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 - Late vs Early TD

Hi Everyone,

Just got my first TD (thread was hashed on the ebay td). It is TD5751. It is a jan 30/1951 XPAG/TD/LHX6128 EXLU

So, what makes an early TD vs a late TD? I seem to have late looking gauges, there is a rheostat in where it looks like the turn signal indicator belongs on the dash, and there is no turn signal switch (might have been jacked; there are lot of wires hanging down!)

Probably all newbie questions, so please indulge one! (that is me the newbie.)

dan




Dan Gill

Well most would consider a later TD when it had certain features such as 8" clutch, dished speedo's etc but there is not hard line in the sand. A real late TD is a 1953.

http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtd/mgtd_production.htm#Feature
Chris Couper

Speedo is later model, 20 amp meter was on early cars. Don't think there were dual gauges for water and oil. Tach and speedo were flat faced on early cars. Mine is TD8105 and is later than yours. the 7.5 inch clutch is another thing to look at. Glad another one is going to be saved. Have fun, this board is a great place for information and to make friends .
Tom Maine

You should get hold of the driver's handbook. The illustrations will answer most of you queries as to what goes where. Would also recommend The Complete M.G. TD Restoration Manual by Horst Schach, Malcolm Green's T Series Restoration Guide & the Factory Workshop Manual. My car was built 1st Feb 1951, 2 days after yours & is as illustrated in the handbook. Good luck.
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

You need to purchase the T Series Handbook from the New England MG T Register. Has almost every change by serial order.

Your car would not have had Turn signals, and when fitted the switch was under the dash.
Dave Braun

Dan, it looks like your car is a mixture of original and later parts. Not uncommon for a car as old as ours are. Buy some/one of the recommended reference books from the men on this BBS. What you have is not all bad, just a mixture.
Jim Merz

Chris's site full of info. I second Dave B on the T-series Handbook, it has diagrams of many of the changes as well. TD's were just gradually changed throughout production. Round vs. square tail lamps, 2 to 3 bow hood (top), w/s wiper moved to the middle, etc. all done a different times. George
George Butz

Looks lit the Tach is original, speedo is not original for your vin #.

Looks like your steering wheel is a good candidate for a restoration or build the rim out of wood. A search of the archives has some posts on others that have done this.
Bruce Cunha

Dan,

I have always thought that the point of change between early and late TDs was when the engine ID was changed from XPAG/TD to XPAG/TD2. This is when the 8 inch clutch was fitted.

John
J Scragg

Dan, thanks for the picture of your TD...

One thing that i noticed is the big honking crome glove box door handle... My TD (TD2103) has the same one, and i always thought that it was something that came from the local hardware store... Could anyone confirm that the glove-box door handle depicted in Dan's picture was orginally fitted to early TD's...
Tom Crause

Dan,

The original is black, still lying around somewhere in my garage. I've changed it for a chrome one, the same as yours. I bought it last year in a local hardware shop...
JL Nederhoed

Here is an original dash knob picture


Chris Couper

Hi Dan,

I know a Dan Gill in California, from my now former employer. If you are the same guy, send me a note and we can meet in the Irvine/Tustin area offline. There is an excellent club here of active MGTD owners, with excellent tech support. I do have a late (1953) TD, and lots of spares.

Best,

Ira Spector
spectors4@msn.com


Ira Spector

This thread was discussed between 18/02/2014 and 25/02/2014

MG TD TF 1500 index

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