Rear Screen Replacement

Words and Pictures: Rob Bell


Prior to 2005, all MGFs and TFs used a transparent, green-tinted plastic rear screen, which is perfect for the purpose of providing a light-weight flexible solution for providing rearward vision when the hood is in the erected position. The downside to this solution is that rear visibility diminishes dramatically when the plastic screen gets dirty - which it does inside and out - and worse still can scratch and even split, the latter occurring as the material ages and especially when the weather turns cold.

Clearly replacing the whole hood when the transparent plastic screen fails is not a viable option for everyone - nor is replacing the whole assembly with a BAS manufactured glass-screen equipped hood. For those on a tighter budget, DIY replacement of the rear screen is possible. There are, as usual, a number of different options available - from OEM style or new OE rear screens (these cost the most) to cheaper, aftermarket refurbished replacements - you can try any of the established traders for either of these, or even try a local trimmer or soft top specialist (you'll find your local specialists in the Yellow pages - in the UK, try http://www.yell.co.uk/).

For me, I decided to go for a cheaper option, and obtained an after market screen from the MGF Centre. The following instructions are how the original screen was removed, and how the replacement was fitted.

Time required:

Tools required:

Materials required:

Instructions:

1. The first task is to raise the hood and unzip the rear screen. In the picture opposite, it is possible to see how badly split it had become - oh dear!
2. Next, undo the hood retaining catches - there are five clamping the rear of the hood to the deck panel that are tucked behind the hood well carpet (opposite).

Lay the rear screen flat on into the hood well.
3. Raise the rear of the hood - now the rivets retaining the rear screen to the hood frame become clear.

The first rivets to identify and remove are those retaining the inner edge of the rear quarter hood retaining strips - my index finger is pointing towards this rivet.
4. Drill out the rivet using a 3.5mm drill bit.
5. This will enable you to bend back the strip to reveal two hidden rivets (one under each quarter retainer strip on each side of the hood). You may find that it is easier to remove an additional rivet from the rear quarter retaining strip to gain access to these, as access remains tight if only the one rivet is removed.
6. Now drill out the 13 retaining rivets holding the rear screen to the hood frame. The screen will now pull free from the hood frame.
7. Collect the retaining strip (pictured right) - this will be re-used when we come to install the replacement screen.
8. To completely remove the rear screen from the hood, you will need to completely undo the zip. On my car (and I am pretty sure on all others too), there is a metal clasp retainer, part covered by a square of Velcro glued to the free end of the zip.
On the other side of the clasp retainer, four staple-like 'arms' can be found protruding through the material that holds the clasp in place. These arms can be straightened with careful use of a pair of pliers and the clasp removed. The Velcro tab can be peeled off, and kept for later re-use.
9. Now tap out all the old pop rivets that remain in the hood frame - I found that a nail punch did a brilliant job at doing this, although an old 6" nail would probably be just as effective! Drill out the holes with the 3.5mm drill bit ready for reassembly of the rear screen.

Now remove any metal swarf from the work area to prevent damage to the new screen.
10. If you are using a reconditioned rear screen, chances are that there are already holes corresponding to the rivet positions on the hood frame, which is the ideal situation. If there are no holes, you'll need some assistance. Take the rear screen and position it on the frame - and ensure that the screen is centralised. Take a great deal of care at this stage, as a mistake made now will cause a great deal of heart ache later on! Now transfer holes into the new rear screen panel, and enlarge the holes to 3.5mm.
11. Now transfer the screen panel back to the hood and position the retainer so that the holes align with those in the rear screen panel and the hood frame. Note that the screen panel has a plastic retaining lip that the retainer strip slips into. This can be seen in the picture, right.
12. The workshop manual recommends that you start re-riveting the rear screen panel from the centre. I didn't do this, but in retrospect, I think that starting from the centre and working outwards IS the best approach.

Take the pop rivet and pass through the retainer strip, rear screen panel material and hood frame. I found it easier if the retaining strip is brought as closely as possible to the hood frame. To achieve this, I used a G-clamp, as pictured opposite. Be careful not to rivet over the plastic retaining lip though.
13. For the final rear quarter rivets, the originals had large heads - in part to presumably spread the clamping load, but also because it would appear that the hole drilled for these particular rivets are over sized (perhaps to aid positioning?). I didn't have any large-head pop rivets, so I used a penny washer to mimic the same effect - as shown opposite, right.
14. Now reattach the zip. Once the rear screen has been zipped up, the retainer clasp can be re-affixed to the zip to prevent the zip from coming apart in use. The clasp effectively staples the zip together - I reattached mine using a pair of pliers to push the legs of the clasp through the material, and then bent them over to keep the clasp in place. The Velcro tab can then be glued back onto the zip using a contact adhesive.

The rear of the hood can now be clamped down with the five catches - and now stand back and admire your nicely repaired hood!