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MG TD TF 1500 - Inner dash strengthener

Happy Thanksgiving Group!!

Attached is a picture of a brace that was on the back of my original inner dash located above the steering column recess. Since it is made of mahogany I think it is original. I have never seen a picture with this brace but have read about this being a weak point. Is this an original brace or has a PO added it in the past and what would that rubber bumper be for?


Richard Taylor

It looks to me like a PO job, but well done. Is there or was there an added gauge in the small arc in the center? That would be why it was done, he was shaving wood out of the thinnest part of the back dash support so he added the extra wood as a strenghthener. I've had to rebuild mine because they added a small gauge (since removed) which weakened the support so much it let the dash flex whenever you tried to use the starter or pull on the choke...

Not sure about the rubber bumper though.

I imagine they wanted a strong hardwood so they chose mahogany; I considered doing something similar in metal as a stiffener but just rebuilt the support instead, filling in the holes cut and gluing and clamping it.
Geoff Baker

Not sure about added gauges; I purchased this tub which had already been rebuilt versus rebuilding my original tub which was completely dissambled in the early 70's by a PO.
Richard Taylor

The very thinnest part of the strenghtener has a small arc at the top (the inside of the open area where the gauges go. That arc suggests a small (2 inch) gauge - water temp oil temp, whatever, was added. On my TD I have a similar cutout where someone added a gauge - it is not factory original on a 51 at the very least, I can't speak for other years. When they cut out that extra arc, they realized that the dash had been made weaker - so they added the strengthener.

Leastways, that's my guess.
Geoff Baker

During the last 30 years of working with T-types I have seeen this strengthening piece several times. I never though that it could have been an aftermarket item.
Sandy
SANDY SANDERS

Mine had a small metal bar across the thinnest point with countersunk screws...not nearly as elaborate as this one....
My steering wheel bolt tends to ( or did in the past) rub quite a groove at this point so it was/is thinner then its stock size!
gblawson(gordon)

I've seen this reinforcement on cars, including my own. We transfered it to the new wood. The cut out clears the clock in the Tach, the reinforcement is there as the dash sub frame is thinner below in this area to clear the enlarged diameter of the outer steering column where the felt bushing fits. See photo.

warmly,
dave


Dave Braun

The rubber bumper is PO added. Maybe to keep an after market TS switch attached to the column from bumping too high.
Dave Braun

Thanks for the pic Dave. I believe I will pull the new inner dash and add the reinforcement. This is how parts get left off our projects never to be seen again.

Rich
Richard Taylor

what are the odds two different cars would have the same reinforcing strip with holes in the exact same location? to me it appears dave's photo shows the exact same piece with the countersunk holes in the same locations. regards, tom.
tom peterson

Dave, My car had the exact same rubber bumper, I think two of them on the original inner dash. I never could figure out what it was for. George.
George Butz

Is it possible that those rubber bumpers could have helped support the under dash cover any way?
Sandy
SANDY SANDERS

Interesting George. I appreciate the information. Sandy, being unable to get my legs under an under dash cover (so I don't have one installed), I'll never know, but your idea sounds a lot more plausible than my 'turn signal stop'

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

Curious about what a dash cover is or was. I don't have one on my 51 TD; was this a factory part that people removed, or an aftermarket addition?
Geoff Baker

There was a stock under dash cover made of heavy cardboard that covered all the wiring and sundry under there...
I wouldn't be able to get my legs in the car if it was still installed...
gblawson(gordon)

Mine makes at least 3 identical then. I'd venture to say that the metal reinforcement must be some sort of factory mod since I have the exact same piece on my dash support too (new support was traced from my original '52TD which I no longer have. Didn't know better back then to keep such stuff!). Reused the bracket from the old dash support when I redid it many years ago. Didn't have the front fascia piece (or any instruments) when I got the car, so I only guessimated where a tach/speedo went. Someday I'll find a bronze instrument cluster panel too and redo it all correctly (Moss at nearly $400 for one is too much)!
Randy


R Biallas

This thread was discussed between 26/11/2009 and 29/11/2009

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