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MG TD TF 1500 - Wheel arch covers

Can anyone tell me the thickness of the felt under the rear wheel arch covers, my kit didn't have it supplied.
Also any hints to make a smooth finish would be appreciated.
Regards, Don TF 4887
D J Walker

Don I have recently acquired an original set of upholstery from a TF which still has some of the black felt adhering to the wheel arch trim. It measures between 5 & 6mm so was probably 1/4" thick when new. See pic. There is some good info in the archive. Best to wade through & make up your own mind. Biggest mistake most people make is to make it too thick. 6mm medium density felt is what I plan to use. Horst's use of Dacron or even foam is not the way to go IMHO. Cheers
Peter TD 5801

P Hehir

Hi Don,

Look at my reply under the "Side Curtain Storage Box" pic number 4. At first try I made a real mess of covering the wheel arches and especially the rear, internal corners. Eventually I made up some backings from fibreglass and was able to pull the vinyl nice and taught, with no wrinkles. For the corners I use pieces from a plastic bucket as formers for the fibreglass lay up.

Jan T
J Targosz

Peter, thanks for the info. on the felt, I was one of the 'most people......' and tried to put too thick a packing under the trim.

Jan, I'm not too sure what you are describing, did you make up a cover over the wheel arches.
What ever you did I want mine like the photo you put up. It looks fabulous.
Regards, Don TF 4887
D J Walker

If your having trouble getting the wrinkles and bubbles out of the covering material for the wheel arches you might try cutting two pieces of plywood that will fit over the vinyl and after applying adhesive and getting the vinyl cover as smooth as possible wedge the plywood tight over the vinyl. I used several pieces 3/4 PVC pipe cut long between the sides to put pressure on the plywood. Leave in place until the adhesive cures, a day or so. This worked for me.
^18:0:1^76:0:1^110:0:78^114:0:8

Don -

This doesn't answer your wheel arch question, but the location is near ...

When you glue carpet to the toe board, leave the area around the flange of the prop shaft tunnel with no adhesive. This will allow you to remove the tunnel and floorboards. A few slits at the machine screws and you can remove the tunnel. The cover over the hand brake hides that portion of the toe board.

Lonnie
TF7211
LM Cook

Do Not try to secure the vinyl to the felt. Leave the felt short of the edge wheel arch by 3/4 to 1" both on the outside and the inside.

Secure the covering to the edges only.

Jim B.
JA Benjamin

Hi Don,

I didn't use a kit I just bought a length of vinyl and did the covering myself. As with everything preparation is the key. I cut two pieces of chip board the exact size of the vertical faces of the wheel arches and then attached pieces of plastic, cut from an old waste bin, to form the horizontal part of the arch. With some heat from a warm air gun I was able to form it to the correct shape. After spraying with release agent I simply cast two backing boards for the arch covering with fibreglass. To cover them I didn't use any padding or stitches. The vinyl was stuck onto the vertical faces directly and pulled over the top edge. Leaving the vinyl by a warm radiator helps enormously. For the top face I folded a piece of vinyl down the centre and glued it back to back. This was then glued to the top of the backing board with spray on contact adhesive. To finish the thing off I ran a dribble of super glue into the seam between the top and side. This welds the vinyl pieces together and you will never be able to separate them. Using double thickness vinyl on the top produces just the correct amount of padding. I made similar backers for the vinyl in the corners but used sections taken from a plastic bucket as formers. I think care is necessary if you are going to buy an upholstery kit. No two cars are the same and my door panels differed from side to side. If you need to open up a covered panel to trim the plywood it will affect the distance between the hidem and the edge. I had to get my door panels professionally stitched though since I don't have a sewing machine. Just to illustrate why care is needed with outsourced upholstery I attach a PIC of my seats. The trimmer did a superb job but has made the pleats in the back and squab to line up. Originally I think there was one more pleat in the back.

Jan

J Targosz

I used 6mm high density foam rubber glued to the arch. This hid all imperfections and provided a smooth base for the vinyl to adhere too, no issues obtaining a wrinkle free finish provided you keep the covers under tension as you apply them.

I had no success using pressure pack can adhesive although I had purchased a top brand name product. The trick is to follow directions and not assemble until both joining surfaces are tacky. As suggested glue the cover edges only, however I applied adhesive to the bulk of the foam underlay as it tends to reduce the sponginess of the foam.

This method does not create a period correct outcome the covers have a softer spongier feel.
G Evans

Thanks for all the helpful hints. I have the felt cut and will only glue the covers to the edges as suggested........and hold my breath.
Don TF 4887
D J Walker

reactivated for R Stout
Len Fanelli

This thread was discussed between 14/10/2015 and 19/12/2015

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