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MG TD TF 1500 - Block is supposed to be ready tomorrow

I'm getting ready myself


L E D LaVerne


No beer?

David
D A Provan

What did you have done? And why? How many miles were on the rebuild?
Be well,
David
D. Sander

Kidney doc said I had to quit the beer years ago...well he said I could drink a lite beer every now and then but I never liked diet beer.

Blew the head gasket last spring but because I was working on Bills car all spring and summer I didn't get to it until early fall. Decided to try and make this the last time I'd pull the engine. Bored out to .060 over new forged pistons, high quality rods, found some good tri metal rod bearings, reworked the head. Better head bolts, new cam, tappets, etc. Gonna try out a Cometic stainless comp head gasket. Hope to do nothing but drive it after it goes back together.

35,000 miles on the last rebuild but I should have done a better job with it.


I may do a video of this build as I go along. If there is interest.
L E D LaVerne

Even though my block had been chemically cleaned at the machine shop I still gave it a good wash in very hot water and washing up liquid. There was grit in the bottom of the baby bath I had used as a recepticle after I poured the water and suds away. If you rise the washed parts with boiling water they dry in minutes.

Jan T
J Targosz

Laverne,
I would change the kidney doctor while you're at it.
Good luck with the rebuild!

Regards
Declan
D Burns

Valvoline VR1 20W-50 looks like to oil to use.

I do have an oil change planned, thanks for the recommendation.

Peter
P G Gilvarry

Roller cam? Same blower?
Be well,
David
D. Sander

Laverne,

I would really appreciate an engine rebuild video if you are willing. Trying to collect rebuild information when possible in case my time is coming (just the engine, hopefully). :-)

Tried to purchase a commercial engine rebuild video several years ago, but it is apparently no longer available.

Thanks, Bill
WHTroyer

Same blower new flat tappet cam.


I'll see about doing a video.

If it wasn't for that kidney doc I wouldn't be here. Straight shooting and knows his stuff...unlike some of the other quacks I have seen over the years.

Fridge is still in the shop. You just have to bring your own beverage now.


L E D LaVerne

Will

You can get the DVD "Stripping and Rebuilding the XPAG Engine" here:

http://www.tregister.org/regalia/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=4

This is the George and Peter Edney video.
Rick


Make sure you check the video format before you order.

NTSC is for North America, PAL for Europe and other areas and will not work in North American DVD's etc.

Jim
James Neel

Thanks Will and James, I'll will see about ordering now.

Laverne, would still be interested in watching your engine rebuild video. Very much appreciate different insights and enjoyed your other,sway bar/suspension videos.

Thanks,Bill

WHTroyer

Will drop me a line. I have their NTSC version that I'd be happy to pass along. I'll guaranty that LaVerne's will be better and much more understandable. Bud
Bud Krueger

I found some old stock "LC" (lead/copper) Glacier rod bearings I put in my last rebuild. Not the aluminum newer ones. Just a stock rebuild. One enemy of kidneys is low blood pressure.
D Peltier

Sorry Rick, was in a hurry and mixed up your name with Will. Thank you very much for posting the link for the engine rebuilding video. Much appreciated.

Born and raised in north eastern Ohio and still miss it (in the summer).

Regards, Bill
WHTroyer

If you don't borrow Bus's copy, I will loan you mine unless your heart is set on buying a copy.
Rick

Bill, not Will, the Edney video was not created as a an aid for DIY'ers. It's a video taken at an MG club meeting. If you borrow mine I won't be in a big hurry to get it back. It's no where near the quality of Barrie Jones' Gearbox tape. This is all MHO. Bud
Bud Krueger

Bud and Rick, thanks for the offer. Based on feedback from both of you I will wait and hope LaVerne has the time to make a video. Have put together a basic engine rebuild manual using threads from this Forum and Neil Cairns' articles, but LaVerne's thoughts and recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Wow, almost 85 in Dallas today and Barbie and I have been out removing the old interior from her car. The doors were slightly proud at the bottom, but this mostly went away once the original door straps were removed. Using Sherwood's adjustable straps for a final tuning.

Regards, Bill
WHTroyer

Bill if the old interior is original any chance of posting some pics? Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Maybe LED uses King bearings? I think they are tri metal. Not sure what metals.
D Peltier

Laverne,

May I ask - which cam did you choose?

Thanks,

Jim
J Barry

I'll be installing some ACL bearings I found in Australia. King makes some tri metal bearings for the MGB but they only make Bi metal for the XPAG which really are not up to the task for anything much beyond the stock 7.5 compression. I bought the Crane Fast Road cam Jim
L E D LaVerne

Thanks LaVerne. I found an interesting discussion of the fast road cam (for MGA, but same specs) at the MGA Guru site. One thing buried in there is a recommendation to advance the valve timing by 6 degrees. I had never heard that.

http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/power/pp202.htm


Jim
J Barry

Hi Peter. Would be glad to post pictures in a new thread, but don't think it is original. However, the front panels are curved so nicely and fit so well we are going just put on new leather/vinyl and not use the Moss panels.

Regards, Bill
WHTroyer

OK Bill. From what those who've gone down that route here have had to say here I think that what you propose is the best course of action. That way you know what you're getting & so won't be disappointed. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

I'm in the midst of a rebuild, but was stalled out because the crank locked up hard when rods were tightened up.

Manley Ford advised that I pitch the King bearing inserts and find NOS Vandervell. He's seen this before. As it turned out, there were some on Ebay and still available there (STD). Get 'em while they're hot!

I swapped the inserts and could not believe the difference... rolls over freely now.

The King inserts had to forced fit/spring into place which didn't bother me; the Vandervells just set right in.

I'm attaching an image of the brand new King bearings after removal. About 1/4" down from each end of all the inserts is a skuff line where they bound up on the new crank. Plastigage showed .002" clearance when checked on the caps, but I could not rotate the crank at all pulling on the flywheel teeth!


JIM N

Hey guys,

I'm pretty sure LaVerne doesn't need video aids to rebuild an engine...I think he's been down this road before. I distinctly remember chasing his TF down the interstate at 80+ mph.

Gene
Gene Gillam

This is what I remember Gene :-)


L E D LaVerne

If any of you are old school. I have the Rebuilding the XPAG engine on VHS that I would be willing to pass on. (don't tell, but I copied it to my computer before getting rid of my VHS player.)
Bruce Cunha

Pretty sure I'll have to pass that info to the FBI Bruce lol....
L E D LaVerne

LaVerne, YES to any rebuild video!!!! You add lots of little comments, extra tid bits that are a great help vs the stock here's how it goes when all is well.
Randy
R Biallas

This thread was discussed between 10/02/2017 and 14/02/2017

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.