Home › Forums › MGTD Kit Cars › VW Based Kits › Hood Rod
- This topic has 25 replies, 14 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 5 months ago by
Montie Henderson.
-
AuthorPosts
-
June 19, 2013 at 10:30 am #234751
I’m not sure of the Manufacture of my TD but I think it is Fiberfab. I have “TD” emblems not “FF”.
Has anyone got any ideas on how to keep the front (and rear) hoods open?
Right now, I’m using sticks of wood. Not such a problem with the back as they wedge right in there but the front hood is a different situation as a few bruised heads and hands indicate.
I bought a telescopic rod from MG Magic but I can’t work out how or where it might mount in the front. I’m thinking that an old fashion hood rod with clip that just marries with a bracket put under the hood might work?
Any ideas or pics would be appreciated (by both my head and hands)June 19, 2013 at 12:46 pm #256652This strap was on my car when I bought it. It’s worked very well so far. It could blow closed in a good wind and thump your noggin.
It’s an old seat belt with one end cut and screwed to the metal stiffener on the hood, and the other end riveted to the firewall.
When I get time I think I’ll change it to a smaller 1″ strap. The seat belt is kind of over kill.
This probably would not work with a front engine car. The strap could get against something hot and melt unless located in just the right spot.
June 19, 2013 at 12:51 pm #256653That’s the Classic Roadsters Ltd approach. Same set up on my car.
Dick is right about the wind gusts, in theory. But in over 30 years, I’ve never had the hood blow over.Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
June 20, 2013 at 11:21 am #256654Thx Dick and Paul:
Looks like a simple solution (Why didn’t I think of that).
I’ll give it a shoot.
Regs
dan
PS: Now have a problem with a cracked windshield – see separate post.June 20, 2013 at 11:40 am #256655I’m using a hinged prop rod from first gen. Cavalier with a plastic retainer glued to hood center. Won’t drop or fall open.
Bill Ascheman
Fiberfab Ford
Modified 5.0, 5sp., 4:11
Autocross & Hillclimb
"Drive Happy"June 20, 2013 at 11:59 am #256656Thx Bill:
That was sort of the way I was thinking. Do you have a picture?
DanJune 20, 2013 at 9:27 pm #256657Here you go. I just kept using parts from where I was working at the time.
Bill Ascheman
Fiberfab Ford
Modified 5.0, 5sp., 4:11
Autocross & Hillclimb
"Drive Happy"June 20, 2013 at 10:15 pm #256658The londen roadster came with the strap and it will blow down in the wind. Just wondering has anyone ever forgot to latch it. I think that if you didnt latch it the wind wind would catch it and rip it off
June 20, 2013 at 11:31 pm #256659Thx Bill
The pic helps a lot.
DanJune 21, 2013 at 11:14 am #256660BCW has both rod and strap
June 21, 2013 at 11:41 am #256661My fiberfab kit has the rod as an “Optional” part…which I have.
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackJune 21, 2013 at 11:49 am #256662Daytona MiGi:
June 21, 2013 at 12:14 pm #256663Hi Allen:
Any idea of a supplier of the Fiberfab “optional” hood prop part?
I have a telescopic prop from MG Magic but I can see it fitting on my car.
Thx
DanJune 21, 2013 at 12:16 pm #256664Whoops, should read “can’t see it fitting”
June 21, 2013 at 2:19 pm #256665The hood rod I have was an optional part and came with the kit when I bought the kit from the 2nd owner. (Long story short 1st two owners never built the TD). The original owner purchased several options for the kit. From what I have it doesn’t appear to be very difficult to fabricate. Here’s the link from the download manuals section on the left. Hood Support Rod is on page 72, Figure 77.
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackJune 21, 2013 at 5:58 pm #256666Anonymous
InactiveHood support rod can be easily made. !/4 ” steel rod a couple of coter pins and a couple of washers. Washers and coter pins needed to attach to body. Holes for coter pins driled in rod . Coter pin installed then a flat washer. Placed in position at bulkhead. Another flat washer then another flat coter pin. Rod also has to be bent at a 90 degree bend. Clip to hold when not in use made from a small piece of flat sheet metal.
June 21, 2013 at 9:28 pm #256667MG Magic has this adjustable slide rod that can be used for either the hood or engine lid…Early FF TDr on 69 VW pan
Slowly coming back from the ashes...June 22, 2013 at 9:40 am #256668Got this one from MG Magic but can’t figure out where it would attach
Any suggestions would be welcome. 😀June 22, 2013 at 9:47 am #256669If your hood has the center chrome strip, attach one end to a mounting bolt/stud for that chrome strip. Then locate the other end on the firewall based upon based upon the extended length and the angle that you want the hood to stay, when propped up.
Even if there’s no existing mounting bolt/stud for the chrome strip in a good location, you can use the chrome strip to cover a mounting screw/bolt for the bracket….Early FF TDr on 69 VW pan
Slowly coming back from the ashes...June 22, 2013 at 11:59 am #256670Why do you guys make this so difficult and costly? I like simple and easy (and inexpensive).
My car came with a hood support rod installed behind the gas tank on the firewall (see pics) but it seemed a little short and there was nothing to connect it to or support it underneath the hood. I glued a block of wood that I had drilled a hole into, to the underneath of the hood and used a length of PVC pipe I had lying around to hold up the hood. The bottom end of the pipe just sits in and wedges into the passenger side corner of the compartment and is very secure and the hood is very stable. When not in use, the pipe lies in the space behind the gas tank and just sits there, not rattling or anything. Nobody sees this arrangement (if you are looking for pure beauty or absolute authenticity) and I don’t think it’s a detraction from the car, it just works. I could have used the rod that’s there and just again glued a block of wood to the underside of the hood, but this time I would not have drilled the hole all the way through, just so that it wouldn’t (unlikely) poke a hole or crack the fiberglass or gelcoat of the hood because of the localized pressure on it.
I use the same idea, another length of PVC pipe, stored in the boot behind the seats when not in use, to support the rear deck and spare tire if I need to do something in the engine compartment. It also wedges in in appropriate areas and is very secure and once in place, cannot slip.June 22, 2013 at 9:00 pm #256671That’s just about perfect, Marc. Nicely done; unfussy.
June 23, 2013 at 9:04 am #256672Hi mrimd:
Thx for this. I notice the Lion Rampant on the Windshield.
I’m just off “hame” for a big family reunion. We have rented a castle in the Highlands.
“Wha’s lik us?”
DanJune 23, 2013 at 9:05 am #256673Was your original rod put in backwards? It would make more sense from the same side you put your PVC rod.
June 23, 2013 at 10:10 am #256674That’s the way it was when I bought the car. The hinge is on the wrong side for that rod, but I prefer the hinge on the driver’s side anyway.
I just made the hood support as easy as as inexpensive as I thought necessary, and like I said, it works and works well.October 27, 2013 at 10:16 am #256675WHERE IS THE GAS TANK ON THIS ONE.
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.