MG MGB and MGB GT Tech Talk
Barn B didn't have a grill installed, but the hood fit the fenders and latch. With the new aftermarket grille in place, when the center of the hood makes contact with the grille, the outer corners are about 1/2 inch higher than they should be.
The hood is aluminum. Do any of you wizards have a straightforward way to increase the arch of the hood where it mates with the grille?
Thanks--Mark in Milton Freewater OR
Pictures?
Have you removed or lowered the blocks on the fenders in the front corners.
Do you have any adjustment left at the hinge end? Would raising it a bit at the back help?
Otherwise you may be into placing two 2x4's on the fenders [well padded] and try to gently increase the arc over it's front to back length. It would take some finesse not to crease it but I can't think of any other way to do it. What is the alignment like along the fenders now?
I don't think you will be able to increase the arch left to right. Too much material. But you might get a 1/16th or and 1/8th by blocking at 45 degrees on each side and another at 1/3 from the front and 1/3 front the rear.... it all depends on how it aligns now along the fender.
Before you butcher an alloy bonnet, make sure the aftermarket grille aint the problem.
Had the same problem with my '79. I don't think the grill is after market. I have seen pictures of cb conversions that look like they had the same problem. Front edge of hood seems to have a different radius.
All I can tell you is what I did with my hood. It's an aftermarket steel hood (won't make that mistake again) and the arch was too flat. I laid it on the garage floor and stacked some wood blocks under the center of the leading edge. I put my hands on the corners of the hood and using the weight of my body I was able to carefully put more of an arch into it. I'm not saying I'd do this to an original aluminum hood, but it worked for my POS taiwan repro hood. Did I mention I'll never buy another one of those again?
Ryan Reis Wrote:
When I converted to chrome on my '78 I had the same problem. The hood touched in the center but was about 1/2" up on both sides. Here's what I did to correct it, per the directions supplied by Moss with the chrome conversion kit. Prop a 2X4 between the ground and hood and GENTLY push down on each outside corner. Go slow so you don't kink it. Do a little, then test the fit. Repeat as needed. I had no problems with any kinking and the finished curve matched the grill perfectly, but it did make a very small indentation on the inside lip that I then had to straighten, which was easy to do.
BUT, my car has a steel hood, so I can't say how well it would work with the aluminum. If you decide to try it this way - BE CAREFUL! No guarantee it will work as well with yours.
Thanks, all. I'll be doing some variation of Emil's two by four, but I might bandsaw an arch to distribute the bend a little for the aluminum hood.
I've got this same problem on a hood now. This is the fourth one I've used and the first with that condition. I'll try that block of wood method.
John