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MGA MGA Coupe door

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davidb

davidb

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Hey folks,

Friend of mine has a 57 MGA Coupe. His passenger side door only opens 3/4 wide, whereas the driver's side opens fully. The hinges seem to operate well, so I'm trying to figure out the issue. Certainly makes it harder for the passenger to get in. Is this normal? Without taking off the fender, (I really don't want to do that) is there something behind the A pillar that is preventing the door opening wider? Any one experience this problem? I'd sure like to hear some suggestions, or perhaps a photo that would help explain how it's supposed to operate.

With thanks

Dave
 
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Dave ... be aware that there was a mid-production change in the shape of MGA door hinges, apparently introduced at roadster #56069 and believed to consolidate with the coupe design started on coupe #52916 - so probably necessitated by something coupe-related. and just moved over to the roadster. The hinges are definitely different, and conceivably may have had something to do with the door opening angle (There was no related change to the door nor the pillar assembly on either car)
Suggest your friend has a really good look at the hinges, and see if it is these which are causing the door not to open as wide on the passenger side. From the photo you can see how they could conceivably be modified to open further by careful filing. But beware of new replacement hinges which all seem to come from China with very loose hinge pins! Regards... Gareth J
 

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Hey Gareth,

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I can definitely see the difference in hinge profiles. I don't know the serial number of his coupe, but I'll pass this on to him. Over time these cars become bitsa this, bitsa that, and with previous owners, you never know what you've inherited.

Cheers mate.

Dave
 
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No worries Dave ... I had a couple of MGAs years ago myself - both 1960 (one coupe, one roadster). Your friend's coupe is an early one - maybe at hinge changeover time! Needless to say, the same profile hinge should be used in upper and lower positions on each door.
As you say, there's little way of telling what you've inherited with an old car ... best if your friend has a good look at each hinge to see if door opening limitation is governed by the hinges themselves, or something else (eg, I don't think MGAs ever had a maximum 'limit lever' like doors on most other cars).
Cheers... Gareth J
 
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Gareth,
Just a quick followup. Your photo and explanation of hinge changeover may have nailed it, as my buddy took a look at his door hinges, and thinks that may be the issue. So good on ya, mate. First beer's on us.

Dave
 
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Thanks Dave for letting us know - glad to have potentially helped. If that was indeed the issue - and before taking the door off - suggest that with door fully opened just check if both hinges are limiting further movement equally, and also that nothing else (eg, rear edge of front wing) is likely to impede the door opening further.

Then with the door off - and if the hinge pins are still in good nick - your buddy can take an angle grinder gently to the relevant surfaces of the hinges to enable further opening, eg, from say 85deg to 90deg. Unfortunately it may be a case of trial and error (putting door back on and taking it off again, etc) before the optimum opening angle is reached.

Best of luck with all that - and I shall look forward to that beer next time I'm in Canada (haven't been yet!) Cheers... Gareth J
 
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