Steering of TF going light at speed

I have a boot lid rack, which l use for the spare when I need the luggage space whilst travelling, this also gives me somewhere to put the flat tyre when I have to use the space saver spare.
As the rack is removable, you could always take it off when the occasion warrants it….such as a track day.

Useful for track days also if a third person wants to come for a ride. Quality ratchet straps recommended.

I have reread RP's book on the subject, what he did was to move the battery back as far as it would go. After removing the battery slam panel he drilled out the spotwelds on each side of the front wheel well panel. He then bent that panel back to the front of the battery. The bend line was level with the battery tray, once bent back a simple brace each side kept it into position and small infill pieces sealed the sides of the radiator compartment. This gives a 120mm opening, the difficult part is making the vent in the bonnet This difficulty becomes obvious when you look at the underneath where you will see the bonnet reinforcing bars. If you are considering this modification I suggest that you purchase Roger's book.
Not in the book but what went through my mind is that bending the front of the spare wheel well back that amount will prevent a full size spare wheel being carried, a narrow emergency spare would fit but again where do you put the punctured tyre? A possible solution is not to just bend the panel back but to cut it off level with the battery tray and reinstall using a stainless steel piano hinge, this would enable you fold it forward to get the punctured tyre in. The reduced vent outlet would be of no consequence because with an emergency spare you won't be driving hard. Having a spare wheel in the front is important, it is part of the MG's excellent safety rating and the fifteen or so kgs of weight helps balance. Having said all that the luggage rack is a great idea.

Definitely some food for thought there. I've ordered Roger Parker's book

I think it’s possible to overcome the spare wheel issue, although I have not tried it I think a 15” wheel with a 165/50/15 tyre will fit underneath and to the side of the brake master cylinder and against the rear of the wheel well. The 175/65/14 is definitely too big a diameter (theoretical diameter is 22.95 inches) a 165/50/15 tyre is 21.49 inches (theoretical) in diameter which would almost certainly fit. You would still need the moveable vent if you wanted to be able to store the spare. The difference in diameter is almost seven percent but from what I have read the ABS copes with a ten percent difference and being an “emergency spare” it wouldn’t be fitted for many miles.

Notanumber wrote:

The article from ultimatemg is excellent. The one thing i cant understand in there though is why it is necessary to lose the spare wheel. I understand the metalwork behind the radiator, which the spare leans against, must come out to allow the air to now flow upwards but presumably there would be room to mount the spare further back out of the immediate airflow on a simple bracket or leaning against the bulkhead. It would be less of an obstruction to the airflow in that space than the engine in conventional layouts. it just seems so impractical to have to lose the spare altogether