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MG TD TF 1500 - TD Hood/Soft Top

I am now at the point of fixing the soft top frame to the new tub.

1. What is the technique to ensure a good and proper fit?

2. What is a good price (in the UK) for having a custom hood made and fitted?

3. What experience has anyone had fiting a sot top purchased from one of the usual suppliers?

Bob Marshall
R J Marshall

Bob. I bought and fitted a mohair hood from Don. Instructions provided were minimal, but I used the guidance from various places - Schach's book, the From The Frame Up website tech section, Moss and NTG. The hood was well made, a generous size and fitted very well. I used Lift The Dot fasteners along the back so as to give improved access behind the seats, and used a pneumatic staple gun to fix to the front rail, but tacks would do. Get the frame dead square and correctly fitted first. Mine was for a TF but the procedure is identical.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Hi Bob,
My hood also came from Don and it is excellent. Like Dave I also fitted Lift a Dots along the rear rail. The only scary bit of the job was cutting darts at the top front corners. Schach's book shows how to do this. I had an electric stapler but this failed half way through the job so I bought a strong manual one from Screwfix. This was perfect for attaching the hood to the front frame and also for the hidem banding which covers this. Rather than use nails for the hidem end covers I secured them with long, small diameter, round head stainless screws. What ever you do don't attempt to drill any holes through the hood material e.g. for lift a dots. If the drill bit catches you will rip the material to pieces. I ground an old screwdriver to a point and heated this with a gas torch and burnt/melted any required holes. There are plenty needed for the side screen strips. For the straps that fit under the hood and hold the bow frames in position I used pieces of old seat belt bought from a scrap yard for £1 for their tea fund!

Cheers

Jan T
J Targosz

I used a cork borer for the holes and it was perfect, but a suitably sized tube with the end sharpened using a round file would do. You can buy the webbing from B&G as its unlikely to be supplied with the hood.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Re question 1, I plan to pack the tub fixings using scrap the same thickness as the upholstery substrate & vinyl & move them around until I'm happy with the position of the frame & the bare side curtains. Then I'll fill any redundant holes in the tub frame. I agree with Dave. Installing the upholstery first then trying to fit the frame is a recipe for disaster but it sounds as though you're aware of that Bob. Can't help you with your other questions. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

I've posted similar pics before & I can't state with absolute certainty that all TD frames left the factory this way, but I believe it to be so. The material is 50mm wide & seems to be some sort of canvas. This is the condition I found the frames in when I purchased the car in 1969. The deterioration of the material is consistent with 18 years of use. JMHO. Cheers
Peter TD 5801

P Hehir

Pic 2

P Hehir

Pic 3

P Hehir

This thread was discussed between 02/04/2016 and 03/04/2016

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