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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - 51 TD Instrument Panel

The PO of my 51 TD had done a butcher's job on the instrument panel which included moving the ignition and horn/dimmer switches to the left of the steering wheel and removing the speedo. In the center console are 3 Jaeger instruments: oil pressure, oil temp, and water temp. In the fourth hole is a black aftermarket amp meter.
In every reference I have (including the TD workshop manual), the TD dashboard has two Jaeger gauges and both ignition and horn switches center mounted. I had assumed when I clean this mess up I would revert to that configuration. However, in a back issue of the Sacred Octogon, I found a picture of Dick Knudsen sitting in his TD. The dashboard has three gauges and a centermounted ignition switch and what appears to be the horn switch to the left of the steering wheel.
Are there any references out there that can lead me in the right configuration direction?
Walter
Walter T

Look at the Abingdon spares catalog- there is a picture of an actual dash, and a good drawing in the Moss catalog. This is the correct orig. for LHD configuration as far as I know. The photo shows the dual (water temp/oil pressure) gauge (later cars) at the left of the center panel, as well as the late '53 turn indicator light.
George Butz

Walter - There is a close up of a proper dash layout for an early TD on page 88 in Clausager's Original MG T Series restoration guide. The picture is of a right hand drive model, but all you have to do is hold it up to a mirror to see the correct layout for a left hand drive. You should also ignore the turn signal switch in the upper photo as that is not mounted as original (in fact in a 51 TD there would be no turn signals). There is also a center dash panel (facia panel) on e-bay right now. Good luck - Dave
David DuBois

I have an early original RHD 51 TD #5905. When I got it in the centre panel was an ammeter, oil pressur guage, horn button and ignition/light switch. I have since moved the horn button to the far side of the steering wheel and replaced it in the centre panel with a heat guage.
George Merson

I too have 51 MGTD and it was missing all the instruments except the center panel. I have since put in the correct ones using as my guide the Moss and Abingdon pictures as well as Horsts book. I did put in a new wiring harness for the turn signals and would advise doing that if possible.
Thomas Maine

Thanks for the input folks. I have a good idea of what's going to be required to get this dashboard straight. Did I mention that the PO had wired turn signals into the panel lighting and accessory switches... one for left and one for right.. This guy was a work of art.
Walter
Walter T

Walter - When we got our TD the PO had done surgery on the main harness with a big set of loppers, cutting off the entire front portion of the harness just forward of the point where it exits the firewall. He then proceeded to rewire things with all the electrical knowledge of a pipefitter. End result, when the brakes were applied, the side lights came on. Just what I needed, for the car if front of me to know when I was brakeing. It is truley amazing what one finds in these little cars.
Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

If you decide you want the late TD turn signal system in the early TD's you can use the ignition warning lamp as the tell tale. I did that on a 52. It's a non permanent change involving disconnecting a few wires and adding another under the dash. I've created a wiring diagram showing the new system.
Bullwinkle

This thread was discussed between 08/07/2003 and 10/07/2003

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