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MG MGA - Painting a Hood Frame

Hi,

I took the hood of the Frame yesterday and started to think of how to get the frame as new by removing the old paint and spraying it with new.

But what is the best way of doing this?

When restoring a TC twenty years back I and my father took the Hood Frame all apart and sandblasted / electrogalvanized (black)/painted all parts with thin clear laquer. Then put new stainless rivets instead of the ones that we destroyed when dismantling the frame.

But this isn't as easy when dealing with a MGA Hood Frame.

Does anyone have some good ideas or photos?

Anders / Sweden
Anders Dahlberg

Anders, I always had them sandblasted and powder coated. It is a daunting task to scrape off the old paint!
Barry
Barry Gannon

Powder coating is the way to go.
David Werblow

As my hood frame was rusted I chose to remove the rust first using the electrolytic method. The container used was a large spare plastic rubbish bin filled full of water with the frame immersed into the water and connected to a 12 volt battery charger. The other electrode was a sheet (about 2' x 1') of stainless steel. Then I added sufficient caustic soda to get a current of around 2 - 3 amps and left it overnight.
In the morning I found that not only had the rust been removed but also the majority of the old paint. The paint comes off in layers. I wasn't expecting the paint to come off as well but it was an added bonus. I think the paint must be porous and gas evolved at the pinholes must undermine the paint. There were some stubborn areas of paint for which I used paint remover.

I resprayed with RAL1019 - Graubeige cellulose lacquer (Ebay) which is not a perfect match to the original but is close and it looks good.

If you have fabric covered side screens don't forget to buy enough paint for the brackets ...........................Mike





m.j. moore

Excellent idea Mike - mine has been painted black by one of its previous owners so will bear your method in mind when I come to renew the vinyl top.
Cam Cunningham

In the USA Rustoleum "Sand" is a good match I think.


JIM in NH

AJ Mail

Moss's rattle-can spray paint matched my original factory color and orange-peel surface perfectly.
Ken Korey

Hi all,

And thanks for your help I enlose a photo of my Hood Frame showing one of several welding spots. Is this original?

Regards

Anders

Anders Dahlberg

Yes - some did not have them (early I think) but most have these tack welds on the bows.

JIM in NH
AJ Mail

I have changed my mind a couple of times on this issue. I think it is not original, but it is very common. See here: http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/top/top108c.htm

Early production cars had cloth sleeves (as part of the rag top canopy) over the bows, and the bows had to be disassembled to R&R the canopy. When the bows are welded the cloth sleeves on a canopy cannot be used.
Barney Gaylord

This thread was discussed between 22/05/2012 and 25/05/2012

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