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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Does a Frogeye Bonnet Actually . . .

Does the Frogeye bonnet actually sit on those two rubber buffers on top of the inner wheel arch, when everything's closed up? How would we know?
Nick and Cherry Scoop

I think mine sits on them as they have deformed over time!
Bob Beaumont

Good question.

I suppose you could get a strip of cloth, put it over the top of the buffer and trail it out through the wheel arch, before shutting the bonnet and see if you can pull it out. Assuming the gap between the wing and the wheel arch is big enough.
Dave O'Neill 2

There isn't a mark on mine. I like your idea Dave, but when I asked one of my daughters - staying a couple of days - she said, 'Easy. Put a drinks can next to it and lower the bonnet. The can will crush, and not spring back.'

Nick and Cherry Scoop

I'd be careful with that idea as a drinks can can support the weight of a person without crushing. In the past I've balanced with one foot on a can and it'll support my weight and only crush when you tap the sides to cause a defect then it'll crush flat, if you try it get your fingers away quickly so they don't get caught. That's with the can upright.
David Billington

Good point, David - thank you.
I've got a nice flimsy one, and I'll give it a few dents round the middle first; with any luck it will collapse submissively.

I've got one of those cameras on the end of a bendy stalk, and if I can think where best to introduce it - perhaps take the grille out - I'll have a good look around that area. This is all to do with my new Ram air filters which arrived yesterday. The front one will inevitably get squashed a bit, but it shouldn't be a problem.


Nick and Cherry Scoop

Nick,
Put a blob of grease on the buffers, close the bonnet and when you open it you’ll either see the blob undisturbed or squashed!
Simon
S Holt

Or a tiny blob of plasticine or blue tack shaped into a cone.
richard b

Remove a headlamp and bowl. You get a good view in of carb clearance. What alarmed me was the unexpectedly minimal clearance between radiator cap and the bonnet!
GuyW

My under-bonnet wheel-arch rubbers, on my Frogeye, are original & are compressed and distorted presumably because of the heavy steel bonnet resting upon them.



Alan Anstead

Brilliant idea, Guy.
Couldn't get the bonnet to sit down perfectly, but with another half-inch to go, it's definitely going to contact the buffer. At the moment the filter is just clear. If I don't want it to rub when the engine vibrates, I might pinch it at the top end, and get the beautiful assistant to put a couple of stitches in.
Thanks everybody.


Nick and Cherry Scoop

This thread was discussed between 02/09/2026 and 03/09/2026

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.