MG-Cars.info

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

Recommendations

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 MGA - boot lid support rod

Should the small spring be on the split pin side, or the rod side of the bracket that is fixed to the boot lid?
I forgot to make a mental note before I took it apart!!
Nigel Munford

Nigel,

I have mine on the rod side with three washers, i.e. washers both sides of spring and both sides of bracket (rod, washer, spring, washer, bracket, washer, pin). Same for bonnet.

Both ways seem to be common, but I understand the correct (original) side is the split pin side with only one washer.

Don't forget our top tip from last year; to screw a nut onto the end of the rod so it sits in the bracket without sliding right through!

I'll attach pictures of any the above if you need.

Neil
Neil McGurk

Nigel, As the rod is tapered, you can slip a small diameter washer over the end to prevent the rod going right through the holding bracket. It can always be removed for 'concours'. Pic below.
Barry

BM Gannon

Barry, that's the same principal as the nut. It looks a little neater though. I really wonder why the factory didn't do this?
Neil McGurk

Barry and I claim this invention for Australia! (Only he arrived at his solution a few years before me - there was definitely no collaboration!)
http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/body/bd114.htm

Mike
Mike Ellsmore

I am a little puzzled chaps, the rod goes through the eye and engages/stops on the boot floor. I am an Aussie too but am I missing something?
Barry Bahnisch

Not really Barry,

You're missing a fully open bootlid and a scratch-free prop!

Neil
Neil McGurk

Neil - you are right - why didn't the factory do this? When I first got my car I thought that there was something missing and that the washer/nut had come off - until I read earlier BBS reports and then saw Barney's website. The washer certainly looks neater than the nut especially when painted. cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

On my car the hole in the bracket is small enough that the prop rod won't slide through. It jams about 1/2 way up the taper. I imagine that was the original idea - maybe the hole can wear oversize with time!
Tom Heath

I have two boot props, and both go through the bracket to rest on the boot floor. I believe this is how it was designed. A spot of weld on the back of the prop about 3/4 of an inch up now acts as a stop, similar to the nut or washer solutions described above.
But the original question was where does the spring go (at the other end of the prop). I believe this is on the outside of the bracket with a washer against the split pin. This is how it is shown on page R.10 of the original parts book. I can scan this and email it to you if you need it.(email me so I can reply to you)
Peter.
P. Tilbury

Here’s a quick fix for the boot prop-rod. Cut the “spur” off the top of a cheap ballpoint pen; jam the pen top into the prop-rod hole. The ballpoint top will not completely go though the hole and the prop-rod will not stick inside the pen top.

David Werblow

This thread was discussed between 08/03/2008 and 12/03/2008

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGA BBS now