MG MGB and MGB GT Tech Talk
A novice question.
I just removed my luggage rack, and I really like the look. I am considering options for repairing the holes, but I noticed that a truck lid skin is available.
What is involved in replacing a skin?
Cheaper to buy a different lid and sell yours to someone who wants t o install a luggage rack.
If the holes are small in your trunk lid, have them welded shut and then ground down. Cheaper and you keep the lid that fits your car. If not, buy a new used one as Chris and Clay have suggested.
another option --I removed my luggage rack and put black plastic plugs (yellow car)in the holes that are sealed and dont leak , if ever I want to reinstall rack I can --the look is not all that bad and you can have your cake too --LOL
If all thats needed on your lid is filling the rack holes, it's pretty easy. But if you have rust around the lower area that also needs repaired and indentations from people pushing on the lid to close it. It can all be repaired but the countours of the lid are such that its alot (did I say ALOT) of work to get it looking correct. I have done a lot of body work over the years and I am still not happy with mine. So I added a luggage rack to help conceal the contour not being perfect. I wish I had replaced the skin, but the cost was more than I wanted to pay. I have never replaced a trunk lid, but I have done door skins. Not a bad job if you have some experience in body work and welding or brazing.
I’m already doing something like what Daniel and Gil suggested. I am plugging the holes. Bondo may be an option as well in time.
I recently saw trunk skins ($160) available from the Roadster Factory. Complete trunk lids are $550. It seems reasonable to consider a skin, so I was wondering what was involved in installing the skin other than painting. Also do skins fit OK on original equipment lids? Is the effort and secondary expense worth it?
Assuming:
-No welding equipment
-willing to re-spray panel
-Rest of panel is rust free
Then I would take a piece of tin and glue it on from the backside using a panel adhesive (stuff aint cheap thought) Fill in the hole with fiberglass strand body fill. Smooth over with a skim of filler and paint the panel.
OR
Instead of adhesive and tin, back up the hole with a fiberglass patch. In this caseI might try to peen in the hole to createa a bit of a dish shape. Proceed as above to finish.
See my journal, entry #13.
http://www.mgexperience.net/journal/Steve+Lyle/3725
Have you thought this through? Where will you put the beer? :beer:
I've been thinking of installing Pem Nuts in the holes, and using plastic buttons to cover them, That lets me install the luggage rack when I need it, and have a clean rear deck otherwise.
Pem nuts -> "Self Clinching Nuts" - you learn something every day.
T
Sand a small area around holes.
Lightly tap down edges.
Smear a skin of fibreglass bog over hole.
Sand level.
Finish as normal with bog/primer/paint.
Plastic plugs or weld up / fill the holes and respray the bootlid.
Don't put a new skin on = costs heaps and really hard to get it to fit well (takes way too much time/skill)
Don't buy a secondhand bootlid - it too will need fitting / painting etc
Paul ;-)