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 - Valance/wing fitting problem

I've been trial fitting the front wings onto my 1500 bodyshell. I've got a problem in that the front end of the wing is sitting about 1/4-3/8ths inches too high (and this means the wings don't match the bottom edge of the valance and the panel gaps at the side are wrong). It can't be forced down any lower because it sits on the slam panel which appears too high.

The previous owner (who stripped and repaired the bodyshell before I got it) fitted a 1275 front assembly and I'm wondering whether these are slightly different in addition to the obvious two big holes in the valance of the 1500. The wings I'm using come from a donor car and fit perfectly so something is 'odd' with the bodyshell. Can anyone confirm that 1275 and 1500 front assemblys are perfectly interchangable or not? Unfortunately on a 1500 the front assembly is welded on so will be a pig to remove and the donor car is rotten!
Chris H (1970 Midget 1275)

Can I take it that nobody knows whether the 1275 and 1500 front assemblies are identical?
Chris H (1970 Midget 1275)

When I was searching for the front lower section of the front wings as a repair panel, I was advised that 1500 wings are slightly different, -- in addition to the side light cut out. So if you've got a 1275 front valance and are fitting 1500 wings, that's your problem.
Lawrence Slater

The 1500 front panel should fit a 1275cc car and vice versa. I have a brand new 1500 front panel (for sale) which is bolt on just the same as the 1275 panel. The differences between the 2 panels relate to the inner section and in fact on the 1275 heritage panel the pasenger/left side is a 1500 side with a blanking panel welded onto it. The 1275 panel does not have the slots that the 1500 panel has but the heritage 1275 panel has slight impressions where they would be stamped out but aren't.
Daniel Stapleton

I don't know about the interchangeability, but I do know that if you do use the chrome bumper lower valance without the holes, you will suffer from overheating.
Dave O'Neill2

Daniel

Email me - nick at parrmail dot co dot uk

I'm after a front end....
N Parr

1500 and 1275 wings are different (other than the sidelight mounting), but not in a way that would cause the problem described. The 1500 wing is shaped so that there is slightly more depth to the wing above the top of the wheel arch to allow for the raised ride height. It is quite difficult top spot, but if you were to lay a flexible tape (e.g a dressmaker's tape) from the crest of the wing down to the top of the wheel arch, the 1500 would measure about 5/8" more.

If the panel gaps between the wing and the A post, and between the wing and the curve of the sill, are both correct. Then the fault can only really be with the alignment of the front panel assembly.

I thought the front units were the same. But if they do differ in height, logic would have the 1275 unit lower, not higher, than the 1500. One might expect the 1500 slam panel to be higher to match the raised ride height and bumper height for that model.
Guy W

After much body work in 'get it done' garages early in its life mine is a complete mish mash of early and late parts at the front including the valance (definitely an early one) and the wings don't quite line up with an unbent bonnet.
Look for evidence of front end or each corner shunts in the box sections that carry the bumper irons or slight ripples in the inner wings (that the shock absorbers go through). A small ripple or distortion here can cause 1/2" difference at the front easily.
Front assemblies not listed as different for early and late cars however valence and wings are.
It should be bolted together with the other underlying panels at the front (unlike mine or yours by the sound of it).
If none of this seems to be appropriate seriously ask, 'did he get it together right in the first place?' and should you accept it with a 'bodge to sort it' or at this point take it apart and do it as the handbook.
Remember if you accept it as is and bodge any mind changing later will be even more work.
Dave Squire (1500)

I tried a wing on the other /near side and it fitted well along the sills and A post but did not match the valance so I think there is something odd about the front assembly.

I'm thinking of cutting out the front assembly from the donor car and test fitting that (after removing the one fitted to the bodyshell). Even though it may not be usable because of the rust I should be able to tell whether the problem is a front assembly issue or something else. I think it a good idea to remove the assembly from the bodyshell anyway in order to paint and rust treat properly.

Chris H (1970 Midget 1275)

Chris, I don't know if this is any use. I can just drop a tape measure down vertically to get a measurement which may help.
From the underside of the chassis rail next to anti roll bar, and going up next to the radiators supports, up to a level with the flat part of the slam panel just where it meets the vertical lip of the splash panel. Measures 16 3/4" on my car. Its a 1275 with wings and front assembly for a 1275 model, but I don't see why this should be any different on a 1500.
Guy W

Thanks Guy. I'll go measure when I can get in my garage (it's like an oven at the mo!)
Chris H (1970 Midget 1275)

Guy.
Thanks for the measurements - they are helpful. I measured in the manner you did (I think) and I get 17 inches which is 1/4 too high. A 1/4 to 3/8ths seems about the amount that the wings need to drop to match the bottom of the valance. Clearly the front assembly is sitting too high. For the life of me I can't see how it could sit lower without modification (I think it is supplied already assembled so I'm not sure if it could have been bodged by previous owners).

Following up an earlier comment, there is no sign of accident damage and everything seems square with the chassis rails.

I'm going to try the swap (donor assembly to replace current assembly) and see how that sits. If it is better I will have to try to rescue that or modify the existing one to sit lower.
Chris H (1970 Midget 1275)

Chris,
It is difficult to get a fixed measurement, particularly at the top. I dropped the end of the tape down next to the radiator support, immediately behind the splash panel. There is a clear sight line down to the anti roll bar under the chassis rail. The splash panel is shaped with three triangular flat surfaces coming together at a point where on mine there is a small hole. That hole is pretty well flush with the top surface of the slam panel and that is where on mine it measures to 16.75"

The whole front assembly sits down on top of the front extension chassis rails, and is bolted to them through the flat base of the rectangular tray behind the grill - where the horns are located. Given this construction it is as you say hard to see how it could be mounted too high. Unless someone has inserted spacers in there for some reason?

The only thing I wonder is if the chassis extension pieces have been replaced on yours at some stage, and badly lined up? They should obviously be aligned with their undersides as a continuation of the main chassis rails, with no step or change in angle at the front cross member.
Guy W

This thread was discussed between 18/07/2013 and 22/07/2013

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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