Radiator Brace...Which way round?

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Herman 5560
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Radiator Brace...Which way round?

Post by Herman 5560 » Mon Mar 04, 2019 2:21 am

As my car was never very original the fact that I have pictures of how I took it apart apparently means nothing :x

I am re-assembling the radiator after a complete rebuild. Question is which way round does the brace go? does not seem to matter to the end result as the chrome ends that bolt to it can also be swopped to suit, but if I can at least get right what I have, why not?

:bow:

While I have your attention, my radiator stays are also non standard. Just basic dimensions, is it 8mm or 10mm diameter, I have one of each on my car and it it pipe or solid bar?

:bow:
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Rad Brace.jpg

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Marv
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Re: Radiator Brace...Which way round?

Post by Marv » Mon Mar 04, 2019 6:35 am

RADIATOR MGTD.jpg
You have it the wrong way round in your picture. Reverse it!

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Herman 5560
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Re: Radiator Brace...Which way round?

Post by Herman 5560 » Mon Mar 04, 2019 9:37 am

Thanks Marv, and based on this pic the furthest bolt hole should be at the bottom?

Has anybody got a picture of what the "inner support hood strip" looks like? Do you need one on both sides, tub and rad?



What are the specs for the hardware to secure the Grill to the Rad, Mine was attached with what we call veranda bolts, I do not seem to find the item in the cooling section or the Rad/shell section. The hardware I find there is only 4 non chrome items and 2 chrome items. I need 2 at the top and 4 per side. So confused. Looks like it should be countersunk head screws.
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brace extensions.JPG
brace extensions.JPG (12.57 KiB) Viewed 4541 times
bonnet strip inner brkt.JPG
bonnet strip inner brkt.JPG (20.2 KiB) Viewed 4541 times

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Steve Simmons
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Re: Radiator Brace...Which way round?

Post by Steve Simmons » Mon Mar 04, 2019 9:54 am

Yes, I believe there are two inner and two outer brackets for the bonnet/hood. One on the grill with slotted flat head screws, and on the tub side I believe it's slotted flat head wood screws. If you plan to open the bonnet and lay it on top of itself, consider leaving the screws out of the rear bracket to reduce the chance of stress cracks in the bonnet panel.

The radiator brace only fits one way around because it has to pass through the slot in the grill shell. This will indeed put the lower hole outboard of the upper one.
1949 TC8975 / XPAG 9609
1948 TC6011 / XPEG1182 (XPAG6472)
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Herman 5560
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Re: Radiator Brace...Which way round?

Post by Herman 5560 » Mon Mar 04, 2019 10:27 am

Any pics of those inner brackets as I will have to make them.

Time to import and the cost Rand : Pound :cry:

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Herman 5560
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Re: Radiator Brace...Which way round?

Post by Herman 5560 » Tue Mar 05, 2019 2:37 am

According to the B & G site the top hole should be the furthest. :?
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Rad Stay Extension Band G.JPG
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Marv
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Re: Radiator Brace...Which way round?

Post by Marv » Tue Mar 05, 2019 7:53 am

Functionally, it makes no difference as the extension headlight cradle mounting hole will end up the same anyway. :thumbs:

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Re: Radiator Brace...Which way round?

Post by Steve Simmons » Tue Mar 05, 2019 8:52 am

I never thought about which way the factory did it, if they even cared. I have three of them here at the moment so I went and looked at them all, and behold, one has the bottom hole outboard and the other two have it inboard. I agree with Marv that it doesn't seem to matter which way it goes since the large hole is centered on the bracket. And the screws are hidden from view when the bonnet is closed anyway.

Here is the only photo I have of the inner brackets...
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TC Bonnet Brackets
TC Bonnet Brackets
inner-bonnet-bracket.jpg (110.56 KiB) Viewed 4502 times
1949 TC8975 / XPAG 9609
1948 TC6011 / XPEG1182 (XPAG6472)
http://www.mgnuts.com

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Herman 5560
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Re: Radiator Brace...Which way round?

Post by Herman 5560 » Tue Mar 05, 2019 8:35 pm

Thanks Steve

That is actually the perfect pic, I now understand that the inner brkt actually goes under the hinge bar and also shoes the gauge to be the same as the outer brkt.

I would have tried to manufacture it so it goes on top of the hinge bar. :thumbs:

It also appears as if you have a spacer under the whole lot, and this is on the tub side?? so the rubber has been cut to allow direct contact with the wood as confirmed by Nick with his very useful pics on fitting the bonnet rubber. :bow:

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Herman 5560
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Re: Radiator Brace...Which way round?

Post by Herman 5560 » Thu Mar 07, 2019 9:13 am

I bought the spacers that should go under the Rad. Just not sure if they must be fitted on top of one another like I have it in the pic or one between the rad and the chassis and the other below the chassis with the washer and then the nut.

Quite important as it sets the height for the rad which sets the height for the bonnet. :?
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MG Rad Bottom Rubber Spacers.jpg
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Herman 5560
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Re: Radiator Brace...Which way round?

Post by Herman 5560 » Thu Mar 07, 2019 9:43 am

This is what I could find on the net.

so one above and one below and battle with the rad hose..
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TC 4985.JPG

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Re: Radiator Brace...Which way round?

Post by Steve Simmons » Thu Mar 07, 2019 10:30 am

Yes, one above and one below, with a large washer under the lower one. It's also not a bad idea to double nut these.
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Herman 5560
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Re: Radiator Brace...Which way round?

Post by Herman 5560 » Thu Mar 07, 2019 11:14 am

Thanks will do.

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Marv
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Re: Radiator Brace...Which way round?

Post by Marv » Thu Mar 07, 2019 11:38 am

As Steve said: The mount is a rubber grommet which is surrounded by a metal band. One grommet and band go above the bracket and one below, followed by a large washer and then a nut and a locking nut. I believe the nuts are 3/8 BSF - double nutted or a lock nut is good.

As far as one can tell, the grommets' slot cut in the side serve no purpose and the metal band is to contain the height of the grommet (and hence the bonnet) the rubber will soften over time due to contaimination or stress but the metal band will retain the correct height.

td radiator mount.jpg
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Herman 5560
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Re: Radiator Brace...Which way round?

Post by Herman 5560 » Thu Mar 07, 2019 8:31 pm

Nice pic, very clear. Amazing no such pic on the net. Like I say I like to research before I ask a silly question. :bow:

Just to finalize the Rad fitment this week end I need to know the Rad stay's OD. 8mm or 10mm, I have 10mm on the Lh side and 8mm on the RH side. They do not have the adjustable forks any more and the previous owner turned them around and bolted the scuttle side to the rad and bolted a piece of angle iron to the scuttle supports and double nutted the part where the fork would go to the angle iron. It works quite well as you do not have to unbolt anything when you want to adjust the Rad to Scuttle alignment...I know it is not right, but before I start to manufacture the adjuster forks I will crack on with the new harness and seats.

Need to get her running again. ;)

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Herman 5560
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Re: Radiator Brace...Which way round?

Post by Herman 5560 » Sat Mar 09, 2019 7:14 am

Just sharing what people can do to a car...why I do not know...did they loose the forks?
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wrong RAD stay Bottom.jpg
Wrong Rad stay Top.jpg

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Herman 5560
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Re: Radiator Brace...Which way round?

Post by Herman 5560 » Sat Mar 09, 2019 7:18 am

My rendition of the Bonner INNER bracket. Will order 2 when I place my next order, but for now I am good to go.

Thanks for pics.
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Bonnet Hing Inner Brkt Home Made 1.jpg
Bonnet Hing Inner Brkt Home Made 2.jpg

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Re: Radiator Brace...Which way round?

Post by Steve Simmons » Sat Mar 09, 2019 9:31 am

I just measured my radiator stay rods. They are 0.566" which translates to about 14.38mm. This includes a thick layer of paint.

I wonder if someone needed a shorter rod or a custom angle on your car, and was too lazy to do it right.
1949 TC8975 / XPAG 9609
1948 TC6011 / XPEG1182 (XPAG6472)
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Herman 5560
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Re: Radiator Brace...Which way round?

Post by Herman 5560 » Sat Mar 09, 2019 10:01 am

Thanks Steve, I would never have guessed that size. I thought 10mm max. Thanks for measuring

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