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MG TD TF 1500 - Securing Rear of Hood

I know securing the rear of the hood to the tack rail using removable fasteners is a popular modification. What are the best fasteners to use? Tenax, Lift the Dot or Turnbuckle?

Jan T
J Targosz

Jan, I used plain snaps because LTDs or turnbuckles (which I would have preffered) would interfere with the tonneau cover which is held on by snaps on the tub. I may have used more snaps than absolutely necessary. Jud

J. K. Chapin

The snaps that Jim used (I also used them) are called gripper snaps. They allow the cover for that area to be folded over the snaps and look just like screws were used. One thing I did find, it is sometimes hard to get the gripper snaps to unsnap. I purchased a set of short plastic pry bars (for lack of a better definition), one of which works perfectly to pop the stubborn snaps loosened. Cheers - Dave
DW DuBois

I used the same fittings. All I have against them is that they don't give as smooth a profile on the outside as tacks or staples would do. You can definitely see where each one is placed.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Does anyone have a pic or two showing the original means of fixing? Though still some months away from installation I'm interested in how it was done at Abingdon as I may want to reproduce the original layout as well as the type & number of fasteners. My car never had a hood when I purchased it in 1969. It came with the original fabric covered bows & timber front rail but with the hood material long gone. I still have the original rear mounting rail but it has so many holes it's useless as a guide to the fixing locations. Is it possible it was just tacked into position? Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Here are the original Phillips wood screws and eyelets used on my late-production TF.

Matthew.

M Magilton

Thanks Matthew. Is that on about a six inch spacing? Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter. TD4834 had 13 brass screws and cup washers holding its hood to the tack rail like Matts TF. I leaning toward button snaps for ease of access. The shop questions whether the snaps are strong enough to hold the hood in place at highway speeds and above. Any comments from those who went this route?

Cheers

Bill Chasser Jr
TD4834
W. A. Chasser Jr

Bill: They will do fine. You will have to secure the webbing with something other than snaps. Mine uses tacks there.
Christopher Couper

I will second Chris' statement - I installed the hood on our TD with snaps at least 15 years ago and we often drive the car on the highways and freeways at speeds up to 70 MPH. We have never had any problem with the set up and it makes it much easier to put whatever you need behind the seats. One of our club members walked by as I was loading our TD after an event and commented wow! a hatch back TD! I am now toying with a way to be able to roll the back part of the hood up and secure it in place for driving in hot weather. Cheers - Dave
DW DuBois

With the rear of the hood rolled up I would be concerned about breathing exhaust fumes. Experience from Land Rovers kicking in. Maybe that is why LR's have the extra large vents under the windscreen?

Peter: 13 hood screws same as Bill (Not counting the two standard snaps).

Matthew.
M Magilton

Matthew, what is that peg on the body in your picture, below the hood rail, used for?

Tim
TD12524
TW Burchfield

I used snaps on mine, for the purpose of lifting the hood/top to access the side screen box easier and put packages in the back. They hold fine and don't come loose when driving. I can also remove the whole top, bows and all with little effort if needed. The flap covers them from view. PJ
Paul161

Tim,

Probably the tonneau cover.

Jim
James Neel

Yes, its one of the four factory exterior LTD pegs for the half tonneau (and later full tonneau).

Matthew.
M Magilton

Just been trying to order some press studs and there are various types and sizes. Obviously I don't want the type that fit two pieces of material together (as in a pair of jeans) rather the type where the male part is screwed to something firm (i.e. the body) However there are various sizes. Can I assume the type to use is the same as the ones at each corner of the rear edge i.e. the ones that have to be undone before lowering the hood? (I have these as part of the hood kit) Also on the rear side screens there are three fastenings in the lower triangle. Clausager appears to show them as rivets. Is this correct? What would be really useful to me, and I suspect many others, would be a set of photos showing all the fastening associated with the hood, sidescreens and tonneau covers . I have looked at number of cars and the fastenings vary. This is only to be expected since virtually all must have had new hoods and sidescreens fitted at some time.

Cheers to all

Jan T
J Targosz

DW. What a novel idea. Out here in the sacramento valley it gets very hot in the summer and will likely or efer to have the top up during the heat of the day especially with my fur kids along for the ride. Keep us informed as you work out the details. I'will be most interested in your progress

Matthew. Where is the location of the "two standard snaps"? Some of my fixings are not apparent as some where missing from the tack
strip. The shop should be close to affixing the hood in the next couple of days


Cheers

Bill Chasser Jr
TD4834
W. A. Chasser Jr

The three fixtures on the lower part of the rear sidescreens are best done using aluminium rivets 1/8" OD x 3/8" long, domed or flat head. I painted them and fitted nylon washers under the head of mine. Once inserted through the fabric and the metal frame, put a block of wood under the head and beat the other end flat with a hammer - very easy and gives excellent results. I used the same size snaps / poppers all round the back of the hood. The only drawback that I have found is that the additional bulk makes the tonneau cover an extremely tight fit!
Dave H
Dave Hill

Bill, the two standard snaps are the ones at the rear corners immediately behind the rear side screens.

Matthew.
M Magilton

There are pictures of the snap install, including the straps, on my website in the weather protection section.

Warmly,
Dave
Dave Braun

Thanks Matthew and Dave. I have the two snaps on the side pieces of the original tack rails. I thought you were speaking of something else. Dave I will pour over your pics again. My car was equipped with a full tonneau but the snaps were not all on the body when I took the tub apart. But it was a combination of snaps and LTDs. The LTDS were atop the scuttle and I thought the doors as well. I don't remember if they were on the rear quarters and rear panel above the tank or if they were button snaps. Also on the rear quarters at the B pillar there are two snap holes just above the upper door hinge about 2"s apart. I don't know why they were so close together. All the holes enter solid wood... My new full tonneau from Robbins gave no explanations.

Regards

Bill Chasser Jr
TD4834
W. A. Chasser Jr

There does not seem to be any standard pattern for fitting a full tonneau, apart from utilising the four rear LTD's for the half tonneau. I have seen many haphazard and 'overkill' methods.
Usually its two by the central mirror, one by each windscreen stanchion and at least one above the door hinge. Studs on top of the scuttle humps are unnecessary if the tonneau is closely tailored.

Matthew.
M Magilton

This thread was discussed between 24/09/2015 and 29/09/2015

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