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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 - Progress Here

Here is a picture of the latest status of the TF1500. I have concluded that upholstery is not a career for me, but I'm getting it done. These are the original colours, and the seats are done and in the house. I could actually drive the car now without wings, but the ice and snow are not good for that! The next step is to tackle the installation of a new hood and the half tonneau. The doors have some "gaposis", but after a week fooling with them and messing with shims, washers, and bad language, I decided they were good enough! Mike


MW Davis

Mike,
I'm just courious,,, why did you select a half tonneau and not a full one??

SPW
STEVE WINCZE

Hi Steve, Well, I don't have a good reason except I got a good deal on it. And my uncle's old MG had a half on it when I was a kid. I'll probabaly end up with a full and a half at some point. Mike
MW Davis

Really "purdy"! ....I really like the unusual interior color...
Did you paint the body yourself?
Edward
E.B. Wesson

I elected to go with the full tonneau but I am going to get a half tonneau also. The full is good for when I am driving alone (in not so nice weather) and for closing up the car should I have to park it unattended. Those two events don't occur that often.
The problem with the full is there is so much material to tuck behind the seats that it interferes with anything else I am carrying there.
Another concern is something pointed out on this site. I chose a tan color to match my top. The tan does have a propensity to get dirty. I think I will be getting a black half tonneau and switching to the full one when the occasion is appropriate.
Mort 1950 TD1851 Möbius

Yep, the tonneaus can get dirty, I just treat the grease and throw in the wash machine, and then retreat with a fabric convertible hood spray treatment.

I also fold my tonneau straight back when stowing, so it interferes very little with my loading.

warmly,
dave


Dave Braun

Mike yours is the first other TF1500 I have seen with that colour combination besides the one I bought in 1958. I still think it makes a hansom car. The original top and side curtains were tan.

I never had the 1/2 tonneau, don't know what happened to it. I've never missed it.
Cheers,
Bob
Bob Jeffers

Mike

Why no underdash shield?!!

Mike
Mike Sutton

MIke, I cant answer for Mike, but most cars over here dont have the shield on anymore. I cant think of a single one in our club that has the shield. Last one I saw was in a garage, hanging from the ceiling. I imagine that they were pulled and lost years ago.
Tom Maine (TD8105)

Ha, ha! Mike Sutton asked me about the shield because he did a really great job of helping me procure one from the UK. The reason it is not in yet is that I still have some crawling around to do under there. I have fully debugged the electrical system using a battery charger, ohmmeter, etc...It all works, and I got an EL-13 flasher from Autozone that works, too. And to answer Wesson's question, yes, I did paint it myself using a makeshift plastic sheet booth in the garage. Gloss black is tough to paint and it has a few bug tracks in it. :) The colour is the green material from Moss and it is a pretty good kit. It's darker in person than it is in the picture. The dash color is original with the green that I just color sanded and polished out, with the black instrument panel that is original colour. I matched the dash colour under the scuttle by getting some paint at the local hobby shop. The side curtains and top are tan. I started on the top today, and decided I need to read up all I can before I cut any material! Mike
MW Davis

When I drive a T-Series, my right knee is above the bottom of the dash. I would need a hole in the undershield to make room for my knee.

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

Mike,

I had a full and a half tonneau for a 77 midget I had years ago. I used the full tonneau very seldom because it was kinda bulky and actully one time, while I was at work, a storm came up so I thought it would be kewl to throw the tonneau on instead of raising the top. Well, when I left for work and unzipped the tonneau I had a car full of water, apparently the zipper wasn't waterproof so that was the last time I used the full tonneau, on the other hand I used the half every time the top was down.
No full tonneau for me, but I am going to get one of those neet little nylon covers Dave Braun has for his car on his site.

Regards,
Rich
Richard Taylor TD3983

I never put the top up on my car. The Moss full tonneau has been there for 12 years thru thick and thin and many rainstorms and nary a leak. once in a whiel a few drops but that is about it.
Tom Maine (TD8105)

I remember seeing many years ago a full tonneau with a flap over the zipper to stop those leaks. What reminded me was a few weeks ago I was helping with some work on a J2 and next to it was a TC with a tonneau with that flap over the zipper.

How come I don't see more of those??
Cheers,
Bob
Bob Jeffers

Mike,
Looks nice!
I will throw one idea at you...mainly because of your comment:
"The doors have some "gaposis", but after a week fooling with them and messing with shims, washers, and bad language, I decided they were good enough!"

After you get the hood frame and read side curtain fittings on it is a real pain to get access to the door hindges for any adjustment.

Take a look at:
http://www.ttalk.info/Sheward.htm
Door hinge access toward the bottom pictures.
This has made my life much easier!

Cheers,
David
David Sheward

Dave, thanks for the note on the rear side panels. I had seen that on the website, so I am hoping I don't have to take them apart again. They are a pain for sure, and the design could have been a whole lot better for hinge access! Mike
MW Davis

For those of you who have not seen an underdash shield fitted here is what it looks like.


Mike Sutton

Dave

You must have very long legs! The underdash shield does not project beyond the tunnel. I have 4 inches to spare with my left leg resting on the clutch peddle.


Mike Sutton

Mike, the underdash shield on the TF is only under the center portion behind the instrument cluster. On the TD it goes all the way across the dash from side to side.

BobbyG
Bobby Galvez

Mike,
"I am hoping I don't have to take them apart again"
Not trying to be a "W~A" ...but good luck with that!

My doors were fine for years ...car sat on jack stands for a few weeks, (rear end change / engine re-build) and all bets were off, both times needed to "tweek" the doors again.

What made me do this , was the shape the panels were in when I purchased the car. It was obvious someone had been "in there" several times by the way the panels were bent and the screw holes for hood frame and curtian latch were worn-out/lose from being removed too many times.
David Sheward

This thread was discussed between 14/01/2012 and 15/01/2012

MG TD TF 1500 index

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