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MG MGA - Nose Questions



Questions:
I am putting in the duct pieces between the radiator and the grille. The pieces I have from Moss are about 17 inches long.

1. How long should they be? 17" takes them right down to the grille (where they show through).

2. The ducts need to turn under the cross member which holds the bonnet lock. This seems to be impossibly tight. If I try to bend the duct around it I'm sure it will kink. How do you fit these pieces?

3. The vinyl piping around the grille is a nightmare! I've had the grille on and off several times now but I still can't the vinyl to stay in place. The car has a new nose and the grille now fits where it touches. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Dan
Dan Barton

Glue the piping to the grill before installing the grille. Fitting the ducts is a pain and yes you can see them behind the grille.
Ed Bell

Dan, glue it with contact cement or 3M's super weather strip adhesive.
John H

I glued my piping to the grille after fighting it and losing. It a pain to glue but seems impossible it fit unless you do.
Wray

I have my grille and slats off at the moment so I have just had a look at the ducting I fitted 9 years ago. It brought back memories! Yes they are a pain to fit. One of mine has a small kink and the other a bit of a dent where it passes the bonnet locking cross member. However, it is almost impossible to see any of this once the radiator, grille and slats are in place. And yes, the ducts comes up very close to the slats. I actually fitted some black rubber piping round the front edge of the ducting to smarten up their appearance behind the slats.

Steve
Steve Gyles

I was thinking of cutting the ducts so that I have an angle which will make a tighter fit over the metal work and make the angle a little easier. I also thought that the retaining bands would have a bit more to cling on to. Did anyone try this? Also the main reason I'm doing this is to get more air to the radiator. Do the ducts make a difference?

Dan
Dan Barton

Yes the ducts do make a difference. If you leave them out you get overheating as hot air from behind goes forward through the holes to pass through the radiator again.
Barney Gaylord

If you decide not to use the ducts then you must blank off the holes where they attach to the radiator support. When I did my Coupe I modified the hold down straps so the ducts were as far to the outside of the body as I could get them to minimize the restriction of the air flow to the radiator. Have a good day!

John
John Progess

Dan

While I have got my grille off I decided to take a couple of photographs of my ducts. Hope they help. With what you have been saying about how you are going to fix your ducts it has made me think it is a good opportunity to make good mine!

http://freespace.virgin.net/stephen.gyles/hot_press.htm

Regards

Steve
Steve Gyles

Dan

I cut my ducts back to nearer the retaining bands, (easy with a sharp blade)to prevent them being as far forward as shown in Steve's pix above. It also appears to me to expose more radiator to that much needed direct blast of cool airy stuff without significantly reducing the flow through the ducts.

Pete
Pete Tipping

Pete

Just been looking at mine. If I can improve the attachment to the metal tubes and get the bends sorted better the front end will be drawn back closer to the bands. Should keep me busy tomorrow!

I recall being very frustrated by the ducting during my rebuild.

Steve
Steve Gyles

The Moss ducting I used does not appear as flexible as the stuff in Steve's photos. I did cut the ducts to give an angle as I suggested yesterday: I got a reasonable fit. The cut also shortened them by about an inch which pulled the fronts away from the grille. I think this helps.

The grille is another story. The one I have fitted is definitely stainless steel and the fit is aweful. I will have to replace it soon. but for now, I'll persevere as I want to get the car done. Recommendations for a good grille replacement would be most welcome.

I am currently trying to figure out the best way to route the wiring to the lights at the fron of the car. Again any tips would help

Thanks as always,
Dan
Dan Barton

Dan

Don't let pictures deceive you. I split my heater nose pipe today trying to rebend it!

I will be running the car without it for the next few days. It will be interesting to see if I can tell the difference.

Steve

Steve Gyles

Steve,
I ran mine without the heater hose for a while, as I was waiting for the new hose I ordered. Any amount of burned or hot oil smoke, got picked up and directed into the interior. (more so than usual)
Cleve

Cleve

I still have the long trunking in the engine compartment, it's just the nose bit I have to replace. No problems today at +1.5C

Steve
Steve Gyles

I need to install this ducting too. Should I do it before installing the radiator? and can one use regular ducting, such as dryer vent, or is MG part necessary?
HJ
Harley

Dan, I just did the wiring for the lights. Is there a question about the wiring above the duct panel to the radiator support or down through the radiator to the lights themselves?
Wray

Wray,
I found a problem in bringing the heavy part of the loom under the radiator and yet clearing the steering rack and then moving the smaller offshoot over to the Left Hand side. I tried a route under the duct panel with a P-clip but I'm not happy. I try a new route tomorrow.

Dan
Dan Barton

Dan, the heavy loom, at least on my new harness from BW, stops just before the grille on the passenger side. The smaller harness goes back up and over to the driver's side using a route along the brace where the hood latch is located. I only have the smaller looms going through the grommets and out to the lights. I drilled a second hole, behind the existing hole on the passenger side, for the sub harness that goes to the horn. I used one of the headlamp bucket screws to mount a p-clip to hold those wires close to the body under the fender. I also ran the looms in split loom for a little extra protection.

I may have some pics if you want them.
Wray Lemke

Wray,

I would like to see them very much. Could you email them to me?

Dan
Dan Barton

Sure, no prob. If I can't find them I can take some tomorrow. The A is at work, tucked away in the work bay.
Wray Lemke

That wiring should go on the other side of the car, there is a hole in the radiator mount panel for it (and a grommet)
dominic clancy

I have been driving now for 2 days without the nose ducting and cannot tell any diffence in the heating and volume of air to the cockpit. I have just ordered a new section from my supplier. It is 4" central heating air ducting. He gets it from UK company Arco.

Steve
Steve Gyles

This thread was discussed between 20/01/2006 and 24/01/2006

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