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MG TD TF 1500 - Are we driving our cars?
| Follow T car DRIVERS As I look forward to the upcoming driving season, I have been going over my records from last year and found that I had not put as many miles on the TD as I figured. I was wondering how many miles that the rest of us are driving our MGs. I only put on about 2000 miles for the year. (Part of the year lost to engine rebuilding). I drive the car every week of the year that there is not snow or salt on the roads. I also would like to know if those of us that have changed the final gear ratios are using our T cars more? I any of you would think that this question is worth responding to, please reply with the following information. My information TD or TF or other car? TD Car model year? 1953 Location? Bellville Ohio USA Total miles driven (NOT TRAILERED) in 2003? 2300 miles Longest drive. 400 miles one day (too old for much more) Gear ratio? 5.12 Other modifications? None Events run? I also note that most of the posts are related to repairing or restoring our cars. I would like to see more posts about driving, stories. Safety Fast Tom |
| T.L. Manion |
| Tom, I try to drive my TD at least once every two weeks. I believe it is for our mutual benefit (the car and I). This usually amounts to about 1,500 miles per year including trips to near by car shows here along the Florida gulf coast. This past year included trailering to western New York for a two week stay and lots of driving on the limitless secondary roads where I grew up. Drove every day rain or shine and doubled the mileage for 2003. Still have not gotten the tar off the underside of the wings. My information TD 1953 Fort Walton Beach, FL USA Total miles driven 2,973 in 2003. Longest drive. 250 miles one day (too old for much more. YES me too.) Gear ratio? 5.12 Other modifications? None Events run? None I too would like to hear about driving and touring experiences. Safet Fast! Jim Haskins |
| J. M. Haskins |
| Tom, Due to the rotten winters and tons of salt in Upstate NY, I drive from the end of April until the end of November. My car is usually tucked away come Thanksgiving. I try to drive it at least 3-4 times a week, mostly short distances of < 35 miles a way. My car info: 1950 TD #533 Syracuse, New York 1530 miles driven (trailered---NEVER) 4.3 diff shorrock supercharger 3/4 race cam modified head for unleaded gas TR3 smiths heater, round type top speed obtained 80mph ( I admit it, I'm a whimp and I don't like speeding tickets in a 54 year old car) Events--every month our local CNY MG car club has runs all over the finger lakes and into wine country of upstate NY. I try to make as many of them as I can. The TD's and TC's are always in the rear, MGB's and MGA's in the front. Interesting thread, I'll be looking forward to everyone's response. Cheers, Rob |
| Rob Silverman |
| Our TD serves as our second car (primary transportation vehicle is a MGB) and as such gets driven a considerable amount during the year. It helps that we not only get very little snow here in the Puget Sound area and when it does snow, the road department doesn't use any salt on the roads, so the car get driven year around. 1953 TD Total miles per year ~ 2500 Longest distance in one day about 500 miles (no more though - that was back when we were young and dumb) Have standard transmission and rear axle ratio Have twice taken the car on 5000+ mile trips around the Western US The car is regularly driven to T Register meeting in Seattle, a round trip of 80 miles. Rob, an 80 mph ticket in a 54 year old car, would be bragging rights for quite some time to come. Sort of like the Volkswagen add back in the 60s with the driver grinning from ear to ear as the cop is writing him a ticket and the driver is saying "Thank you officer". Cheers - Dave |
| David DuBois |
| Tom, Last summer in the East was horribly wet, so I drove less then normal, I try to put at least 3000+ each year, with about 5000+ on the B. Last year I was lucky to get about 2000 on each of them! As I retire this year, my numbers will increase 10 fold! My wife & I will be driving the TD & B from NJ to Idaho this fall! 1952 TD Last year about 2000 miles (Never on a trailer!) Longest distance 1 day: NJ to Vermont, 450 miles (ouch!) 5:12 diff, will change this year to 4:55 for trip out west Standard 4 speed will change this year to 5 speed. Last years highlight: Grand Champion @ British Marque Triathlon! Much satisfaction beating all those Healy's & Jags with a "square-rigger!! |
| Robert Dougherty |
| I put our TD on the road in 1986, and the first trip was from Ct to the G.O.F. in Toronto to to greet the “T” Register Ocean to Ocean participants. Since then, besides driving to at least one G.O.F. each year, some of the more memorable trips were “The Lap of New England” “The Skyline Soiree”, and a tour of Canada and New England with the Ottawa MG Club. In the past 17 years, we have put over 50,000 miles on the car. TD or TF or other car? TD Car model year? 1952 Location? Canton Center Ct Total miles driven (NOT TRAILERED) in 2003? Only about 1,500 ,, As there was just too much rain in New England last year for much enjoyable driving Longest drive. Gear ratio? 5.12 Other modifications? Skyhook Eng 5 speed Events run? Besides being members of The New England MG “T” Register, we are very active in The CT MG Club and it’s annual British Car, Truck and Motocycle Show called "British By The Sea" at Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford Ct. This year will be the 17th annual on June 6th 2004 for info, visit www.CTMGCLUB.com |
| Steve Wincze |
| We drove our TD to the Adelaide Natmeet in 1993 and the Tasmanian Natmeet in 1998. Both times we clocked up better than 4000 miles, as we incorporated a 4 week holiday into the trip. These are the biggest journeys we have done. We usually clock up around 1500 miles per year on average I would think just running around with our local MG Car Club. I have a 4.55 diff, close ratio gearbox and the engine has some improvements to the head and cam. I cruise around 60MPH. Cheers, Paul. |
| Paul van Gool |
| TD or TF or other car? TF Car model year? 1955 Location? LA, CA Total miles driven (NOT TRAILERED) in 2003? 5,000 Longest drive. 75 miles north of Reno to LA down 395. 500 (?) miles. Gear ratio? 4.55 Other modifications? Oil cooler Events run? none. This is my only car, but I have a motorcycle. Last weekend I took her off-roading. That is fifteen miles on a dirt road out to camping and back, I can even fit all the camping stuff in the car. It was worth it to see all the perfectly clean Hummers here in LA as I passed them with dirt splattered all over the car. She looks really good while doing donuts on the dry lake bed with the windshield down. Ben. |
| B J Simpson |
| Ben, I like it! You go boy!!! |
| Robert Dougherty |
| TD or TF or other car? TF1500 Car model year? 1955 (built 1954) Location? Central Ohio Total miles driven (NOT TRAILERED) in 2003? 4,000 Longest drive. 400/500 Gear ratio? 4.33 Other modifications? Stage III tunning Events run? none. Ben, I love it! Last year I took off for a "local car show" ...32 miles from my house. Several "road closed" detours, several hours, and 267miles later I arrived at the show. I had been down some wet dirt roads and had cut through a field at one point so the car was covered with mud. I arrived with 2 minutes left to regester for the show. Got some strange stares from all the "shinny car folks"...soon as I parked it poured rain. When the rain stopped the car looked great. Took home a best in class (import) and was the only "T" series in a field of about 250 cars. Great fun. Cheers, David |
| David Sheward |
| A question to all you 'drivers', what are you getting for milage on trips/around town? John |
| John Redman |
| TD or TF or other car? TF1500 Car model year? 1954 Location? Atlanta, GA Total miles driven (NOT TRAILERED) in 2003? 2450 Longest drive. 525 miles Gear ratio? 4.1 Other modifications? Stage II tuning = 9.5 Compression and fully ported and polished (about 82 HP Dyno) Events run? GOF South, Southeastern Fall GOF, BMCD,Clinton. I get about 28 MPG (US) on trips, about 25 MPG local. Distance limited by Insurance (2500 miles per year) |
| Don Harmer |
| I get about 25 mpg using high test gas. The car does much better with higher octane gas between the shorrock and the 3/4 race cam. I always wondered has anyone ever seen a car with the optional gas guage that Abington Spares used to sell back in the 70's and 80's? Cheers, Rob |
| Rob Silverman |
| TD built 9/50 Germantown, TN (Memphis) We bought our car in September of 2002. In 2003 we drove about 1000 miles, we try to get out 25 miles weekly in the warmer weather and twice a month in the colder months. We trailered about 800 miles to two shows, Muscular Dystrophy and special home for children. Longest drive in one day, 60 miles Gear ratio, 5.12 Modifications, sleeved and bored to 1500 and larger valves, 1.5 inch carbs Events driven, only local shine time shows. In February we drove our local car club break the winter doldrums cruise, about 60 miles. Two weeks ago we bought a 76 MGB project car -- we have already driven it about 100 miles, actually feel a lot less vulnerable in the local traffic. Regards, Dennis |
| D F Sexton |
| 1955 TF 1500 Payson,AZ No idea of gas mileage and don't care even at todays prices! All stock except for Chrome wires and aftermarket steering wheel.Restored to concours by Mike Goodman in LA about five years ago and driven less than 500 miles until I bought it last Fall. I'm driving it every day around town here in AZ. I have some things to sort out then will take some occasional day drives of 200 miles or so but basically the car is for around town and will get less than 2000 miles per year. |
| D Clark |
| After 2+ years, I just finished my restoration in October of 2003; then Winter set in. I did drive the TD over the Winter, when there was no salt. My information TD or TF or other cars? TD,'60 MGA coupe,'77 MGB Car model year? 1953 MkII Location? Yardley, PA USA Total miles driven (NOT TRAILERED) in 2003? 250 miles (in 2 months since restoration completed). Will not trailor an MG unless it is broken down! Longest drive. 100 miles one day Gear ratio? 4.875 Other modifications? MGB V8 bushings Events run? Watch out for 2004! Ira |
| Ira Spector (PA) |
| Ira, I guess we will see you at the Strasburg G.O.F. in July !! |
| Steve Wincze |
| Weather here in Ohio 60Deg. F TD gained another 33 miles today.I failed to check the tyre presure before starting the run. Left front may be a little low as we hit the first hard right hander, the front end seemed to want to push a bit before the rear end came arround. As soon as she cools down I need to pull the plugs, It looks like the front SU is not returning to the run position, when the choke is returned to it's home position. I seem to remember that my old TD used to have two small springs used to pull the jets back home. Enyone out there ever seen this used to fix sticking jets? If weather holds out tomorow looks like car washing day and polishing night. Car needs to be lubed before the end of the month as she is going to Ashboro NC. for the first trip of the summer. I plan to make the drive in two day. Each with about six hours on the highway, 350 miles a day. wish me luck and a hotel with a hut tub. Also I am planning to run a night rallye. But may have to op for my daughter's new Mini Cooper S. The TD seems a bit to slow with me behind the wheel. Maybe I can talk my Co-Driver into running his 1932 MG F2, If we can get the oil pump to stop leaking. Safety Fast Tom |
| T.L. Manion |
| TD or TF or other car? TD #5554 Car model year? 1951 Location? Toronto, Ont. Canada Total miles driven (NOT TRAILERED) in 2003? Approx 1200 Longest drive. 125 miles Gear ratio? 4.3 Other modifications? Pancake air filters. Custom walnut steering wheel and walnut dash, both made by previous owner. My wife and I bought the car in September 1999 - a retirement present to us from us. In 2000: - 1200 mile roundtrip to Rutland Vermont for NEMGTR GoF. - 2200 mile NEMGTR Round the Great Lakes tour. - Plus two OMGTR gatherings and miscellaneous other events plus just driving for fun. Total 2000 = 5000+ miles. In 2001: - 2500 mile roundtrip to Minneapolis St.-Paul for MG2001. - Plus two OMGTR gatherings and miscellaneous other events plus just driving for fun. Total 2001 = 4897 miles, winning the OMGTR Chairman's Award. 2002 & 2003: Much lower mileages, approx 1000 miles per year. 2004 - High hopes for some significant trips! Watch this space. BTW - my odometer is not corrected for the 4.3 rear end. You can add 15% to the above miles. Gas mileage - who cares! But about 25 mpg. http://www.omgtr.ca - The Ontario MG 'T' Register |
| Ted Jackson |
| As the VSCCA's opening event is this Saturday, I had the MKII out to stretch its legs a bit. Always a bit of fun to see the faces on the Beemer Babes, (to quote Frank S. "And I cleaned that up...", as you stay along side them on the interstate. "Priceless"!!!!!!!!! Drive, is fun, RACE is real FUN. Get in touch with the MG Vintage Racers Group to see what these cars can STILL do. Safety Fast Paul |
| Paul Gaynor |
| Note to self: important to have a checklist when putting TD up for storage! Took the TD out of storage, installed the dizzy that I had rebuilt by J Twist over the winter, threw out all the moth balls, (car still smells like my grandmother!), installed the battery, put in the seats...turn engine over without ignition to build up oil pressure...pressure up, ignition on.....not starting....not starting....almost catches....give it a spray of starting fluid....catches and runs HORRIBLY....sounds like it's on only 3 cylinders, ...maybe one of the cylinders has oil....DAMN...I took out the spark plugs to oil the cylinders last fall, put them back not even finger tight! Tighten spark plugs...running fine! All was forgotten 10 minutes later as I tooled through the Jersey Pines, putting the first 50 miles of the season behind me...Man it was a long winter!!! |
| Robert Dougherty |
| TD or TF or other car? TD Car model year? 1952 Location? Dublin Ohio USA Total miles driven in 2003? 300 miles (Just took over stewardship in 2003) Longest drive. 25 miles one day (Still sorting out after 25 years of dormancy) Gear ratio? Orig Other modifications? None Events run? None |
| Stan Griffis |
| An absolute gorgeous weekend in New Jersey, put 100 miles on the B & 50 on the TD. Would have put more, but I had to work all weekend :0( |
| Robert Dougherty |
This thread was discussed between 17/03/2004 and 20/04/2004
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