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MG MGB Technical - side moulding

Hi, I need some advice.
I was starting to fit the side mouldings to my MGB. I saw that the front strips have a light curve at the front to follow the lines of the car. But the rear strips are straight while the car has, near the tail lights, also a small curve in the body. So I will have to bend the strips to follow the lines of the car. Any advice on doing that without cracking the strips? The strips came from a "good" supplier.
Thanks for the help,
Herman
H. Jorens

The front of the front mouldings, the middle of the door moulding and the rear of the rear moulding are held by plates with nuts & washers - there is no need to "bend" anything, the mouldings will shape to the wings.
Chris at Octarine Services

I'm sure suppliers pictures show slight curves in two of the long pieces as well as more pronounced curves in the other two.

If I fitted new ones it was over 30 years ago. Taking them off since the rears have that slight curve, I wouldn't have thought they would 'bend to fit' on the car.
paulh4

!. The stainless is reasonably malleable so doubtful you will "crack" it, however you need to be careful you don't crease it by trying to over bend it.
2. The curve at the rear lights is not a big radius and will probably form naturally as you tighten up the retaining nut. Do it last!!!
Allan Reeling

I’m with Paul - my s/steel strips, supplied by Abingdon Motors Brisbane, had the appropriate pre-formed curve at front of front strip and rear of rear strip. I think they were from Moss. Fitting involves careful pressing over (new) special large-headed rivets, plus the nice secure threaded plates that Chris refers to above. Job done, stand back and admire. John.
J P Hall

Neither of my cars have holes on the doors for the plates, and there are discussions as to whether they should be front, rear or middle. Logically it should be the rear as that is most likely the place that will get caught in clothing if you brush past with the door open.

The rivets that come with the special fastenings and are only suitable for single-thickness panels with small holes. With half-wing replacements there is a double-thickness, and the holes can become oversize after other panel work. This means the rivet expands in the hole instead of behind the panel and can easily come loose. For double-thickness areas I fitted longer rivets to the cups,and for irregular holes used backing washers.
paulh4

No - the door plate holes are in the middle of the strip. You may have a rivet fitted there instead of the plate.

The central hole is a little larger than all the rest to take the thread of the plate.

Note there are 6 plates required per vehicle.

Chris at Octarine Services

Same size holes on mine, quite possibly reskinned. I've used the standard fasteners there, they wouldn't lock into the larger hole.
paulh4

This thread was discussed between 01/03/2020 and 06/03/2020

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