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MG MGA - Radiator duct panel installation.

What is the procedure for installing the radiator duct panel once the old one is cut out. It is a Moss unit made in England and the measurements seem to be about right but it won't slide in! Do I have to cut something to get the panel in and then weld it once it is installed? Thanks for the help and have a good day!

John
John Progess

John, if you go through the photos still posted on the Eclectic Motor Works web site they show the process for installing a new duct panel. http://www.eclecticmotorworks.com/
Most likely your nose piece has been distorted by an accident and you'll have to push and pry things into alignment, trust the panel dimensions over the original sheet metal nose.
B Young

I can't remember exactly all the fine details, or exactly why it was done this way. My '56 duct panel had an odd detail that I have not seen elsewhere. The flange that welds to the inner fender was originally split and bent upward at the rear ~1". I matched that detail by modifying the Moss panel. Maybe??????
Chuck Schaefer

I have used 3 of them on different cars. They were originally spotwelded in. The shape of the new part was used to re fit the twisted pieces around it. The radiator duct panel is usually replaced because of crash damage. Making the car fit the panel straightens out the nose of the car.
R J Brown

I replaced mine earlier this year with the body on the frame but I think it was before I’d fitted and welded the n/s inner wing. There was no radiator in position. Even so it was a tricky job and there were occasions, on trial fitting, when I thought I wouldn’t be able to remove it.
The width across the front on my panel (from SCM) was 37.75” and a touch too big; I recall flattening the welding flange and re-bending a bit further in. However, this may not have been a fault with the panel as some work on the tub in this area had been done by the previous owner. Also I had found it impossible, due to poor access right in the front corners of the body, to remove every last remnant of the old duct panel.
I took some measurements on the panel before fitting and the width at the back was 23.25”, the distance from front to back in the centre was 17” and the front radius of curvature was 32”. There were no holes in the panel for the air hose clamps but this was no big deal and by and large it needed very little modification.
If I were to tackle it again I think I would raise the body six inches or so from the frame and trial fit by inserting it from the front.
Don’t forget that the height of the duct panel relative to the tub is important and if you get it wrong you could end up with the four bumper irons not being aligned to the centres of the corresponding holes in the front valance..............Mike
m.j. moore

This thread was discussed between 30/11/2011 and 01/12/2011

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