Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Squirrels have eaten my hood!

Last Saturday I needed to put the hood on for the first time since the beginning of summer. When I took it out from its storage position behind the rear seat and unfolded it I was shocked to find it full of holes! ...



On further investigation I found that one of he webbing strips of the frame had been similarly chewed and the insulation around the wires to the fuel tank sender had been stripped...



However, nothing else was damaged, the rear seat and even the cover over the hood frame were completely unmolested, meaning the damage could have happened at any time in the last 4 months or so.



My first thought was a mouse. But I've been advised that the damage is too extensive for mice, which in any case normally only chew through things to get to a food source. This amount of senseless gnawing vandalism is more likely to be a squirrel, many of which nest in the woods behind my house and have caused havoc to my neighbour's loft!

How it got to the hood without disturbing the seat or cover remains a mystery though, I can only assume it got up from underneath the car. Suffice to say, I now have both an ultrasonic rodent deterrent and some industrial sized traps in the garage.

My question is this likely to be repairable? If not, which I fear, where is the best place to get a replacement hood? I'm happy with the traditional type as I've now got the hang of erecting it, and anyway I don't think anyone makes an "easyup" type for the four seater.

Has anyone else had their hood chewed while stored in the car?

~iw

We have red squirrels in the garden every day, we feed them.

Driving into work and the check engine light came on in the Impreza, November morning.

The Subaru dealer could take it straight away.

20 minutes later I got a phonecall.

A vacuum tube had been eaten by the squirrels and it only cost £30 for half an hours labour and £10 for the tube.

eddie

That's tough Ian. You could try Williams.. Austin there will turn his hand to any form of hood or trim. The only other trimmer i have used in the past has bee Shaun at Allon Whites...he is equally as versatile.

This lot are always up for a challenge and worked on 4 of my boats, they just did a very big and expensive custom job on a friends boat

tecsew

Oh dear. That's not good.
Squirrels are a nuisance around here too. Grey ones.

Looking at the damage I would think it might be as cheap to buy a new hood, so if you have time, compare both repair and renew costs.

Good luck.

I would think that's mice not squirrels, I had similar damage done to an inflatable boat. Big holes chewed through while it was stored in a garage. Turned out to be mice as I saw them in it! I subsequently trapped the little blighters.

Squirrels are little b*****s. They ate every inch, literally, of the wiring insulation in my late father's bungalow. It had to be replaced at no small cost. A number of fires in Devon farms have been attributed to squirrels. I suggest, Ian, that you check the wiring in your Mog for damage.

The only answer is a .22 air rifle.

Not a good find. Melyvn Rutter has done some trim work for me with pleasing results.

Ian,

Be careful when you hop in the car, as I hear they like to eat nuts. This could cause your bolt to fall out if not checked carefully

Also Barbara at Melvyn Rutters