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MG MGA - Hoods and luggage racks

Hi guys, thanks for all your previous help as usual the forum is brilliant.
Today's issues for me are, as a very new owner of a 1500 red LHD MGA it has a fixed luggage rack, I'm thinking of taking it off filling the holes and getting it resprayed, then when I need to go long journeys hols. Etc. I would just use the type with rubber feet and clips. What's the opinion of the forum ?
My other dilemma is the hood, which I'm not fond of, I do realise the need for it but it takes up so much room and extra weight.
My question is, how many of you run without a hood ?, do you use hardtop in the winter ?,
I guess the problem comes when like me driving in France for a few days you may hit rain, then your stuffed.
And can I add a quick question for Steve Gyles, Steve when you fitted your new Moss fan, I'm assuming you have to drain down coolant and remove radiator to fit fan ?

Thanks guys hope you can give me some thoughts,

Cheers Jack
Jack New Forest

Jack

I will steer clear of answering the luggage rack question and leave that to the bodywork experts; although I will just say that it's aluminium skin so you need to think carefully bout how to fill the holes - aluminium and heat have to be used carefully if you are thinking about welding/lead loading the holes.

I removed my hood totally, releasing a good deal of storage space and weight for every day use. I carry a towel and waterproof trousers in the boot and a chamois for mopping up rain droplets that come over the top of the screen onto the inside. I also have an MGA Register cockpit-shaped umbrella for use in traffic queues. Because I changed my screen for a more raked sports screen I also cannot use the side screens, so they also are in the attic - more space and weight saved. Not having them increases traffic noise a bit, so I also carry ear plugs for motorway driving. That all said, would I EVER go back to the standard screen and hood? No, NEVER!! This is what sportscar driving is all about and the minor inconvenience of getting wet occasionally is just that - minor.

You will have to remove the radiator to gain access to the recessed fan bolts on the Moss fan - unless you have very small hands. Perhaps a job for the wife!!

Steve
Steve Gyles

Jack,
Never fitted the hood, because my body height means i'd need a cut out in it to poke my head through! I use the space behind the seats (covered by the side screen stowage bag) to put two pop up picnic chairs in place quite easily, instead.

If i hit rain, i just keep going. I use the tonneau and have a Storm cover if i need it when the sidescreens are put in place to hold it up. Like Steve, i have an MGA Register "rectangular" umbrella.
regards
Colin
Colin Manley

Jack, I have heard that some owners have a second undrilled boot lid. These pop up on eBay occasionally.

Richard
R A Evans

" a second undrilled boot lid. These pop up on eBay occasionally."

Actually I would say rarely; they are usually drilled, and often in the wrong places.

But, maybe we've now tempted fate to show up some undrilled ones !

Still, any lid is probably likely to need to be painted, so it's not big deal for a body man to fill the holes.
J N Gibson

Jack, another option which you may consider is to keep your luggage rack and use removable chrome or body colored plugs to fit into the holes when you prefer the streamlined look of no rack. Welding aluminum is easy, as long as you have a seasoned pro do it. As for the hood, if your driving consists of same day runs, then you could probably get away without it, but for overnights and long trips, you may want to think long & hard about driving without a hood!
Nick Kopernik

I filled the holes in my deck lid, not hard at all, but I've been doing body work for40+ years.

There is a rod available for brazing aluminum. I think its called "Lumiweld' or similar. ( 10 or so rods for about $12.00) Over here we can get it at Harbor freight. Youtube it to see for yourself, but here's the process:

Grind a recess at the front and back of the hole, at the edge. Back up the hole with a piece of steel. Use a long reach clamp here, make sure it fits tight.

Warm the area and rod with a propane torch and work as if you are soldering with lead. Make a puddle to fill the hole, use the rod to abrade the solid surface at the edge of the hole inside the puddle. This last bit removes oxidation and allows for a tight bond.

As soon as you have a proper filled in area. release the steel plate and metal work the area to 'shrink' the now expanded area back to flat again. This is easier than it sounds.

Grind and continue your bodywork.

I filled all 4 of my deck's holes in about 30 minutes. i finished and NUTS - I forgot to take pictures.
MAndrus

Just to add to Colin Manley's comment about the space behind the seats. Whilst I have retained the side screen holder mainly for an airflow barrier, I have fitted elastic cargo holding netting across the shelf. Keeps everything nice and tight in their place.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Jack
I hate driving my car with the hood up but it is better than driving it and getting soaked to the skin.
it depends what you plan to do with the car, If you just intend to drive it on fine days, then you don't need the hood.
But if you are planning to tour the car in Europe for example, you could easily encounter a thunderstorm.
Believe me, that can be really dangerous, the windscreen gets splattered on the inside and your eyes fill up with rain water, you can see nothing! It has happened to me and it is not pleasant.

But even worse, the wife becomes even more unhappy and unreasonable than usual!
Mind you, there was about 3 inches of water sloshing around in the footwell, all the maps and
route plans were destroyed and her handbag was full of water.

Your choice!
:-)

Colyn

ps Also,I do prefer the look of the mga without the boot rack.
c firth

Jack

A couple of pints.

Firstly I personally like the look of the correct rack as it was a factory option an I think it enhances the looks, but that is a personal view. If you wish to proceed a second lid is a good option as swapping is easy. In my early days I had my spare wheel bolted directly to the lid but now I have a rack and for longer journeys I just put the spare wheels on the rack but you need a high mirror and / or wing mirrors.

Secondly on the hood issue after converting my coupe to a roadster it took me 20 years to fit the hood as with kids we only did half day runs in good weather. But for longer runs now I agree with Colyn. This years I have got away without using it including on MGCC MGA Scottish event which was the day after the Open golf was flooded ar St Andrews. It is amazing how you keep dry in rain as long as you stay above 40 mph. I am booked on MGCC 8 day Orkney run this August and I wouldn't fancy that without a hood!

Paul
Paul Dean

Jack, I know driving conditions are very different here in Aus. but here's my bit. I don't use a hood ever during the summer and only very occasionally use a fibreglass hard-top on rainy days in winter.

I have a tonneau cover for when I leave the car, in a carpark for instance, and to keep it dust free. The picture shows the hard-top (sitting atop the tonneau cover).

Like Mr. Gyles I prefer the open-air, but there are limits!! And I also think a rack spoils the look of the MGA. Spare boot lids are available here from time to time, usually fetch $300AUD. (Roughly 150BPd)

Barry.

Barry Gannon

The MGA hood does take up an unreasonable amount of space in the cockpit. My Frogeye has so much more room without resorting to using the "black hole" further back behind the seats. Somewhere in that black hole is reputed to be the Frog hood!
But in British weather, even if you go out on a fine day, there is no guarantee that it will still be fine when you return, so I wouldn't want to risk the cockpit filling with water (not too worried about the wife's handbag though).

Mind you, by the time I have:
Pulled the pins out both sides which secure the seat belts.
Removed the tonneau.
Removed the sun visors and the draught deflectors.
Opened the boot ("where's the handle under here?") and removed and fitted the side screens.
Oops - threaded the seat belt ends through the hood frame.
Struggled to erect the hood.

- it's stopped raining!

And the luggage rack is a useful handle to lift the boot lid.
Graeme Williams

Interesting how much we all differ. I prefer the look of the car with the boot rack. I think it enhances the lines and makes it more business like. I am still on the hunt for the version with the curved bottom rail so that the spare wheel sits lower.

Steve
Steve Gyles

I am one of those that have a second boot lid for the luggage rack. I like the clean look of no luggage rack , but like to have extra carry space on road trips. The original lid was stripped and I found filled holes from a previous luggage rack, that had been filled with polyester filler. Polyester was removed and the holes were aluminum welded closed. Car was re-finished without luggage rack. I found a boot lid at a swap meet for $20 and purchased the original style luggage rack.

I fitted the rack and the lid is awaiting final paint. to fit the lid to the hinges is 6 machine screws. It is easy to swap out and align.

As for the hood, I am glad I have it installed. Stowed properly, there is still quite a bit of room under it to stow a fair amount of "stuff". Mostly behind the seats, as the spare takes up the rest of the room.

The best of both worlds..... My .02 anyway.
... CR
C.R. Tyrell

Has anyone tried a "bootbag" on the A?
d brenchley

How good a fit are "spare" boot lids? Is it like swapping wings where no two are reputedly quite the same size/shape or are the lids fairly standard so a replacerment can be dropped in with a reasonably even gap around it.

Malcolm
Malcolm Asquith

I suppose the main reason that I won't fit a boot rack is that it would look a little wrong on my bumper less MGA, it would look as if the bumpers had been stolen! :-)

c firth

Graeme
I agree that it is a real pain putting up the hood and so if it is just a short sharp shower, we usually just ignore it. Sometimes though, if you want to avoid "drowning", then it is definitely worth the effort!
Colyn
c firth

My fold-up chairs don't quite fit in the space behind the seats, so settled for an armchair by the beach for wifey.

I find the MGA with the rack is often more a more practical every day car for awkward loads that don't fit in the Merc saloon.

Steve

Steve Gyles

Great to see all the feed back form you guys re hoods and luggage racks,
So it looks like the luggage rack stays on my car, and meanwhile keep a eye out for a spare boot lid, quite rare I would think,

As for the hood, I think it comes out, and I'll use a Tonneau when I can source one, and put the hood back in for long journeys.

I'm at present making a list of all the items I need for my MGA,
I'm not going to buy anything until I've been to the MG show at Stoneleigh later in the month, I guess some of you guys will be nipping up there to stock up on spares. It's always a good day out, and I've been lucky in the past getting bits for my MGBGT.

Cheers

Jack.
Jack New Forest

It's interesting that no-one from the warmer parts of the english-speaking world think of the hood as a parasol. Our european neighbours very often keep theirs up in Summer when the sun is hottest. The PO of ours kept the hood up all year round with a tonneau permanently fitted but no sidescreens ... and that was Sweden.
And the bootlid with the rack is in the attic... our choice ... as is the addition of sidescreens.
My 2d.
Roger

Roger Walker

New boot lids available in the UK for around £380 - sports car metal works.
d brenchley

A luggage rack wouldn't work for us as my wife uses a battery powered mobility scooter to get around. I reworked a trailer that I purchased from Harbor Freight, lowering it, and adding a roof top clam shell luggage carrier and a cooler on the tongue. Her folding scooter fits inside out of the elements and there is room for a couple of chairs and some soft luggage as well and it can be locked to keep things safe. It's low enough that the dash mount rear view mirror still works. I also added the original rear bumper that was on my car before the restoration. It still has a Hawaii state inspection sticker on it. My trailer hitch can be removed very quickly by removing the four bolts that attach the draw bar, leaving the rest of the hitch in place and out of sight.

Ed Bell

Jack
you should try get to the MGCC MGA Registers Spring Tour in N Yorkshire next May.
These tours are just brilliant, great fun to take part in and you will meet some genuinely lovely people.

The first time we went we were a little unsure about the whole thing but we were made very welcome and it has become more enjoyable every year since then.

But the downside is, it is in Yorkshire and so you will need to fit your hood! :-)

Colyn
c firth

Thanks Colyn, I have a friend in my car club who is a member of the register, he has been on lots of runs, I think he did John o Groats to lands end last year.
His name is Peter Morgan you may have met him at sometime.
He is getting me introduced to the register and my car had already been added to the register.
Cheers.
Jack.
Jack New Forest

I know Peter really well Jack, he is an absolute gem.

Peter is the chairman of the MGCCs MGA Register and you ought to ask him about the MGA Tours as he is usually involved in the organisation of them.

He is also makes me laugh when he ribs me unmercifully about me wearing shorts most of the year and my press-on style of driving my MGA. (Well it is a sports-car after all!)

Colyn





c firth

Jack,
Talk with Peter about coming to the MGA Register AGM at Kimber House in April. You could travel together. It will be followed by a Committee Meeting, but MGCC members are welcome.

Regards
Colin
Colin Manley

Thanks Colyn and Colin, yes I had coffee with Peter this morning, great chap, we have been in the same car club for years, based in the New Forest.
Yes Colyn he said he couldn't catch you, but I think you may be cheating with an 1800 MGB engine with overdrive and 5 speed box ha! ha!

Cheers

Jack
Jack New Forest

I have always been a fan of the factory style rack as it does a better job of distributing the load across the not so sturdy aluminum surface than the 4 point types. I have seen many of the 4 point racks with the area around the mounting points growing small mountains. I went the two deck lid route. If you do get one with holes take it to some one that really understands aluminum welding. It is worth searching out a good craftsman for this job. In my experience switching the deck lids is not too much trouble and they don't seem to care which year they were sourced from but remember the 1550, 1600 and the 1600 MKII have either no holes or different ones under the MG logo. In the long run I tend to leave the rack on most of the time it is just too handy. I found that if you put the spare tire on the rack and use soft bags you can get quite a bit of stuff in the boot. Almost enough to make your wife happy. Speaking of that keep the top in the car when touring. Wet wife means unhappy life.
Keith Lowman

Interesting thread especially regarding boot racks. I am sorry Steve but I have to fundamentally disagree with your post:

' I prefer the look of the car with the boot rack. I think it enhances the lines and makes it more business like'

Each to their own but I feel that the simple lines of the A are utterly destroyed by the use of a boot rack and I am a little unsure as to 'makes it more business like' means!

Of course the amount of space is hideous and as some have suggested maybe boot bags but these are not cheap. So I guess judicious packing is the answer, or a second boot lid.

Although like most I too advocate driving topless I have got used to driving with the hood up and the side screens up as well. Though perhaps this is more to do with getting old!

I had my hood fitted by Don Trimming in Birmingham about 4 years ago. They did an excellent job although I had had to have a new hood frame and side screens which rather upped the cost! Anyhow would recommend them.

I have just had a new mohair hood fitted on my YT by Tappers Upholstery in Kings Norton Birmingham It included recovered side screens as well as the hood. It was done in a 3 week time frame before the Classic Car Show at the NEC last November. I wasn’t happy with the outcome and took it back. To their credit they fitted a new hood and it now looks very good so I would suggest that folk consider them when looking around. They had to use the original as a template as obviously they had no other records to work too. The cost was £1300 including VAT, which I thought at the time was reasonable and they of course did the remedial work at their cost.

It will be at the MG Event at Stoneleigh this coming weekend on the MG Octagon Club Stand so if anyone would like to review the workmanship then I would be happy to have a chat with them.

Sincerely

Jerry
Jerry Birkbeck

Im with you Jerry in not liking the look of the boot rack.
Also, on three long distance tours of over a couple of weeks duration, we have managed really well by just carefully utilising the space in the boot and in various places in the car.
Its really surprising just how much stuff you can get into the MGA.

I have though, improved things by replacing the standard spare wheel with an early SAAB space-saver wheel which has a 135-60 X15 tyre. This frees up a an extra inch or two inside the boot.
I wrote about it in Safety Fast in Nov 2014 and I have tried to attach a link for you

http://content.yudu.com/Library/A36xkc/SafetyFastNovember20/resources/44.htm

My car has 6" wide wheels on it and so the picture in the write up shows a bigger difference than you would get with a standard size wheel, but every little helps.

Colyn
c firth

This thread was discussed between 09/02/2016 and 16/02/2016

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