MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - Making a decision on painting the fender welting

I was all set to paint the welting between the fenders / running boards and body. Paint it the same as the body, Woodland Green as so many people do. As I was browsing pictures of other TD's I noticed several that left the welting black. I think it really looks better as it matches the black of all the rubber bits on the body as well (isolaters on the lights, bonnet to scuttle, running board strips, etc.). Just looks better. Especially with a darker body color like Woodland Green, not such a drastic contrast. So even though I have the flex agent etc. to paint the welting I think I'm just going to order the black and leave it as is. Just curious how many of you all painted or left the welting as is?
l rutt

Painted.

We made ours with 1/4 OD and 1/8 OD plastic tubing and beige vinyl. We tacked the piping to 2x4s with staples and painted it body color with an elastomer.

Anything else is a bit too much gilding the lilly. For years and years my car was red over black with black piping, so I've had a chance to live with both.

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

I would agree to some extent that on a white or light color car it may be too much, but on the darker colors It looks good to me. I assume the 1/8 OD was for the front splahs apron welting?

Also, when you painted the welting, did you prime it first with flex agent added to the primer or just paint it body color with the flex agent added to the paint?
l rutt

The piping is on my website mg td15470 Restoration » Tub and Wings » Wings and Bonnet.

I misspoke, the larger piping was 5/16 and yes, the 1/8 was for the front valance.

From my website:
"The vinyl is wrapped around a 5/16 OD hard plastic tubing, and then sown close to the edge with a one sided presser foot. We created four 72" x 4-1/2" strips on the bias from the material I bought and wrapped them around 24 feet of the plastic tubing. Final diameter is about 3/8". The smaller front valance piping is three feet long and wrapped around a 1/8" tube. Its final diameter is about 1/4". The strips are stapled to boards for painting with a combination of body, clear and flex agent."

No primer used. The object was to allow the vinyl pattern to show through, get the same color with some, but not too much gloss.

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

I will be picking up "Little T" here within a couple weeks and as of now have opted to leave the welting black which I think looks pretty good with the original Autumn Red.

I have thought about the pros and cons, for example if you get wax on the black welting it will be a bitch to get off but then again you dont have to ever worry about it cracking which the flex agent should prevent but every car I have owned that had painted plastic or rubber parts always eventually spidered and I plan on this being a one time thing.

If nothing else its always easier to put paint on then take off. :)


Richard Taylor

Richard,

Mixing the flex agents properly will result in a durable finish, especially if you start with a color vinyl close to the finished result to minimize thickness. The flex agent modified paint on the piping was so smooth that the piping wanted to 'stick' via surface tension to the adjacent painted surfaces as Mike and I installed it. It also easily handled very tight bends without cracking. To properly paint it later, you will need to remove it from the car and avoid any silicone based cleaners in the meantime.

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

Hmmmm... I was wondering Dave; if you had my paint code what would it take for you to make me a set for my car. Its going to be a long cold Winter. :)

Rich
Richard Taylor

Had the welt made. You can find vinyl that will match the color of your car unless you are going with a metallic color. Original welt rope is available and inexpensive. I had the welting made for not much more than I could buy the standard red or black from Moss.
Hiram Shepard

Hiram,

Who made your welting?

Rich
Richard Taylor

My car is BRG with tan, unpainted welting. It was that way when I got it, and I do think it looks better and sets out the lines better than the original scheme.

Not sure what I would do if repainting.
Larry
L Ayres

I got my fender welting from Metro Molding: http://www.metrommp.com/. It lies very well and is easy to install.

David werblow

Any upholsterer can make up your piping... just an industrial machine and a piping foot... have made it for my upholstery a couple of times...

My piping was white when I got the car...black over green... hated the contrast so much... got a little paint brush and black matte varathane and just painted it one night... hasn't cracked in 4 years.....

gblawson(gordon)

Dave -- is it possible to purchase a flexing agent or elastomer paint additive that can be combine with an oil based enamel paint? If so what type of store carries these agents?
Mike Iandolo

I used some black plastic fender welt bought at a VW dealer that was made for an older model beetle. The original factory material I removed was rotted and rusted the fender and adjacent body metal. The black goes well with the black rubber and other parts of the car and will never rot. Just a matter of taste I guess.
Jim Merz

Photo finally attached.

Jim Merz

Just finishing up my TF and had the dark green vinyl made by the shop, using the Moss only for the inside tubing. Personal prefernence, but I prefer it to match car but not be painted.

Keith
K E MURPHY

I liked the interior match myself.

LED DOWNEY

This thread was discussed between 10/11/2009 and 19/11/2009

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.