coated with contact adhesive either side of the pencil

7 As the material to turn back on itself is on a curve where the wheel housing is, I needed to cut the material to enable it to fold over. When the contact adhesive was touch dry the carpet edge was folded over and pressed well down. To get a good stick you need to let the adhesive be touch dry, don t try and stick it down if it is still tacky. The edge was coated with contact adhesive either side of the pencil line. Second trial fit. What to do with the back edge? V8 Register MG Car Club V8-restoration-Mike-Macartney-Report-138 7

The length needed was marked on the carpet at three positions and a line

The glue line was marked on the back of the carpet with a ruler and white

Back to the dining table again to do the gluing, after trimming the excess

The adhesive was then carefully brushed on to the back of the carpet.

8 The length needed was marked on the carpet at three positions and a line drawn where the carpet needed to be folded over on itself. The glue line was marked on the back of the carpet with a ruler and white pencil. Back to the dining table again to do the gluing, after trimming the excess carpet material away. The adhesive was then carefully brushed on to the back of the carpet. Note, no masking tape this time, I m starting to get confident! An old short haired brush seems to work better than a brush with long bristles. V8 Register MG Car Club V8-restoration-Mike-Macartney-Report-138 8

All glued up, just the back corners to trim up. Let s hope my measure twice, cut once philosophy works!

The Velcro had adhesive already on the back of it. I left it overnight to go off.

As an amateur coach trimmer I am quite happy with that.

I ll go and find Jane and see if she can suggest how to cut the back corners.

9 All glued up, just the back corners to trim up. Let s hope my measure twice, cut once philosophy works! At the front edge I tried gluing a strip of Velcro to hold the carpet in place. The Velcro had adhesive already on the back of it. I left it overnight to go off. If it works I will put some more Velcro on each side just in front of the wheel housing. As an amateur coach trimmer I am quite happy with that. It definitely fits better than the original one that Moss sent. I still need to trim the back corners. I ll go and find Jane and see if she can suggest how to cut the back corners. Now, for the hood repairs, the outside of the hood is pretty good, but the back edge that sits against the body has rotted. Jane and I decided we might as well use the hood for the time being and replace it at a later date. V8 Register MG Car Club V8-restoration-Mike-Macartney-Report-138 9

I measured the metal bar at each end so that the same amount of bar was sticking out each end.

At the front of the hood the rubber seemed to be nice and supple, although it had come out of the alloy strip that

I measured the amount of leather cloth I needed to cover the damaged area, put the adhesive on, left to touch dry and

Looking through my photos I must have been so excited that it worked that I forgot to take a photo!

10 I measured the metal bar at each end so that the same amount of bar was sticking out each end. I also trimmed the rotten bits of canvas away. At the front of the hood the rubber seemed to be nice and supple, although it had come out of the alloy strip that holds it in position. Luckily this was only at the ends. I measured the amount of leather cloth I needed to cover the damaged area, put the adhesive on, left to touch dry and stuck on the leather cloth. Looking through my photos I must have been so excited that it worked that I forgot to take a photo! Using a scrapper I managed to push it back into the alloy strip fairly easily. Well, easier than I thought it would be. I realise I have come to the end of report 138! You can me at: mikemacartney@btconnect.com with any hints or tips you have, which may help me, or other V8 register members. 25th May V8 Register MG Car Club V8-restoration-Mike-Macartney-Report

MGB V8 Roadster restoration project Report 123

MGB V8 Roadster restoration project Report 123 27th February 2017. More power cuts yesterday. It seems to be like living in a third world country at the present time up here in North Norfolk. I was amazed how good the door trim pads were. After cleaning