MG T-ABC

I am restoring my TC that I got in box's (my first TC). I have the front quarter and rear quarter panels off as I'm redoing the wood in that area (well, done really). I noticed on pictures I found that the door latch and striker plate are mounted on top of the finished interior panels, okay no problem there fairly normal.

My problem(s) is this, if the sticker plate is mounted on top of the finished interior panel, why is there a cut out in the door "A" post (inside) that fits the striker plate perfectly?

The other question is why is there a square cut out on the outside of the door "A" post in the same position as the striker plate, and two holes line up with the striker plate? It's almost as if there is a metal plate of some kind that moves around to allow the striker plate to be adjusted... but I see nothing in the MOSS diagram (chrome one) that shows this.
Thanks all, Pat

Hi, the striker plate sits directly on the wood with the interior trim panel cut round the plate, unlike the latch which sits on the door trim and can have spacer plates behind it to make it line with the striker plate. Of the four holes in the striker plate two are for wood screws and two for set screws that go through the wood to screw into a flat plate. The plate is lose to allow screws to line up but it is held loosely in place with a thin piece of metal tacked on the front facing edge of the pillar and bent round to press metal plate in place. Hope that helps.
Cheers Ian

yes it does thanks so much Ian. I'm having a wee bit of problem picturing in my head the backing plate but I'm sure it will ring true once I have one in hand. As the striker plate sits on the "A" post, I guess I have to now fill in the wood someone hacked out to make it recessed in to the "A" post..arg....

I thought for sure the striker plate would sit on the panel, live and learn
Pat