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MG MGA - Side stud locations for 1600 Sidecurtain stow bag

Hi - I'm restoring my interior and am now doing the rear cockpit rail / side curtain bag install - the SC bag had 3 lift-a-dot stud locations on each side which the bag hung on. One on the rear qtr cockpit rail, and 2 additional ones where I need to know. Original bag is gone and much body work has been done since. Could some kind soul take a picture or give me some measurements to where I need to install these studs? According to the Moss catalog, the mga side curtain bag changed in size or design in the early 1600s, so I need info from a mid to late 1600 or 1622. I think that if you have a lift-a-dot stud on the rear qtr panel, that might be a way of telling. Thanks very much - glennj0953@earthlink.net
glenn johnson

Glenn

Mine is a 1500. Not sure if the stud positions varied. I think I bought the bag with the lift-a-dots already installed. Image attached (no I did not remove the hood brackets for the photo. I removed it as I do not use it).

The stud on the rail is 3" from the rail front edge. The top stud on the rear side panel is 3" down from the top of the chrome cap. The 2 studs are 7" apart.

Hope this helps and that the measurements are not unique to my car!

Steve

Steve Gyles

I have a 1600 mid 1960 and although the LTD studs have been removed on the car (under restoration), I've measured the position of the LTD sockets on the bag: The two vertically positioned ones are like Steve's viz. 6.75/7 " apart.
The top (third) one is 4.25/4.375" higher up than the higher of the bottom two and 3.25/3.5" inboard horizontally. These measurements were taken on the bag placed on a flat surface. The bottom two are only 1" in from the outer straight edge of the bag...................Mike
m.j. moore

Thank you both very much - I will take this info and search for the old holes in the vicinity, if they still remain. I know my original bag side studs took a beating and had been moved or redrilled by prev owner - they do take a load - I think those side curtains together are not light and the bumpy ride contributes to stress on those studs. I stored both my side curtains in the boot wrapped in a blanket before the resto.
glenn johnson

Hi Glenn,
I have sent you a couple of pictures of my old, I think original, sidescreen bag (late 1600), hope that they may be of some use. I have arrived at the same point as you in my restoration ie. bag fitting. I would like to ask the opinion of others (originality apart) is it worth going to the trouble of fitting the bag or does it really just get in the way? I know that it is subjective but I am interested in what people who use their cars regularly think about the item.
Tony
Tony Mitchell

The side-screen bag is definitely worth it, I keep my side-screens in it all of the time. It does not intrude, you push the folded hood right back (over the carpet-covered) spare wheel and the bag comes down neatly over it. I cannot see where anybody has mentioned it, but the sidescreen bag is mounted under the rear cockpit rail and the two lift-a-dot fasteners on each side help to neaten the appearance.
Barry Bahnisch

Hi Tony
On the subject of the side screen bag, I only put the sidescreens in it when the car is parked up when the top is folded down. Usually at MG car shows etc.
On my car the seats have to be moved forwards a little to clear the bag when the sidescreens are in it. As I am 6ft 1" and I need every inch of leg room, I always drive with the side screens either fitted on the doors or, if the weather forecast is good, I leave them at home.
So you could manage without fitting it quite easilly.

I must live quite near to you so if you need any help with your project ( or even someone to give you some encouragement with it ) email me any time.
(Same applies to you Vin )

Colyn
Colyn Firth

Hi Barry,

I was trying to send an off-topic email to you, but the email address on your posting does not seem to work.


Mick
M F Anderson

Before I fitted the sports windscreen I too put the screens in the boot. I have since removed both the hood and screens from the car, but I have retained the stowage bag as I find it is convenient for retaining luggage behind it.

Steve
Steve Gyles

I am also 6ft 1in and do not find the sidescreen bag in any way intrusive. There is a small lip spot welded to the top of the battery cover which the bottom of the sidescreen cover tucks behind preventing it from contacting the seat backs. The hood must be pushed well back over the spare wheel. The car in question is a (Australian-assembled)1600 roadster.
Barry Bahnisch

Mick, My email address is barrybahnisch@bigpond.com
Barry Bahnisch

Thanks Barry, I never realised that the side screens would fit in the bag on top of the battery cover panel, I just assumed that it had to rest on the tunnel and reduce the leg room.. I will take another look at it tomorrow and see if my car is the same as yours, it will certainly make life easier. Will let you know.
Colyn
Colyn Firth

Colyn,

The method of stowing the side screens, as described by Barry, was a modification introduced for the 1600 MGA at chassis number 78249 in October 1959.
See Clausager's "Original MGA" at page 87.


Mick
M F Anderson

Tony, thank you - great pics; I definitely think having the bag installed is a good, practical idea. When I go on trips with the A, the side curtains always get stored in them, giving more luggage space for trunk and luggage rack. The later 1600 battery compartment covers have that vertical handle on them to hold the bag and contents from protruding forward, according to Barney's tech page. I have to confess, I much prefer driving without the contents inside - I'm 6'2" and with my seat all the way back, I sort of feel them protruding or pressing against my seatback. Has anyone seen the MOSS stowage bags that fit individual side curtains? Perfect for storing them in the boot when you want. There were a pair on ebay not long ago - I had never seen them before and went to the catalog, but they were not there - I bet Moss would sell quite a few of those since i do believe many folks like to stow their side curtains in the trunk during normal day to day driving. Mine get wrapped up in a blanket and always stored in the trunk except for trips. Barney has a great tip in his tech page for installing the bag - fill the bag with curtains, then mark where you want to hang them from the back railing location.
glenn johnson

Glenn, and others, after my restoration with new everythings, I stowed my side curtains in the aforementioned stowage bag. It wasn't long before the rearward pins poked thru the stowage bag. After that, my wife agreed to help make custom bags. Each would hold one sidecurtain and be thrown in the boot. We designed them to have the rearward post and the forward tab poke thru the bags. This way, they could not poke a hole. They work great. even if I decide to take them out and put them on a shelf, they are still protected. Anybody with a bit of sewing experience could make their own for less than $20 worth of materials.
Chuck Schaefer

Even though I have the correct stow bag fitted behind the seat I have recently had the navigator make up a protection storage bag for the side curtains for when I want to put them in the boot (trunk) or leave them in the garage - allows the seat to recline a little further. She used (3) old bath towels (still fluffy) and sowed them together on three sides - stops the screens from being scratched.
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

I never carry side curtains. I have the bag in place because I like the finished look it provides.
This is a picture of the right side on my 60 roadster. The holes marked in yellow crayon are the original holes for the side curtain bag studs. They use 3 two hole studs on each end. The two you see are 3/4 " from the edge at the height shown. The crookedness of the bottom one is original Abingdon carelessness. I would mount the studs vertically. The top stud is screwed to the metal upholstered corner piece. If you have the original find the old holes. I had to drill out broken off screws, do it BEFORE you cover them.

R J Brown

Thanks all for your very useful comments, they have made things much more clear regarding some of the holes - the purpose of which I had no idea until now! I have made a note of your email Colin - thanks for the friendly offer.
Tony
Tony Mitchell

I never did manage to stow my screens as described by Barry. Even if my my battery cover had the lip fitted, there was not enough slack in the stowage bag to tilt it back that far. Without the tilt the screens are too high and will protrude above the body line.

Steve
Steve Gyles

I have the same issue as Steve. I can (just) get one screen to sit in that position but no way with two. Any chance of a picture Barry? or anyone else who can get the screens to sit behind that lip?

Neil
Neil McGurk

Steve and Neil,

What are your car numbers?
Both the envelope and the stowage area were modified.
See extract from Clausager's book "Original MGA" (page 87).
Extract attached.

Mick

M F Anderson

Thanks Mick,

It's the later type 78276, I also have the earlier type hood frame on another car, so I can see the difference.

Neil
Neil McGurk

Neil, I will try to get my wife to take a photo. I always find it tricky to post photos but will do my best.
Barry Bahnisch

Neil,

If your car is after number 78249 and it has the tab fitted to the battery cover, the only reason that your sidescreens will not fit on top of the battery cover is that you have the wrong envelope.
Compare your envelope with the later type in Clausager's book.
Copy attached.


Mick

M F Anderson

Mick

My car number is 55600 so it does not have the battery box modification. When I got the car as a total wreck it did not have the hood frame, sidescreens nor sidescreen bag. In fact field mice had eaten everything non ferrous! Bob West supplied me with a hood frame, sidescreens, bag etc. I suspect they were to later standards rather than my 1500 spec.

Steve
Steve Gyles

I have the right bag too, but maybe mounted too high to allow the screens to get right back under the deck?
Neil McGurk

This thread was discussed between 21/01/2010 and 27/01/2010

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