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MG MGA - coupe dash rail

I am getting ready to install the dash on my 59 coupe. When I bought the car it did not have anything but the dash. Based on what I have seen there is a pad (dash rail?) that goes at the top of the dash panel at ends at the cowl. Moss does not have one nor does anyone else I have talked to. Does anyone know of the dimensions of this pad. It also seems to have a small strip of piping and the bottom and a larger pieces at the top. I'm sure you all know all this I'm just trying to clarify my need. I need some way of making this pad. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Bud W
S.A. White

Have a look on Barney's site...he has a copy of the end of the rails (from mine).
Gary Lock

the link I posted for the header rail a few days ago supplies the wooden part for this. there iOS then a D shaped neoprene extrusion which fits onto the wood, and is covered by vinyl to match the door rail cappings. the ends of the dash rail are a metal right angle under the vinyl,p with a profile to match the D shaped padding.

I think you can buy the neoprene pad from Moss UK. otherwise you may find Todd Clarke has it.
dominic clancy

Dominic, the ends of the Coupe rail are wooden, and don't have the metal piece.
Gary Lock

I might have the wooden bits, if so they should fit to a roadster rail to make a coupe one.
Neil MG

Bud

I have just had a look in my garage loft and as I thought I do have a rather tatty complete 1958 Coupe rail complete with rubber and beading. I am 99% certain it is original so I could take photos or take measurements if they would be useful for reference? It would be a few days before I could do it but let me know if you want me to do anything.

Paul
Paul Dean

By chance, I stripped mine down this week. Photos follow, if I can work the system.
On this one, you can see the wooden block at the end overlapping the ply strip. The piece on the right is the rubber pad, covered by sticky tape.
Shane

Shanerj

This one shows the back, with one of the screw pins in sight.

Shanerj

This one shows the whole piece, with some of the rubber covered by sticky tape.

Shanerj

This shows the tired rubber on the ply; new rubber section ordered.
Happy to take more if you need them, Bud.
Shane

Shanerj

Thanks for all the info regarding the rail for the coupe.
Paul Dean if you do have photos, measurements etc. it would be a great help.
email: nside@hiwaay.net
Thanks
Bud W
S.A. White

Shane, I thought the wooden block at the end would be a bit curved to match the end curve of the coupe dash. From the image in your first post it looks straight....?
George G.

George,
It is curved and has a fairly pronounced chamfer. The car is undergoing serious work at present, with the dash out, so I can't put it against the doors to see how it relates to them. It fits smoothly around the top of the dash when fitted with vinyl and beading.
Shane
Shanerj

Bud

I am afraid my promised information may not be much use as the Dash Rail I have appears to be roadster one. Firstly it is roadster length and it has metal rather than wood ends, see photo. It must have come of the roadster body I bought to convert my car to a roadster.

Interestingly the rail on my now roadster car does have wooden ends hence it must be the original coupe one that I chopped/shaped to roadster length. All done in 1970s so memories a bit vague.

Paul

Paul Dean

Bud,
If you still need measurements, I can provide. I am doing mine now. I have a new rubber section from Leacy Classics. Also ebay selling one (without the wooden end pieces?) item number 390782953104 just let me know.
Shane
Shanerj

Bud,
I'm doing a complete restoration to my 57 Coupe. I recently sent information to Barney about my dash rail. See here - http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/coupe/cp109.htm
I can send the plywood piece to you for just the cost of packing and shipping. I do not have the wooden ends but can take measurements of mine and provide that info to you. I bought the black foam rubber cushion form Scarborough Faire and it's too thick and too tall. I then bought the same item from Moss and theirs is too thin so I plan to re-use my original which is in decent condition.

Regarding the piping, I think you have it backwards. There is piping that attaches to the top of the dash face with 6 or 8 D-clips. This is the larger diameter piece and should match the vinyl on the dash face. There is a smaller diameter piece of piping that is stapled to the top back edge of the rail trim and is the same color as the vinyl on the rail trim. For my coupe, which is Mineral Blue, the dash rail and the skuttle (top of the dash where the defrost vents are) are covered in blue vinyl. The parcel shelf is also covered in blue vinyl but the rail on the parcel shelf is covered in grey vinyl to match the rest of the interior trim (grey in my case). The coupe door caps are covered in vinyl to match the panel color.

Hope this helps. Email me if you have questions.

Jim

JL Cheatham

If you haven't sent them back yet, can you send pictures of the too-thick and too-thin rubber parts?
Barney Gaylord

Bud,
The book by Anders Clausager is a good reference for the various color schemes for MGAs. I have attached a scanned copy of page 103 from his book that shows the color schemes for 1500 Coupes. Sorry it scanned upside down. Let me know if you need anything else.

Jim

JL Cheatham

Barney,
Here is a picture of all three and I used my calipers to measure the height and thickness of them.

Jim

JL Cheatham

Here's another picture.

Jim

JL Cheatham

My rubber strip came from SF and was about the right shape but needed to be built up to fill the same space as the original.

It's all assembled so I don't have pictures.

Mark
M Wellard

This thread was discussed between 07/02/2015 and 03/03/2015

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