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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 - MGTF DOOR ADJUSTMENT

I have an mgtf that is an older resoration but is in good shape except for a few minor details. The passenger side door (right) fits great but the drivers side door does not close all the way flush. Are shims avialable to correct the space between the lip of the door and the tub? THANKS Perry Hawn
PERRY HAWN

First and most important I would remove the striker plate (the thing with the wedge bolt) from the body and make sure the door passively closes in the opening. If it does, then study the striker wedge bolt and lock pin when closed. The lock pin should click twice when closing and end up in the central hole of the wedge. If it is and the gap is too big, yes you can shim the striker plate inward (use metal, floor tile or whatever) to close up the gap. If it doesn't go into the central hole, you may have to shim the lock out on the door. If your door doesn't fit well passively, that is a whole different thing. Also, search the archive. George
George Butz

George I appreciate the info I'll give those areas a check. Thanks Perry
PERRY HAWN

Perry,

It's a little more difficult than simply shimming the base of the striker plate or the catch. You will note the striker is wedge shaped in two directions. If it protudes too far from the body it will foul the triangular cut out in the lock body.The first thing to try is closing the door with the lock handle pulled back i.e. so the plunger is out of action. If the door fits well you are lucky and the problem is the shimming under the striker or lock as per George's advice. If it doesn't fit there are three possibilities - First the upholstry piping is fouling the door - relatively easy to correct. Secondly the striker wedge is set too far in - unscrew the domed bolt, remove the striker, put washer(s) on the stem and refit. Thirdly and quite probable, the door doesn't fit the opening properly. I had this trouble on a TF I owned before my TD and eventually drilled the hinge bolt holes in the door substantially oversize and filled them with heavy duty glass fibre paste. Whilst this was soft I reassembled the door using bolts with grease on their shanks and pushed it so it fitted properly. Ehen the glass fibre paste had set I tighten the bolts up fully using large washers. Sounds a bit of a botch but it worked.


Jan T
Jan Targosz

My TD drivers side door didn't line up on the strike side. These are called "suicide doors" for good reason. It was apparent that mine had popped open and been slightly bent in a previous life. I corrected the problem and got the doors to latch firmly by shimming under the door lock assembly. Shims are available from Moss Motors.
steve tobias

There is another problem with the wedges. Sometimes the wedge is too large to fit in the door latch groove.
Take the wedge piece from the latch plate and offer it up to the latch assembly on the door to see if it will slide in far enough to allow the plunger to go into the hole on the wedge. I have had to file the wedges to fit. I knopw this removes what plating is on the wedge but aftermarket parts sometimes do not match.
Sandy Sanders
conrad sanders

PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BE DOOR LATCH WAS NOT GOING IN FAR ENOUGH TO MAKE LATCH INTO THE HOLE ON THE WEDGE STRIKER. I HAVE ORDERED SHIMS TO MAKE UP THE 1/8TH INCH SHORTFALL. THANKS FOR ALL THE GOOD INFO.
PERRY
PERRY HAWN

FITTED TWO NEW DOOR SHIMS FROM ABINGTON SPARES AND DOORS FIT GREAT.!!!!!! THANKS ALL.

PERRY
PERRY HAWN

This thread was discussed between 14/02/2005 and 24/02/2005

MG TD TF 1500 index

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