Re: Gluing or not

[Viv James TraX Interconnect (Pty.) Ltd]

Date sent: Wed, 7 Mar 2001 09:19:09 -0500 From: PMS GB Ltd Clives_page@compuserve.com> Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Gluing or not To: "Viv James TraX Interconnect (Pty.) Ltd" viv@trax.co.za> Hello Clive - You obviously haven't been down the diabolical road to my house at Zeekoevlei! My car has done about 8000 miles since rebuild, almost all on club events of one form or another including 6 sealed clock regularity rallies some on really bad roads like bad enough to shear a rear shock mounting plate, one major hill climb (3 runs) with the best time for t-types, MGCC driving test, rail trip on SAR to Jo'burg and so on. It flexes like it should and you can still get your arm pinched in the door gap. The glue I use can flex in a similar fashion to the wood itself so the whole structure flexes evenly (I hope). I don't believe that MG ever intended the joints to work in unison with the chassis. So far no timber has snapped. What I don't have is any of the phoney metal plates or rods that many people use to reinforce their scuttles. Mine is just like they made it at the factory and happily there is still no scuttle shake. Rgds Viv "You might be fine with a well glued body frame on modern roads it has served you well because it probably hasnt yet been used for the expected use it was designed for - ie diabolical roads and frequent off road sports trials etc...................." Regards Clive

[Dwyer]

Gentlemen The reason the MG factory and other old-time body builders didn't glue the joints was that they had no suitable adhesive, so there was no decision for them to make. Even the glues used in the DH Mosquito (which were presumably the best available in the period) weren't reliable and aircraft were lost due to failed joints. We, however, do have a choice and I entirely agree with the logical assessments by Austin and Viv. If we could make the body from one piece of wood, we'd do that. The next best thing is to glue the joints so that the #body# will flex overall, rather than individual joints working till the screws come loose. Regards Dave Dwyer