The passenger side door latches!!

It took courage and about three hours, but the passenger side door now closes on original MG 1100 latches!!

The first step was to locate where the striker latch gap had to be. The door rubber seals were removed so that the door could be shut tight. Modeling clay was then placed onto the plate and the door was closed. The door latch grooved into the clay and made a starting point of where to position the striker latch.

 

The striker latch was then placed into the clay and the door was opened and closed many times until the door latch slid into the striker latch without moving it.

 

Once the position was correct, a screwdriver was poked into the clay to approximately mark where the holes were going to be drilled on the flat plate.

 

To make sure everything lined up before drilling into the flat plate and the car body, double sided Velcro was stuck to the striker latch and the door was closed onto it. It only had to be moved 1mm from where it was stuck on!!

 

A Sharpie was used to mark the holes on the flat plate. Then it was brought down into the workshop where I drilled the holes and did the countersinking for the other three screws.

 

I bought the drilled flat plate back upstairs, reattached it and then said a prayer as I drilled into the car body. After drilling each hole, it was tapped out with a ¼ -24 tap, and the screws were screwed in.

 

I know, I know…it is quite an eyesore and a lot of work for something that could have been done easier. But, it works nicely!! After the car gets rolling, the flat plate will need some cosmetic attention.

 

But the door closes tight and securely!! I just have to reattach the rubber door seal and do the driver’s side door.

 

Now that I did the first one, I know what is involved and how long it will take. The other one will be my Thursday project. The battery was hooked up to a charger and I found out that the battery is not taking a charge. It is only three years old!!

Thanks for visiting.

Toddy