Re: New Tonneau

[mrbadger]

Now here we have a prime example of one of the reasons I have decided to sell my TC. There was a time when the tonneau cover served a real world purpose, it kept the seats dry when the top was down and until the rain subsided enough to leave the pub and make a mad dash for home. A 3/4 tonneau and a folded screen served to improve high speed aerodynamics (LOL). The purpose of the lift-the-dot studs was to keep the tonneau from blowing away and you simply put them where they seemed to do the most good. The idea of measuring to a sixteenth of an inch the "correct" location for each stud would have been laughable then and, to me, still is. Of course, that was then and this is now and it is a different world out there and I am not the young man I once was. I am no longer willing (or able for that matter) to enjoy doing all the crazy and wonderful things that I once did in that car so, as I see it, my choice is to either get in line with the other old farts and start measuring the distance between lift-the-dot studs and worrying about the color of my firewall or sell the damn thing and move on. I've chosen to move on. I will replace the TC with something else but I'm not sure what. My wife says I need a "mid-life" car. I think she may be right. Many years ago, I drove the TC up to Montreal. It's a lovely city and that was a memorable trip (enhanced, no doubt, by the company of the attractive and well constructed young lady who accompanied me) but just the idea of driving a TC that sort of distance today, with or without the charming company, just makes my back ache and my ears ring. I would love to go back to Montreal but this time, I think I want a big, powerful sports car. I like the early V-8 Aston Martins and they are not too expensive, or perhaps a Jensen Interceptor. However, I have not exactly been deluged by long lines of anxious buyers waving fistfuls of dollars at me for the privilege of rearranging the old girls lift-the-dot studs so that next trip up to Canada may have to wait for awhile. Strictly as an aside, I wonder if any conclusion can be drawn between an obsession relating to ones lift-the-dot studs and the rather obvious fact that they clearly resemble little tiny erect penises. Now THAT should start an interesting "thread". Yours truly, Badger

> Michael Card wrote: > > Hans > > Looking back though my notes for TC-8233 I find that I did some work > on this about 18 months ago. > > 1. Rear pegs > Horizontal position. Using a photograph, provided by Malcolm Green, of > a new TC, rear view, I scaled these as located about 1 1/4 inches > horizontally outside the seam where the curved rear quarter body panel > meets the flat body panel that is behind the tank. From an old quarter > panel I measured 1 3/8 inches, very close to the photo figure. I used > 1 3/8 inches. > > Vertical position. From the old panel I measured this as 1 3/16 inches > from the top of the quarter panel. > When the tonneau was being made, the trimmer altered this to 1 inch to > get the correct relationship of tonneau bottom edge to fuel-tank top. > [Remember that different cars will have slightly different thicknesses > of packing under the body-to-chassis mounts, but the fuel tank stays > located to the chassis on its rubber pads, so tank-to-body > relationship will be very slightly different from car to car.] > > 2. Side pegs > [These are hard to position using photographs because there is usually > no sharp reference point in the photo.] > > Horizontal position. Again using the old panel I measured the position > as 5 inches forward of the front edge of the slot for the side screen > rear tang. > Vertical position. 1 1/4 inches below the top of the panel. > > The old panel I used for these measurements had only a single hole in > each location so it was probably original, but no guarantee. However > the rear peg position corresponded well with the photo. > > Mike Card > Surrey, UK > > PS I just managed to restrain myself from choking on your mention of a > full length tonneau. > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

[joecurto@aol.com]

Regarding the placement of the lift the dot fasteners for a tonneau cover, is the TC like the TD in that it only came with a Factory 1/2 cover for the boot, thus all other fasteners other than the 5 around the rear were installed by the person who bought or had made the full tonneau. As a person who has installed a few tonneaus in my time be aware that if you fit the little "Dickies" (tech term) your tonneau may not match up to them and quite frankly where would you be then. While I am sure that all those noble books have lots of information is it not possible that at the factory it was up to the trimmer who was working on the particular car with a particular tonneau to drill the holes? Again as someone who has had to fit a tonneau or top to existing studs all tops and tonneaus are not made the same (unless you opt for custom) and if you set the studs before having the canvas you may be in trouble, and crying to the body man who just painted the car. PS If you want a real treat and view a "Living Auto Mfg. Museum" visit the Morgan factory in Malvern and you will all see what I am talking about Joe Curto

[Chip Old]

On Mon, 2 Apr 2001, joecurto@aol.com wrote to mrbadger@home.com and...:

> Regarding the placement of the lift the dot fasteners for a > tonneau cover, is the TC like the TD in that it only came with a > Factory 1/2 cover for the boot...

Correct. Only the boot was covered. The front of the tonneau cover was supported by the tonneau rail on the seat back, and was pulled tight by two elastic straps secured to snaps low down on the seat back. -- Chip Old 1948 M.G. TC TC6710 XPAG7430 NEMGTR #2271 Cub Hill, Maryland 1962 Triumph TR4 CT3154LO CT3479E fold@bcpl.net

[Awini Ambuj Shanker]

dear mr badger how about a 300SL Gullwing instead of the v8 Aston Martin?more reliable I believe Though even I like AMs upto the DB6 Regards Awini Ambuj Shanker New Delhi INDIA From: mrbadger mrbadger@home.com> To: "mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com" mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] New Tonneau Date: Sun, 01 Apr 2001 17:06:29 -0400 Now here we have a prime example of one of the reasons I have decided to sell my TC. There was a time when the tonneau cover served a real world purpose, it kept the seats dry when the top was down and until the rain subsided enough to leave the pub and make a mad dash for home. A 3/4 tonneau and a folded screen served to improve high speed aerodynamics (LOL). The purpose of the lift-the-dot studs was to keep the tonneau from blowing away and you simply put them where they seemed to do the most good. The idea of measuring to a sixteenth of an inch the "correct" location for each stud would have been laughable then and, to me, still is. Of course, that was then and this is now and it is a different world out there and I am not the young man I once was. I am no longer willing (or able for that matter) to enjoy doing all the crazy and wonderful things that I once did in that car so, as I see it, my choice is to either get in line with the other old farts and start measuring the distance between lift-the-dot studs and worrying about the color of my firewall or sell the damn thing and move on. I've chosen to move on. I will replace the TC with something else but I'm not sure what. My wife says I need a "mid-life" car. I think she may be right. Many years ago, I drove the TC up to Montreal. It's a lovely city and that was a memorable trip (enhanced, no doubt, by the company of the attractive and well constructed young lady who accompanied me) but just the idea of driving a TC that sort of distance today, with or without the charming company, just makes my back ache and my ears ring. I would love to go back to Montreal but this time, I think I want a big, powerful sports car. I like the early V-8 Aston Martins and they are not too expensive, or perhaps a Jensen Interceptor. However, I have not exactly been deluged by long lines of anxious buyers waving fistfuls of dollars at me for the privilege of rearranging the old girls lift-the-dot studs so that next trip up to Canada may have to wait for awhile. Strictly as an aside, I wonder if any conclusion can be drawn between an obsession relating to ones lift-the-dot studs and the rather obvious fact that they clearly resemble little tiny erect penises. Now THAT should start an interesting "thread". Yours truly, Badger _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

[MikeMarjot@aol.com]

Dear all, I had a full tonneau with my car. Lots of non standard 'erections' on the body! I needed a half tonneau, realised I had no 'erections' like those in Mike Sherrell's book (many more and all in 'different' places) so I ordered the tonneau without fittings and fitted the plates to match the 'dots' ( I can't go on being rude) when it arrived. It is not difficult. This I would recommend anyway, for the good reasons already expressed on the list. Even if you think the dots are perfectly placed on the car the matching 'plates' will be 'elsewhere' on the tonneau when it arrives!! Believe me! Mike Marjot TB 0450

[joecurto@aol.com]

Mike I am replying off list I told these guys what you were saying a week ago, glad you concured. Now if only they will listen Joe

[Paul Huck]

You should always install the post part first. The plates or lift dot part can be located to match the posts, but the post can not be moved once in. The tonneau gives a little, the metal body does not. Install posts where desired. Place tonneau on car. Mark one at a time, and install plates. Do not to all and expect them all to line up. Do one at a time, starting with most critical first: two center at dash, side body, then at back corner, then back sides, then back center, then doors and sides. I sent Mike a suggestion off list, but he said he was having the same problem, so I will share with all: My tonneau lifted off the post while driving. The center post for attaching when driving the passenger side covered did not hold the corner in place. I drilled a hole in the peg and inserted a cotter/split pin to prevent lifting at speed. This worked for me for 20 years. PTH

----- Original Message ----- [b]From:[/b] MikeMarjot@aol.com [b]To:[/b] mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com [b]Sent:[/b] Thursday, April 05, 2001 11:00 AM [b]Subject:[/b] Re: [mg-tabc] New Tonneau Dear all, I had a full tonneau with my car. Lots of non standard 'erections' on the body! I needed a half tonneau, realised I had no 'erections' like those in Mike Sherrell's book (many more and all in 'different' places) so I ordered the tonneau without fittings and fitted the plates to match the 'dots' ( I can't go on being rude) when it arrived. It is not difficult. This I would recommend anyway, for the good reasons already expressed on the list. Even if you think the dots are perfectly placed on the car the matching 'plates' will be 'elsewhere' on the tonneau when it arrives!! Believe me! Mike Marjot TB 0450 Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.