MG Midget 1979 - Body Fittings and Soft Top Operation; Drain Points and Hard Top; Soft Top Operation

Locks, Fittings and Bodv
Dra in po i nts The body and doors are provided with drain holes to allow rain-water and
Fig. 8 condensation to flow freely from the panels, thus preventing accumulated water
from causing rust and corrosion. It is essential
that the drain holes are kept
clear
and are not inadvertently blocked. When painting or applying underseal
to the body underpanels or doors, temporarily seal or mask the drain holes to
prevent the ingress of sealant. Periodically inspect the drain holes and clear any
obstruction using a piece of stiff wire or a suitable tool.
Jacking up beneath the underfloor may deform the drain apertures; always use
the jacking points provided.
Hard top Fitting. Lower the hood.
Fiqs. 9 and 10 Position the hard top on the car and engage the toggle fastener tongues in their
sockets on the windscreen rail. Check
that the rubber sealing strip is correctly
positioned forward of the rail. Fasten the toggle links
and lock them with the
securing brackets (inset, Fig.
9). Fit the bolts into both side-fixing brackets and
tighten them down gently
and evenly until the hard top seals at both sides and
the rear.
Do not tighten the bolts hard down.
Check the width of the gap between the flanges of the side-fixing brackets (
Fig. 10), remove the bolts
and fit packing washers between the flanges to th
thickness of the gap.
Refit
and tighten the securing bolts.
Hood It is most important that the instructions for raising, lowering, and folding the hood
(Soft top) are carried out in the sequence given. Do not apply pressure to the frame-members
other than the header rail; undue force is not necessary and should be avoided.
Do not fold or stow the hood when
it is wet or damp.
Fig. 8
5118 4 0
Lowering
(1) Unclip the sun visor and move to one side. Release the press studs on the
windscreen frame and
hood frame links (Fig. 11).
(2) Release the "hood from the If-fa tening trip and the three fasteners on
each rear quarter panel.
(3) Open the toggle catches on the wind cr en rail (inset, Fig. 11).
(4) Press the header rail rearward to
11 p the hinge links, at the same time
keeping the hood material pull d out t w rd the rear away from the frame
(Fig. 12).
Fig. 12
/ J I I
\\
Fig. 11
SIIU D I
J ((
Fig. 10
Fig. 10
~
;/ I '
~ ---- Q....II __ -c... 0 ~ 0
o
o
Fig. 9
Fig. 9