Luggage rack placement

[Bruce74B]

I bought a luggage rack for the boot of my 74B. It is the type with the four legs on the corners...the newer model. I was wondering if any of you guys that have one of these on your boot now could measure how far from the edge the rack should be placed? Due to the design, it seems that it will fit in various positions on the lid, but I'd like to know if there is an "orginal" dimension for the placement.

Thanks for any and all suggestions!

Bruce /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

 

[adam90009]

Mine was placed on the trunk crooked so you don't want demensions from me.

 

[90 XJ-S]

Bruce,

I believe all of these were installed by either dealers or DIYers, so, you need to get several answers and take the average.
I'll go measure mine later this AM and let you know where it is.

Mike

 

[8NFord]

I believe you are talking of the same type I recently installed. Before installing I took close up shots of about 10 or 12 at the last Brit Car show I was at. One thing I noticed was that it was truly user's choice. I judged by how the lower bar aligned to the MG emblem on the rear deck.
I elected to install mine as much to the rear as possible. Thia placed the forward edge of the front bracket 3-1/2 inches from the leading edge of the lid, and the outer edges 6-3/8 from each side. This put the front of the rear bar in line with the back of the MG Emblem.

One thing I did was to use a dab of silicone under each rubber mounting pad. I also use stainless steel 1/4 inch recessed head bolts instead of machine screws. On the underside of the lid I put a rubber washer, a stainless steel fender washer, secured with a nylok nut. I precut each bolt to length for a flush final look. All hardware came from Lowe's. I also added a final dab of clear sealer to the bolt head after tightening the final time.

 

[timbomath]

Bruce, I just went out and measured my old trunk lid that had an original dealer installed rack -79 LE. The top hole is drilled exactly 4" down from the top edge of the lid. I just used #10 stainless oval-headed screws. After it's all mounted, remove them one at a time, fill the recess with clear silicone, replace screw and immediately wipe off excess.
Cheers,
Tim Matheis

 

[90 XJ-S]

OK finally got mine measured... I'm relatively sure mine's dealer mounted as mine is a '79 LE.
It's 4 1/4" back from the front edge of the Boot Lid.
I also did the 10-32 Oval Head screw and Clear RTV Silicon trick.
Put it where it looks good to you and /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif.
Mike

 

[Bruce74B]

Thanks for the good info...I guess I will get out the masking tape and see what looks best to me. And thanks for the tips on the Silicon and screws. The PO of the rack had used teflon tape on the screws, but the silicon make more sense to me. And Home Depot has stainless hardware in all sizes and applications ;-)

Bruce

 

[fadler1]

I measured the rack. Then I did a "center" on the measurements and used a wax pencil to draw two lines down the lid (lengthwise) where the legs will hit. Then by moving it up and down the lines, it stays centered and parallel. When the legs felt "true" touching best, that is where I put it. I have seen them all over the place but for sure use "clear silicon" on the bolts when you bolt through the lid. Also I added rubber washers available at any home center with the silicon on the washer as you push it up from the under side.