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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 - Spares List

In the December 2008 issue of The Sacred Octagon (Vol. 46, No. 6) , in an article entitled “Remember Those Great Road Trips” - discussing group road trips made by NEMGTR members - mention is made (page 14, 2nd para.) of a parts list prepared by Dave Zyp, a professional MG mechanic, of 89 specific parts each trip participant should carry, as most likely to fail. The parts listed are alleged to consume no more than a square foot of space in the car, including a spare generator, and are stated as, given the right tools, the driver could fix almost anything that might go wrong with your MG, even tho miles from home. One of the things which bother me is the same worry - what happens if my car breaks down miles from home, in the boondocks. I would very much like to have the aforementioned list. Does anyone have it, and would you be willing to share it via a post on this site? Thank you. RUSS YOUNG
D R Young

Russ - not intending to berate anyone, but I have seen recommended spares lists that would have required a U Haul to carry and for years I carried a fairly comprehensive set of spares that I ever used. I finally trimmed the spares down to a complete set of common tools, a Visa card and a cell phone. We have taken two 5000 + mile trips through the Western US in our TD and the worst thing that befell us was a fouled plug on one of the trips (cured in less than 10 minutes on the side of the road with a small wire brush. I don't carry a complete set of spares for our modern vehicle when traveling and I finally realized that there is no reason to carry a lot of spares in any, well maintained vehicle. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Russ, unfortunately, the list itself is not published in the TSO. Sorry. I was going to copy it. But I have to agree with Dave D. that only a few spares are prudent to carry.
Jim Merz

Dave & Jim: I can certainly understand, and perhaps even agree with your viewpoint. However, as a result of occurences when I first bought my car, and my impecunious status as a college student, I often ran out of gas (as a result of no gas gauge); broke down (even broke a rear axle once); etc - to the extent that my poor long-suffering father went out and bought a tow bar due to the frequency of late nite rescue calls. As a result, I think you can also understand my fascination with parts lists. Since it was prepared for emergency needs, I thought it would be a good thing to have, or at least to consider for my own use. I have also been known to wear both suspenders and a belt. RUSS YOUNG
D R Young

Russ,

If you do go in a group, and you do carry spares, you could spread the spares among the group to minimize the load. With Cell phones a spare should be able to back track to you (assuming you are foolish enough to bring up the rear)!!

That said, there are a few things I wouldn't bother to carry, including a spare generator as you can go quite a distance on a battery if need be. I do like little things... my spares list is on my technical section of my website, and fits in a cake pan with room for some... cake!

warmly,
dave


Dave Braun

I have always thought the three most important items when driving my TD are:-
1. A cell phone
2. A triple A membership
3. An umbrella.

Other useful items might include:-
A deck chair
A pack of sandwiches
A radio
A portapotty
A pair of binoculars
A handgun

No doubt others could make additional suggestions.
G.E. Love

"A handgun"?????????????????????????????????????????

George Raham
TD 4224
G. L. Raham

What ever you take with you, that part will not be the problem. Do bring tools to revive a fuel pump, a distributor rotor, tools to clean, reset the points.If you have a pertronix installed, bring a breaker plate complete, with points adjusted.
Len Fanelli

If it breaks down on the road you can just put it out of it's misery.
Or

Shoot your own lunch.
or

shoot the first person who actually stands on your running boards.

or

fire it in the petrol tank as a lead additive

or

shoot the person who calls it a kit car

or

you never know when you might be asked to start a race

or
LaVerne

Recommend one more very easy thing to pack. The North American MGB Register Service Recommendations $ Mutual Aid Directory.

While listing MGB owners, it is a super resource if you break down in any MG. Most B owners can direct you to a local repair shop if they are not able to help you.

While I have not had to use the directory, I have assisted two MG owners traveling through my part of Wisconsin.

This web is a testimony as to how helpful MG owners are towards other MG owners.

As for me, I carry tools and some basic items like fluids, tape, wire, etc, Items I can pack in the tool box.
Bruce-C

Russ,

I'm 76 yrs old and have owned my TF for 55 years. I know every square millimeter of the car and the condition of each part. So I can trust what I know.

Breaking down is not the worst thing that can happen to you.

I carry only minimal spares:- Like Bruce C, fluids, tape, wire, and some KY Jelly. You never know what's going to happen if you break down.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué
Gordon A. Clark

Gordon, I am rolling on the floor larfing my a..e off. Thanks.
G.E. Love

Now Geoffrey, K-Y Jelly is an excellent material to use for slipping hoses into position.
Bud Krueger



I have a list of spares that we carry on board . From past experience, it seems like no matter how much you prepare you car, something can unexpectedly break, like a head gasket, or a brake return spring, or an axle, either on your own car or one of the cars traveling with you. The list is on an excell spread sheet, does any one know how to change it to a jpg in order to post it here ??

SPW
Steve Wincze

It depends how far you are traveling and how often? I only leave town once or twice a year (GOF South/Sebring events, etc.). I just take a few basics, and due to hearing many stories about generator failures throw in my spare. Likely couldn't get the pulley off or on, on the side of the road but makes me feel better. Cell phone and AAA best idea. The AAA has come in handy twice- once with dad's truck (frozen and subsquently burning brake caliper- which was of course my fault, and when the wife swerved to miss a gopher turtle in the road and ended up in the ditch !)The only two times I have not made it home in the TD were a broken axle and a broken crankshaft. George
George Butz

Gentlemen: Thanks for the comments, altho the discussion did tend to deteriorate just a little bit in the middle there. A handgun is not a bad idea, especially here in the wilds of deep dark South Jersey, as one is always subject to possible attacks by the Jersey Devil. Many of you seem to place extreme faith in cell phones, which I have always avoided as an unwelcome intrusion of modern life - my wife has one, for emergencies, but she does not know how to operate it; seems unable to learn how; and the blasted thing is always lacking a charge anyhow. RUSS YOUNG
D R Young

Next May I am planning to drive Lazarus from here (Plymouth, MA) to my brother's place in College Station, TX to celebrate his 80th birthday (I'm only 73). With the return trip that should total something approaching 4,000 miles. I'll be packing light, I'm sure. Not apt to carry major components, ala, generator, starter. Like Gordon, I'm pretty familiar with what's what in Lazarus. Good chance that I may replace the rear axles before the trip. I'll try to borrow a copy the most recent NEMGTR Member Directory before I leave. The price was too high to buy the last one.

Oh yes, Dave -- you might want to replace that fan belt with a segmented one per Dave DuBois.
Bud Krueger

Let's try this,,,,


Steve Wincze

Bud, good plan on the axles. Although, if you inspect them and they are in good shape and then you re-torque the nuts properly, there is very little chance that one will snap. I do like my Jerry Austin axles though.

With regard to the NEMGTR directory, if you list the major towns you plan to travel through on the BBS, I bet you will come up with a very comprehensive list of emergency help, free places to lodge and free dinners and breakfasts to boot. I wish Minneapolis was on a line from Mass to TX.

With regard to the fan belt... that one came off my car when I replaced the solid one with the segmented belt. Since the segmented belt is available at every NAPA store, all I need is something to slip into place until I get to a NAPA or similar store! And honestly, running it as loose as I do the segmented belt may outlast me!

My spares kit is as much for the benefit of my fellow T Travelers, as it is for me.

Thanks,
dave
Dave Braun

Bud, Oh...thanks. I really didn't know that.

George, can I take it then that the only spares you will henceforth carry will be a new crankshaft and a new axle?
G.E. Love

Russ,
Here is what I carry (and where).
http://www.ttalk.info/Sheward.htm
Click on the "car-toon" of Izzy!
Reading this guess I need to add:
Hand-gun & an Anne!
(or an Anne w/ a gun!)
"Common seance" .....what's the fun in that?
If we had common seance we'd all drive rental cars on long trips!
Cheers,
David 55 TF1500 #7427
David Sheward

Steve, I am very intrigued by a couple of items you list on your spares spread sheet. Can you elucidate, please?

1. Jack Handel. Is he a descendant of the great composer and, if so, is he also a musician and, if so, where would you stow him? Would he bring along a harpischord? Why not just take along a portable CD player?

2. Bikini top. Huh??????????????????????
G.E. Love

If you were to take with you all the items on Steve's spares list, the easiest way would be to add a bumper hitch and tow a spare car :^)

D C Congleton

Steve,

cute pdf writer will create pdfs of documents as a printing mode. You can download it for free. Makes a scalable small pdf. Very convenient.

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

G.E.Love,

Actually , the Bikini top is for Jacquelyn , she tends to loose them when she gets excited on a trip!.. Jacquelyn’s nickname is “Jack”..

SPW
Steve Wincze

So, let me try to make sense of all this.

Jack, who is a female, and whose last name is Handel, ( no relation to the dead composer ) and whose full first name is Jacquelyn, gets excited on trips in an MG motor car and unfortunatley, in her barely controlled state, looses her Bikini top . The question is now, of course, does the top get lost before starting off or during the actual trip whilst the car is in motion. I get the impression that it is actually DURING the trip as you have said it is "on a trip".

Question... What causes the top to get lost? Perhaps the slipstream curling around the windscreen is sufficient to whip it off and depart? In view of the fact she seems to be anticipating this interesting event, how many more does she pack in the side curtain box? Are there any other possibilities?

Having lost it, is she able to turn around and get the spare one while the car is moving and do you have to stop or just slow down? Is it a potentially dangerous distraction? Do following motorists pick up the wayward article and flag you down to return it? Do you have any images you can attach?

Any further information you can impart to shed more light on this extraordinary situation will be eagerly awaited.



Thank you.
G.E. Love

Geoffrey:

Now I'M the one rolling around on the floor laughing (and I'm still at the office!)...

Actually, I would think that a gentleman whose last name is "LOVE" would already know the answer to most of the questions you ask of poor Steve!!

JB

PS And here I thought all along that Steve had actually misspelled that entry, and it was some kind of "bimini top", like I have on my boat! Kind of like the regular top, but without the rear window... to allow in as much air as possible!
Jeff Brown

I'm not a gentleman, that's why I have the thoughts that I do, at least that is what my wife tells me.
G.E. Love

Hi Steve,

Nice list. A few questions.

1) How do you get access under the passenger side foot rest? Do you have a quick-access method or something? I've never had my car apart that far so I don't know what's involved in getting it off & stuff in there...

2) With all that "stuff" in the sidecurtain compartment, I'm assuming that the curtains are left behind (or on the car)?

Thanks,
Scott
Scott Linn

You need the passenger foot rest accessory..there is room in front of it when it is installed...!
gblawson(gordon)

What accessory are you speaking of Gordon?

Larry
L Karpman

There is a foot rest that is bolted to the floor boards for a foot rest ... i don't have one, but i bet someone will post a photo!
gblawson(gordon)

Gordon, sorry to tell you this, but the foot rest is standard equipment, not an accessory. It's called a passenger foot ramp. I'll get an image tomorrow. Using the volume under it requires some clever hinging and upholstering. You, our creative friend, would have no difficulty in arranging it.

Bud
Bud Krueger

Gordon: I have a foot rest, which is stock to the car. I thought you had uncovered a "new" unheard of accessory :-)

Cheers

Larry
L Karpman

Perhaps they were standard in the TF... don't think they came stock with the TD...?
gblawson(gordon)

Nope, they were standard equipment in a TD. Unfortunately, the Service Parts List doesn't list body or tub parts. If you look at the various catalogs you'll see the passenger foot rest among the standard items, not in any accessory grouping.
Bud Krueger

Gordon, The passenger foot rest wasn't an accessory. They were standard on the cars. In original cars, I understand the passenger floor was carpeted, and then the metal foot rest screwed in, and then it was carpeted. Some people have omitted the screws and installed it with hinges to allow access to the space behind. On my car with the AMCO (certainly not original carpeting) the passenger foot rest gets attached directly to the floorboard and then the Amco carpet goes over the floor and foot rest.

warmly,
dave


Dave Braun

I found that a standard door hing lined up with the holes at the top of the foot ramp. See Dave's photo above.

Makes a great hiding place for spares...
Evan Ford

Well, I certainly did not expect to initiate the lengthy discussionS, and digressions, which evolved from my original question. However, after reading thru all the comments, is it fair to assume that no one has, or no one will post, the spares list referred to in the TSO article? RUSS YOUNG
D R Young

Russ, the Maritime Meander take place almost 18 years ago, 1991. 50 T-typers participated. The probability of finding 1 of them on this forum is a bit slim. Perhaps it's in a TSO. Do you have the TSO CD? Have you tried to do some searching? Personally, I'm puzzled as to how one would get $1,375.90 worth of parts onto 1 square foot of surface. Those are 1991 $$$.
Bud Krueger

Russ, I just spent a while searching the TSO CD (I was bored waiting for family to go out to eat later)and nothing comes up. The search engine is pretty good, and nothing came up using any phrase I could think of. If you don't have the CD, you should get it- Hours of facsinating reading and info. In spite of all of the witty comments above, I still think there isn't that much you can just fix on the side of the road. Preparation and routine care the best preventative. There is also the NEMGTR directory that lists all of the T-series members across the country- good to have if traveling cross country as they could always help. George
George Butz


Good evening all
One other item you should carry as a spare is listed in the Moss catologue , external engine part #68-part # 459-299. But only to be on the safe side. You might need it to walk out of trouble. John
John Hambleton

RE: Foot rest.

I did a modification for a friend a few years back. Cut just outside the X on the footrest, installed hinges and a latch. There is a nice storage area under the footrest. Have not done it to mine but with the carpet down, you don't even know there is space there.
Bruce-C

Russ,

One last shot.

E-mail Don Lawson, Tech Ed of the TSO - coordinates on the inside cover of the TSO.

He may recall the issue that you are referring to.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A. Clark

One of the participants at the GOF Central in Auburn last July was Dave Zyp. He is still actively involved with MGs, and might divulge his recommended spares list if asked. I don't happen to have his email address, but maybe one of our Indiana area contributors could help in that regard. Lou VanK.
Lou Van Koningsveld

This thread was discussed between 06/01/2009 and 14/01/2009

MG TD TF 1500 index

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