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MG MGA - Driving in the Rain

Heading down to Key West starting tomorrow, I see a heavy rain forecast for the entire day down the coast from NY to DC. I haven't had the car through that type of downpour and I'm looking for advice on how to prepare. We're going to seal up the top/windshield gaps with a putty insulating "rope" plus add an exterior layer of duct tape across the front. Also will spray the distributor and wires with Silicon to ward off moisture problems.

Any other tips on how to survive travelling 300 miles in an A in driving rain?

- Ken
Ken Doris

I've heard that Rain-X on the windscreen can be very effective. Never tried it myself.

Good luck,
M.D.
'57 Coupe
M. D.

Rain-X is cool for windshield vision, but don't leave home without a roll of duct tape. Not pretty, but neither are often poor seals at the top of the windshield and rain water rushing into your lap. During some of my cross country excursions through SD T-storms and Portland, OR downpours, the only way to get a decent seal on a 56 MGA was Duct tape. Noted that many others at MG2001 had to resort to it as well.
Bob Muenchausen

With a properly installed top, and good fitting side curtains, you will stay dry without all the tape or other measures. We have been in some torrential rains without any water in the cockpit. I have not experienced any problems with the ignition system, but if you are driving thru standing water you may have some problems from tire splash. The one weak point in my opinion is the wipers. I have been unable to find good replacement wiper arms. Rain-X is highly recommended. It is almost as good as wipers that work.
Ed Bell

Despite all your best attempts some water will probably get in through the top of the windscreen and will drip down on your lap and legs. I usually carry some towelling that I put across me if my clothing is anything like decent. Otherwise I just accept that I will get a bit damp in places. At least when it is raining the gear box tunnelling runs cool so you can usually keep the cockpit temperature under control.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Ken; If you don't have a center latch for your top, use a small "c" clamp. Pack your clothes in the large ziploc travel bags. Pack some towels too. Use rainx, and bring it with you. Do your defrosters work? Hard to see thru a little windscreen with water on both sides. Good luck and enjoy your adventure! Bill
bill cook

Rain-X is definitely what we will use - my wiper motor is still sitting on the work bench! We did a short trip in moderate rain last week to test it out and it did seem to be "OK". This trip will be the true test of it.

Water in the cockpit will be annoying, but my main concern is mechanical & electrical problems possibly disabling the car. Any suggestions of how to avoid that would be greatly appreciated.

And yes, Steve - I have thought of the fact that the one good thing about the rain will be the cooling effect. My car still runs hot in traffic and since I have to travel through/near NYC to get off Long Island, the rain will ease my fears of being stuck without moving in traffic jams.

- Ken
Ken Doris

Ken, we have driven thru many rain storms, some very heavy. Have yet to have the engine mis a beat due to water. Rain-X is a must have.
John H

New Years Day I drove Martin Swigs Anti Football Run over 250 from leaving my home to getting back. Horizontal rain, mud slides, flooded creeks, to boot. Driving a 1960 MGA roadster, competition windscreen, (not top here) a few extra towels and it was my most memorable dirve yet. You'll have a blast! Just check your brakes from time to time to dry things out. Have fun and send a repor when you get back. skip (finally sunny in california)
skip

On any of our trips, leakage was mostly annoying but never disabling. I'd be more concerned about water in your lap or the upholstery. The water never seemed to go anywhere where it could cause shorts, or other difficulties, and as said above, the engine, ignition, etc never missed a beat. With a little coaching, most side curtains can be made reasonably good, but not all years of tops have the same fit or sealing measures. And some are owner installed as "aftermarket" improvements. It can be done. But perhaps you will want to arrive in vintage concours character, and a wet lap might be worth a couple of points? ;-)
Bob Muenchausen

Had a problem with the top leaking at top of windshield. Took along some extra plastic garbage bags, covered legs and lap. My wife complained, but what can you do?
cliff hughes

Thanks guys - very encouraging news!

I'll post a report as soon as I reach a computer along the way (leaving work and the laptop at home :)

- Ken
Ken Doris

"Rain water rollin' all under ma hood (Bonnet)
Ah knew'd Ah's doin' ma motor good!"

Courtesy of Charles Berry in "Maybelline"
Art

Hey Ken
Have a good trip down and will see you in Marathon on Wednesday or Thursday (BRG 1600 with clear duct tape across the front if we run into any rain) :)

Rick
Rick Brown

Ken - Using Rain-X, you can leave the wiper motor on the bench. We use it on the TD and the only time I ever turn the wipers on is for very fine mist, such as what is thrown up from wet roads when the rain stops. One other tip, if you go though and deep water on the road, keep a foot on the brakes to keep the brake linings dry, other wise you won't hava any brakes when you first step on them and seems like an hour and a half for them to dry out and grab when you are trying to stop (actually probably not much more than a second or two, but you go a long distance in that period). Good luck and enjoy the trip - Dave
David DuBois



Ken writes:

> ...plus add an exterior layer of duct tape across the front.

Ooh, avoid duct tape! The adhesive is permanent and extremely difficult to get off. Go to a camera shop and get a roll of gaffer's tape. It looks pretty much like duct tape but it's removable. (It's used to hold down cables and just about anything else at TV/movie/photo shoots.) It can cost close to $20/roll in single lots, but it's *worth it.*

Duct tape is like a microwave oven. Once you've lived with it, you'll wonder how you ever did without it.
David Breneman

Oops, I meant to say GAFFER's tape is like a microwave oven, etc...
David Breneman

Two more things about driving in rain--I ran my MGA 1500 as a daily driver in the 60's in all weathers and found it usually dry but I added the centre snap for the top of the windscreen as the 1600s had because the the rain came through the gap when the top lifted at speed. This caused the top of the windscreen frame to lift, so put a stay rod, similar to MGB on it. That cureed that problem.
My other worry was being seen from behind in heavy rain so added a rear fog lamp. Actually a plastic trailer lamp unit with the two lamp filaments wired together so the total candlepower is around 35. Mounted below rear bumper, on left.
If you do a really good job of cleaning the ignition wires, etc., the engine will keep running even with a garden hose spraying on it.
Fraser Cooper

Actually the duct tape will come off fairly easily if you use "goof off".

Rick
Rick Brown

Gaffers tape is preferable, if you have a camera store or A/V-Theater supply in your town. Duct tape is ubiquitous and if not left on longer than the rain shower, not hard to remove without leaving the adhesive behind. Buy 3M's and you will get a better tape. As Rick mentions, Goof Off or Goo Be Gone will remove any residue easily.

Of the fellas at MG2001 whose As did not leak (or leaked less) were those who had (perish the thought) modified their cars so that a clip was mounted to the center of the top bow and windshield. Not a bad idea, but I don't think original for us early cars.
Bob Muenchausen

Bought some Rain X today, following this and the previous thread.
I cleaned the screen, as recommended, and applied the Rain X. I went for a ride, but for once it was not raining. So, I used the screen washer, and to my surprise, the water stayed on the screen.
What went wrong?
Nigel Munford

What was in your screen washer? If it was washer fluid and not plain water, it probably has "wetting agents" in it to help it lift dirt and grime, and my guess is that will counteract the Rain-X effects. Rain-X works best with soft rain water.
Bob Muenchausen

Good point. Thanks Bob
Nigel Munford

Made to the Keys!

Friday night drove 310 miles from NY to VA, mostly in the rain, varying from light to downpour. Rain-X did the job all the way. Only problems were when 18-wheelers passed us and got in front. The we were "drafting" them and had no air flow across the windscreen and the visiblity was poor until we opened a gap. The tape across the gap of the windscreen worked perfectly, and it seems that Rain-X itself worked at cleaning up the goo when we removed it. We had no leaks at all, and stayed completely dry, travelling at 65 mph on the turnpike at night, in heavy rain, with one headlight (a rock took out one early on). Somehow we enjoyed the whole experience!

We used the Amtrak Autotrain from VA to just north of Orlando, FL and that was a good experience. From Sanford, Fl, did another 300+ mile run to Key Largo on Monday. Here we have the opposite end of the spectrum, 90+ degrees and sunshine, hot, hot, hot!

Thursday we hook up with the other MGA's making it down here - about 25 total, with 40+ folks, then caravan to Key West and the Festival.


Thanks for all the good advice!

- Ken
Ken Doris

Ken, does this mean you are sending us all magaritas?
John H

John

I thought it was Pina Coladas in Key West, and you had to come west to California for Margaritas. ;-)

Larry
Larry Hallanger

Planning to freeze-dry the Margarita's (THE drink down here) and send them via email.

Enjoy!

- Ken
Ken Doris

E-mail, are you trying to get my computer drunk?
John H

This thread was discussed between 21/04/2006 and 27/04/2006

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