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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - A post repair

I have just replaced the drivers side bottom hinge on my 1500, when i came to fit a new outer skin the original a post skin is 3mm smaller than the other side is this a common thing.I can just cut the new skin to size then cut it down th centre and adjust to fit and weld back together.
mark heyworth

I don't know how common it is, -- quite possibly given quality control of parts these days, -- but yes you can do as you suggest. I did the same to one side of mine; although it wasn't as much a 3mm I seem to recall.

Are you certain the 3mm won't fit in the gap between the door and the wing comfortably? Is the a post possibly too narrow instead?

Ah read it wrong. Your skin is too narrow. But same argument in reverse, and anyway you can slit and weld to adjust.

I need tea to fully wake up. 🤣
anamnesis

3mm is a lot, its probably a poor previous repair?
Chris Madge

If you need to make it narrower, an alternative is to move the bend further in. A simple steel bar with a straight edge, rounded over nicely and clamped in a vice, can be used as a stake to move the location of bends very easily. You would probably then make the side too high, so you need to move the bottom bend as well, and maybe trim off the edge if it will show. It is a question of whether you welding skills or panel beating skills are better as to which is the preferable approach!

Alec
AG Gunner

It's no consolation, but I had a terrible time fitting a bought-in A post skin to the driver's side. When it came to the other side I made my own. First off, I'd suggest sending the faulty panel back for replacement or refund, as that sort of error is not acceptable.

In my entire rebuild, I bought very few repair panels, as a result of this bad experience. Bending up sheet steel is not as hard as it appears, and is oddly satisfying.

Les
L B Rose

les
its the repair panels were the same size its the a post, that looks like it has been on since new that is 3mm smaller
mark heyworth

Sorry Mark, I misunderstood. I think it's unlikely the factory made such a mistake, although my car is about that much shorter on the passenger side - made up of a combination of tolerances.

Les
L B Rose

I suppose with the rear edge being folded 1.5mm out on either side one bigger one smaller would explain it.Measured my other shell and they differ by 1mm.
mark heyworth

I suppose with the rear edge being folded 1.5mm out on either side one bigger one smaller would explain it
mark heyworth

As much as 3mm difference on your existing A post covers would suggest to me an earlier repair. Perhaps someone "adjusted" one side back to correct faulty panel or door gaps.
GuyW

cover done just needs a skimming of filler

mark heyworth

This thread was discussed between 20/04/2021 and 06/05/2021

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