MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

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 - E-bay special

I think I'll change my engine to a Datsun. This car will be worth $30,000 with the chrome done? And will increase in value $1,000 - $2,000 a year. This is a better investment than the stock market or real estate.

I sure would like to see the show room out in Caldwell, Idaho. If all it will take is chrome to look like showroom condition, it's got to be a scary place.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4555481020&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3ASS%3AUS%3A1
Ron Boisvert

Ron,
I think you will have to spring for "dead tabby carpet kit" before you hit the $30k mark! We are getting ready to re-carpet a bedroom that has some that looks very close to the "orginial" as shown in pic...should I save it for you? I feel like a real "chump" waiting for that old XPEG1500 of mine to be re-built...I could have "dumped a datson" and been worth the big bucks by now!
Cheers,
David 55 TF1500 #7427
David Sheward

Dave,

Copied the photos off e-bay. The carpet looks like it came from the discount store and is rough cut. Left side bulkhead is missing a big spot of paint and now that I know what they looked like fresh out of the show room I've got to paint the rubber hood buffers and part of my wiring harness ( it looks like it's also ok to do the bulkhead with a brush. I'm now on a quest to find the show room "checkered flags" for my dash, so many overlook that detail in the TD.

I do have to admit, I wish my top looked that good.
Ron Boisvert

the name alone is very educational (SILVERATTORNY) i GUESS THAT THE LIPS WERE MOVING THEREFORE IT MUST BE A FABRICATION. aLL THAT steering wheel NEEDS IS TO CHROME PLATE THE BAND AND THE CAR WILL BE COMPLETE AND READY FOR konkooooors.
conrad sanders

Conrad,

Don't you mean con Coors. Because he was drinking too many Coors beer when he came up with this con.

Ron Boisvert

Someone hit the caps lock key instead of shift! ;)
Steve Simmons

Steve; Please pardon my extreme case of FIDDLE FINGERITUS.
Sandy Sanders
conrad sanders

i DO THE SAME THING NOW AND THEN. hATE IT WHEN i DON'T NOTICE. :)
Steve Simmons

The door trim on this car must be some other aftermarket trim as it doesn't reflect what is being sold now by Moss and Abingdon, and others. Anybody know what it is? Just curious (maybe Amco).
Greg & Grimm



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=31858&item=4555542656&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
G.J. Cenzer

Where would they hook up a vacuum gauge?
gordon lawson - TD 27667

The door trim is the same as mine and another eBay TD about 6- 8 months ago. The question about vacuum gauge is in my head, too. Why if no supercharger??

John
John Redman

"Where would they hook up a vacuum gauge?"

drill a hole in the inlet manifold.
Bas

Vac. guage can be tapped into you intake manifold. Previous owner of my car put one in, in the 60's.and works very well.
Colin Stafford

There is a good lesson to be learned from this car, for anyone owning a TD. Next time you are thinking of putting that five speed transmission or the better running Volvo engine in your T Series car, just refer back to this car. You’ll notice the number of bids to date . Yes in five days of bidding it has none, thats right zero ! Just my thoughts -John

Gordon to answer your question, to the vacuum cleaner of course?
John C. Hambleton III

A friend of mine gave me a vacuum operated "defrost fan" ... just wondered if it is worth tapping into the manifold..????
gordon lawson

Gordon,

If you think the fan will help it's worth pulling the intake off, removing the bottom plug off the intake ( I would assume that is where the vacuum gauge was intended to go in the first place) and screwing in a 90 degree fitting to hook up the fan. If you don't like the fan, cap off the fitting till the next time the intake is off and screw the plug back in.
Ron Boisvert

If I'm not mistaken (if I am, I'm sure Geoff will correct me), a vacuum gauge was common on many 60's era British cars, even those without a supercharger. I understand it was used to aid the driver in maintaing the best fuel economy while driving.

Do I recall correctly, or am I experiencing a flash-back;-)
Larry Thompson

With a supercharger you'd need a boost gauge?

A vacuum meter is useful for a lot of purposes and in the hands of someone knowledgable one of the most important diagnostic tools. I'll have a look at home but IIRC, you can see if the ignition is timed correctly, the carburettors adjusted properly and I even think valve gaps can be monitored with it. Some models even brew a mean cappucino!

Willem van der Veer

The "best" fuel economy device is a fresh egg placed between the right foot and the gas pedal.

John
John Redman

From the "Dashboard Revolution" (a book on Smiths gauges) some pointers how to use a vacuum gauge:

- All is well with an engine that will idle with the pointer steady on 17-21 ins HG sector of the dail

- blipping the accelerator to speed up a healthy engine drop the vacuum to 2 ins HG, then lift to 25, to settle again to 17-21 at tick over

- worn piston rings will show 15 at idle.

- worn piston rings produce zero reading when blipping the accelerator, followed by a ready of 22 that steadies at 15.

- occasional drops of about 3-5 at tick over indicates a sticking valve or contact breaker points that are "overdue for cleaning".

- wrong timing af the camshaft after a rebuild is shown up by a very ppor idling vacuum and bad engine performance

- retarded ignition will show 14-15 at idle

- head gasket failure can send the needle floating to and fro between 5 and 19.

- blockage of the exhaust system, lets the needle drop from normal towards zero as back pressure builds up.

hmmm, maybe I should fit such a contraption to my car?
Willem van der Veer

Willem -

I never new the vacuum gauge had so many, very helpful uses. I also wonder if one of these devices might come in very handy. Anyone have details on appropriate gauge and installation?

Larry
Larry Thompson

ATTENTION ALL;;;;;;;
If you remove the bottom plug on the intake manifold you will let the dividing balance plug inside the manifold loose. The you have to remove one of the end plugs to reposition that balancer. I learned the hard way when I installed a PCV valve in that very location.
Sandy Sanders
Hudson Florida
conrad sanders

Sandy,

I've been corrected. I'm also not to old to learn, I just need to learn how to remember.
Ron Boisvert

Hey Guys,
I've been up half the night trying to balance an egg on that little roller in my TD. I get the part about fuel economy. The egg will only stay in place if the engine is not running. Now,how do I get egg out of my carpet?

Safety VERY Slowly (with egg)

Jim Haskins
1953 MG TD
J. M. Haskins

Knock me upside the head and call me Gomer, but I thought they were called the Appalachian Mountains, not the Applachians. Pardon my cynicism, but I didn't realize windshield and bumper stickers conferred proof of anything, excpet maybe state inspections and emissions (at least here in the US.)
Richard

The gentle pressure on the pedal is about half of it, though. I HAD a Brother-in-law once that seemed to dance on his. Push .. off, push .. off, push .. off the whole of a 2 hour trip, the LAST time I ever consented to ride with him as the driver.

John
John Redman

This thread was discussed between 09/06/2005 and 15/06/2005

MG TD TF 1500 index

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