FITTING MGB/C BOOT LID GAS STRUTS

How many times have you returned to your MG with shopping bags hanging off numbed fingers, keys in hand, and wrestled to open the Boot Lid? Then, heaving the boot lid into the locked position (if your lucky to have the later type lockable strut, that is!), swing the shopping over the rear panel and into the safety of the boot.

Of course, if like me, you have the earlier type of MGB/C with the prop stay that has to be unclipped from its mooring and slotted into the retainer, then shopping presents itself as an even more arduous task.

Well, help is at hand in the form of a Gas Strut Kit just like the hydraulic assistors fitted to the bonnets and rear hatches of most modern cars. A simple, relatively inexpensive, kit that you can fit in approx. 30 minutes with just a power drill and spanner.

Research on the Internet showed several suppliers of Boot Strut Kits available to MG owners: MGOC Spares; Moss Europe; eBay etc, but the supplier I chose was Pieces of Eight in the USA. I chose to purchase from Rick Ingram who owns Pieces of Eight having read a detailed article on fitting his kit in North American Classic MG magazine, a publication Ken Smith (well known to many MG enthusiasts on both sides of the 'pond') edits in the USA.

Having made contact by email, Rick confirmed a price of $81 (£41:99) which included Global Priority Shipping & Handling and PayPal Fee. Rick was soon to find out that the packaging was to be 1" too long for Global Priority and that it had to be sent Airmail, adding another 4-5 days for delivery but reducing the overall total to $79. (£40:95).

Incidentally, the cost of each Gas Strut from the German manufacturers is £20 each + VAT + P&P and that does not include the fixings either! At this price, Rick Ingram's kit was the cheapest of all the kits (but don't tell him - he might just UP the price!).

The fitting couldn't be more simple and Rick will email the instructions to you prior to shipping so that you can familiarise yourself with the procedure. The only caveat being when you drill the holes for the brackets is 'measure twice and drill once'.

NEARSIDE TOP PIVOT INSTALLED	WING PROTECTED & DRILLING POINTS MARKED
BRACKET FIXINGS IN PLACE	NEARSIDE LOWER BRACKET BODY COLOURED

Having removed the existing strut and replaced it with the new Gas assisted strut it is apparent that one strut is not sufficient to hold the weight of the boot lid, yet some kit suppliers I found on the Internet were selling single strut kits and Upgrade Kits (second strut) making the total cost nearly twice the price.

NEARSIDE GAS STRUT INSTALLED	NEW OFFSIDE TOP BRACKET INSTALLED

With the second gas strut fitted, the boot lid is easy to open and once the lid is opened by approx. 6", the lid opens under the administration of the assistors. Open Sesame!

This Boot Gas Strut kit is available from:

Rick Ingram
Pieces of Eight,
P.O.Box 588
St.Joseph, IL 61873 USA

email: mowog1@aol.com

http://hometown.aol.com/mowog1/

Also available: MGB Bonnet Strut Kit & MGB/C GT Rear Hatch Kit