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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 - SUPER fast road short block photos

Okay... so Autosport Seattle called the other day and said my short block was ready to pick up. I'm still waiting on Len's cam to arrive, but all else is in:

- B+G lightened flywheel
- B+G new style rear seal
- Modern pressure plate and clutch disk
- Billet Crank as engineered by Manley Ford and John Targett
- Sanez fully floating gudgeon pin con rods
- JE forged aluminum pistons
- enlarged main oil gallery
- and many other cool stuff!!

I was thinking they were going to be done with the machining and wanted their money for that and I'd come back with the cam and they would finish the short block with the cam. To my surprise, I found that they had finished the short block and left the cam to me! I'm SOOOO excited for this to be complete. It looks so sharp. The final assembly will wait until I get the cam from Len F. After that I expect it to be done in about a month and back on the road.

Since it came apart for a broken crank, I will have fixed the crank issue with the above improvements, I've installed the 4.3 gears in the rear end, a whole new "comfort kit" suspension bushing kit from polybush, Pedal shaft rebuild with new bushings etc, and a 5/8" sway bar for the front end.

The final touch will be Manley Ford's extractor with new exhaust. I just talked to him laast week and he will be shipping that out sometime in late february early march.

What I found when I took the engine apart has led me to believe that I was likely only running on about 35HP or perhaps even less. WIth the improvements here, I'm likely to be in the high 80s maybe even 90s (dyno results will follow the break in period)! Thus I'm going to liekly double the HP from what I had before. Should be pretty fun!

Here are some pictures of the short block for you all to enjoy.

Alex "going broke in style" Waugh
TF 1500


ABW Waugh

Close up of new crank and fully floating gudgeon pin con rods.


ABW Waugh

Overall view of bottom end


ABW Waugh

Back side of B+G lightened flywheel and seal kit


ABW Waugh

Modern pressure plate and clutch


ABW Waugh

Would you mind sharing with us the costs of crank, rods and pistons?
Jim Northrup

Jim,

These are approximate:

- Crank 1100
- Rods 700
- pistons 650

Alex
ABW Waugh

Hello Alex
Looks like it's really starting to come together. I'm right with you on going broke in style. I've got one of Manley's derington style headers and a John Target crank as well. Have you seen that flywheel/heavy duty clutch setup Manley's come up with, it's almost to pretty to hide inside the bellhousing(lol) Did you have your crank sized for MGB rod ends as well?
I've finally about got my tub re-built and ready for paint- so the engine rebuild is next up for me. I haven't ordered rods and pistons yet so would you mind sharing your Sanez and JE spec sheets with me.
Again, congrats on your progress.
Hiram
Hiram Kelley

Hiram,

I've seen that flywheel clutch set up and spoke to another TD racer and he said he almost likes the B+G set up better as the race set up is a little to On or Off for him when it comes to street use.

My crank is sized for MGB rods ends. For those who don't know about this, Manley/Targett sets up their race engines for MGB spec rod journals so they can get a bit more surface area and more redily available bearings of MUCH better quality than what they found for the XPAG/XPEG engine.

Are you planning on doing your own rebuild on the engine Hiram? I ended up having my machine shop do up the short block (minus the cam as it wasn't available yet). I was going to do it, but decided for the cost that the machine shop quoted me, that it was such cheap insurance vs having me do the work and causing a problem. I'm happy I did so now. They are REALLY looking forward to seeing it when it's running. They feel that it's REALLY going to rev up quickly with the way I've set it up. I can't wait for the first drive!!!!!

Alex
ABW Waugh

I will probably have the machine shop do the machine work but the assembly I would like to try and tackle myself. A couple of the guys here know there way around a TD engine and have agreed to lend a hand so we'll see. Are you going to stage 2 on your head, the bigger TF valves and some Harry Westlake style porting as well? That's pretty much my plan- build the engine to TD Mk 2 specs, dual fuel pumps and all, then 'drive it like I stole it'(lol).
Hiram
Hiram Kelley

Alex,
Thanx.... looks like GREAT prices! Please divulge sources! I'm planning a rebuild in a year or two (or.....) for what will be a supercharged '50 bored 1500 XPAG. Gotta put the car on the road this spring with a borrowed mill then devote time to refurbish the "correct" engine.
I'd appreciate a shortcut to hiperformance parts. Got Len's cam package in gunsight, too!!! Will be anxious to see dyno report- got my own dyno and want to compare notes. We will all be watching!
I prefer heavy flywheels for stick trans (wife is driver) but to each his/hers own!
Expected wife to blow our '51 at MIS doing over 75mph with 5:12 diff (thank you Lord)!
JIM

Jim Northrup

postscript:
I see Moldex is in Redford, MI. I could walk over and carry a crank home!!!!
Jim Northrup

$1100 for the cramk? Is this a typo?
Steven Tobias

Some cranks cost more than that!
P Jennings

Forgot to mention, a crank from Moss is over $2400.00!
P Jennings

Paul, That's what I meant...$1100 for a billet crank is amazingly cheap!
Steven Tobias

I must have gotten that wrong then. The crank must be 2100 - 2200. When I bought it, I remember it being just shy of a moss crank. Sorry about the confusion.

Jim, If memory serves correct, my block will be 50 over on a 1500 and I've done the port and polish already and raised the compression to 9.3. I'm excited about tje results. And like Jim will be driving it like I stole it. WEEEE!

Alex
ABW Waugh

I have a billet crank, purchased a few years ago. about 1800. I am using Venolia pistons, crower rods and could not be happier. Modern is nice, expensive but nice.
Tom Maine (TD8105)

I checked my records and I paid just shy of $2000.00 back in May, 2009 for my crank from John Targett.I probably should burn all these receipts so my better half never learns what this buildup is costing. Probably better I don't know as well(lol).
Hiram
Hiram Kelley

SINCE you have it all apart and SINCE you raised your compression (not enough), have a look at these:
http://somender-singh.com/content/view/7/31/
http://mgccars.com/grooved-head-information.html
BTW, if I photoshop your lightened flywheel into my engine....
John Redman

...i've never heard of 'grooving' a combustion chamber...anyone else?
gblawson(gordon- TD27667)

John,

I've not heard of that before. I chose not to go higher in case I ever needed to resurface the head again. Since they are not that easy to come by, I didn't want to loose the ability to repair mine at least one more time.

Alex
ABW Waugh

...its a fascinating concept... we used to discuss 'polishing' back in the '60s and talking about the sand cast keeping the fuel/air mixture mixed and not clinging to the sides of polished surfaces..... like the idea of more power/torque with out doing much of anything? They imply it would still work without raising the compression?
gblawson(gordon- TD27667)

I'll soon be able give a first-hand report. The MGC guy recommends 12:1 and I went from 8:1 (TDC) to 10.5:1. Since this is a back-up head I have carted around for 7 years, I'll have the original as back-up but I'll groove it as well. Anyway, the MGC person will give you his time besides the website.
John Redman

12:1 ??? That seems pretty high? Think it will start....
gblawson(gordon- TD27667)

This thread was discussed between 29/01/2011 and 01/02/2011

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