MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

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 Midget and Sprite Technical - Tape or similar for headlining

Chaps

Thoughts very welcome please. Headlining the GRP detachable roof - again - with perforated vinyl glued down onto a 10mm foam scrim underlay. Coming along fine. However, I am unsure what to do with the headliner at the window aperture - for which I am not going to remove the window or the rubber seal. Last time, I trimmed the headliner back flush with the rubber seal and overlaid strong duct tape of around 12mm width over the seal and the headliner to obtain a neat finish. It looked fine until it started peeling back at the corners. I think what I need is something like Frog tape - but in strong PVC or similar. Any suitable products out there? Any other suggestion as to how to obtain a neat finish would be most welcome. Incidentally, I cannot easily push the headliner under the window seal.
Oggers

I've yet to find any tape or even adhesive that doesn't peel after a few years. I used foam backed brushed nylon on my hardtop and managed to push it under the rubber. This was in the summer so the rubber was softer. I suggest bringing the whole thing into a nice warm house. You won't of course get your 10mm foam under the rubber, so you'll have to step the vinyl over it where it meets the rubber. Yes it is difficult to do this, but getting the liner under the rubber gives the best possible finish.

Les
L B Rose

Les

There is no chance at all that the vinyl will get under the rubber. The rubber is hard and the lip seems glued down to the fibreglass substrate. I can get it under the rubber at the side windows - indeed the rubbers come off quite easily - but the rear window is quite different.

Oggers

If the rubber is hard I would worry about it eventually leaking. It is fairly firm but should be flexible enough to seal. It should not be glued in, unless someone has used goo. It sounds as if it has perished and stuck to the fibreglass. I fully restored my hardtop and took the glass out, then refitted with new rubber. Not too difficult if you have the right tool.

Les
L B Rose

Les

There is no chance the window is coming out! The risk of cracking it is far too great, and the risk of not being able to source a replacement even higher.
Oggers

I feel your pain Oggers! My hardtop was stored outside for 15 years and the rubber was rock hard, but the glass came out OK. Getting it back in was easier than a windscreen.

Les
L B Rose

Oggers,
double sided tape or glue it to the hardtop with an impact adhesive such as Evostick?
Jeremy MkIII

This thread was discussed between 14/12/2018 and 18/12/2018

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS now