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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Do I need pads?

On a MK 1 Sprite, should there be some sort of pad or reinforced area under the rear axle hump for the axle rubber bump stops to bump stop against? I know on the later bodied cars there is a rectangular box platform at either side, close to the rebound strap anchor point. But on my Frog there doesn't appear to be remnants of anything equivalent. Although there probably shouldn't be much forceful contact, it still seems likely that some sort of reinforcing there would be needed.

Can someone with a MK 1 have a look-see for me please.
Guy Weller

Some interesting photos here...

http://www.britishcarforum.com/bcf/showthread.php?81238-Build-log-2-Brothers-and-a-59-Frogeye
Dave O'Neill 2

Thanks Dave.
Apart from the fact that they scrapped a body shell that was in rather better condition than mine when I started!

But the underside of their new Wheeler & Davis car shell appears to have just two squares welded onto the underside in the relevant locations. Although the angle of the photo makes it hard to tell if they are just flat plates, or boxed 3D sections.
Guy Weller

some of the underside of mine here -
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jc691907/
John Collinson

Thanks John.
I see that yours has distinct "boxes", maybe about 1 1/2" high. Rather like the later bodyshells. I didn't think they were going to be like that. Is that an original MK1 floor platform that you used?
Guy Weller

Hi Chaps
There are no 1/2 boxes nor pads on a Frogeye shell just a plate about 1/8in thick where the back axle rubber may strike.
Alan
Alan Anstead

Alan, are those pads back to back with a sheet metal square with upturned edges welded on the top (inside the rear body)
My shell had the remnants of such pieces on the inside, but nothing on the underside. Mainly because there wasn't much of anything at all left there!

I am not necessarily after originality, but its useful to know what it was supposed to be like.
Guy Weller

Guy
If it can wait I'll try to slide under the car tomorrow and take a pic.
Alan
Alan Anstead

Guy
I have looked at my resto pictures and the best shot I can come up with is attached. It is a square plate with the two edges being turned down by a couple of mm
Hope it helps
Dave

D Pratt

thats it Dave.
Alan
Alan Anstead

When I was stripping this shell out that area on both sides was severely rusted. I did take off two 2" X 3" pieces of rusted steel with two turned up edges. I made copy replacements and put them on the shelf for when got round to finishing off those areas. They are exactly like the ones in Dave's photo, but I had thought they came from the upper side. Brain fade (its been a long time!) Unless of course there are pieces like that, top and bottom. But I don't think so.

Thanks for the help.
Guy Weller

This thread was discussed between 12/06/2014 and 13/06/2014

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