Back on the Midget after a vacation and work break.

[JPSmit]

lights are the same

 

[DavidApp]

Thank you.

Looking at one I thought I could see a slight angle t one side. Must be my eyes.

David

 

[DavidApp]

The rear apron had been damaged and repaired at some time in the past and when I got the car the drivers side rear wing/tail light area had taken a bang. Someone had started a shoddy repair on the area including bondo n the tail light opening.
I could see the apron to wing had been bent out of position and the tail light opening was out of shape so I decided the best approach was a new apron for a number of reasons. It should give me a guide to the correct shape for the lower wing connection and also got rid of the badly beaten up area of the apron.
I have cut out the old apron and started to construct a new tail light opening to give the wing some shape. It is taking time because I am Not a body work guy by trade. OTJ training.
It is getting there but I will still need some filler to complete the job. Purest would manage to hammer out very bump and crease but I think this area has been through so much I think even an expert might have a task on their hands,
I am fitting the apron and making adjustments then welding a little then adjusting again. The boot lid opening is the next challenge which is tied in with the apron and tail light.

David

 

[JPSmit]

looks great! the original looks like they tried to repair it with their teeth!

 

[DavidApp]

Each time I fit the apron it seems a little better. Going to have to do something with the boot lid channel on both sides. Almost looks like the apron is too far to the left but the bumper holes line up so I will fix the channels. Looks better in the photo. The old part of the channel has some damage.

David

David

 

[DavidApp]

Got fed up looking at the maroon bonnet standing in the corner of the shop so I started to strip it back to bare metal. As I sanded with my DA sander I noticed it must have been painted several times in the past. Looks like tree rings. Trying to find the best method of removing the paint. Paint stripper is working but slowly so I may resort to my sand blaster especially for the underside. I know there is said to be a risk of distortion but did not see any when I did the TR3A body work.
The rusty patch had no paint on it when I got the car. It must have delaminated as I found rust out under the paint.

Da

vid

 

[JPSmit]

I like the yellow! When I had Ms Triss sandblasted they ended up distorting the bonnet and the boot lid. Admittedly it was the kid that worked for the owner who went in with full on industrial strength blasting. It was really annoying though for what was a pretty pristine car.

 

[DavidApp]

I would be using a HF pressure tank blaster not sending it out to an industrial blaster where they probable go with 150psi + and large media.

David

 

[DavidApp]

Back to the rear apron area. I have avoided it for as long as I could.
The rear apron was damaged beyond my abilities to fix it. As I ground off the filler I came across 2 layers of paint and filler so it had been fixed 2 times before.
I had some repairs to do on the boot floor and apron support bracket. Sand blasted the area yesterday so I am ready to get it welded in. I made some special clamps to hold the apron edges to the wing in that unaccusable area under the rear lights.
I bought an apron panel from Moss UK.
The bottom edge of the apron is spot welded and it appeared it could be tough to do the plug weld thing on that area so I bought a HF 220 Volt spot welder. It is heavy. My first impression of my test welds is it does a good lob. I can't pull or chisel the test pieces apart.
I sprayed weld through primer on one test piece and that welded fine.
So far I will give it top marks.

Should the join between the apron and wing be smooth or show where the panels come together? Anyone got a photo of the area?

David

 

[Bayless]

Hey David, not sure about your question but does this help?

 

[DavidApp]

Looks great.

My plan is to weld top and bottom but as it would look bad to have a weld in the center area I may try to braze the joint. May be a place for the panel adhesive.

David

 

[JPSmit]

I presume mine was just MIG welded

 

[DavidApp]

Thank you.

Have to see how small I can make the weld spot.
When they built the car the wings and apron must have been done as an assembly off the car.

David

 

[DavidApp]

Have you closed up the reversing light openings and the side markers?

Getting the boo=t lid to body gaps to look right. How much of a gap do you have along the trailing edge of the boot lid? I need to get the rubber seals to help setting the gaps. I gather the ones that Moss sells are too stiff/thick.

Moving on to the dash.
Any way of getting the lamp holder clips off with out destroying them and any idea if replacement clips are available?

David

 

[JPSmit]

I did have them weld in the signal lights and the reverse lights. Full disclosure this started out as a rubber bumper> It had been lightly rear ended so it was an easy decision to convert it to chrome bumper. The rear valance is from a chrome bumpered car. If you look at the picture, you will see the reverse light on the left under the bumper. It is a generic motorcycle signal light (front) with a clear bulb instead of a yellow bulb. I can measure the trunk gap in the morning. I did use Moss trim and am fine with it, though it is generally acknowledged that MacGregor here in Canada sells a superior product. > MacGregor British Car Parts <

 

[DavidApp]

Thank you.

Looking good.

I notice the radio console that came in my 1974 car has an EGR light??

David

 

[DavidApp]

I posted the lamp retaining clip question on the other forum and got a link to Moss UK. That link gave me a part number which I used on the Moss US site and they have them on the MGB section but not the Midget section.
The Number is BHA5125

David

 

[Bayless]

I tried the moss boot lid seal first and it left a gap at the back of 3/8 inch and that's with the buffers removed. I ordered the one from Macgregor and it actually fits.

 

[JPSmit]

Here is the gap

and the corner - you don't see it, the boot edge lifts a little, so, yes the trim is bit thick. OTOH it is good enough.

and all of it

In terms of the EGR I think by '74 they were already grappling with emissions on the car. I keep pondering replacing the old (useless) buttons with either a USB port or a start button or both.

 

[Bayless]

JP, your Moss seal fits a lot better than mine. It looks like your gap is pretty close to 3/8. Mine must have been more like 1/2.I didn't actually measure it but was just guessing. BTW, your car looks outstanding.