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 - TD Newby

After 50 years I've finally acquired my dream car. I wonder if anyone has any information on its history (when built? are these number real? anything else?)

Also, how do you determine the exact locatioon for the hood frame. I'm planning on getting new fabric from Moss but the fram came unattached and there do not appear to be any holes to show where the screws went. The car was restored in '73 - '74 but it looks loke the hood was never re-installed.

Thanks.

Jud
J K Chapin

Jud,
Welcome to the Forum,,, go to this web site3 and insert your car number,,,it will give you the production info..
http://www.tregister.org/recall_page.php?req_page=records_home

SPW
STEVE WINCZE

Jud,

Congrats with your TD and welcome on this wonderful BBS: all the info you need and very enthusiastic members.

Provide chassis and engine number of your TD and we could check the factory records...

And a pic of course...

Jasper
JL Nederhoed


Jud,
Dave Braun's web site is the ultimate "Go To" reference guide,,, this site might help

http://www.dbraun99.com/mgtd15470/Weather%20Equipment/Hood%20installation/Index.html

SPW
STEVE WINCZE

Thanks for the warm welcome. Here are some pictures (I hope).

Seems that I can do only one pic at a time so I'll send two more separately.

Jud


J K Chapin

Here are the numbers:
Car No. TD/25009
Engine No. XPAG/TD2 25404
Body Type 22381
Body No. 24331/1742



J K Chapin

Last pic

Jud


J K Chapin

Jud,
here's your car,,,,,




STEVE WINCZE

Production record from http://www.tregister.org/recall_page.php?req_page=records_home ...

EXLNA means EXport Lefthanddrive North America




JL Nederhoed

Great minds think alike... ;-)

JL Nederhoed

Amaizing,,, only 12 seconds appart !!
STEVE WINCZE

Welcome!
Nice looking car.
Windscreen down and ready for some bugs in the teeth ...you will fit right in with this group :-)!
Do a search in the archives here on:
"hood install" and
"top install" !
Lots of good reading there on how to install so it dosen't look like "socks on a duck".
Cheers,
David
David Sheward 55 TF1500 # 7427

There is a local club in your area, get involved wiht them also.
Tom Maine (TD8105)

That site worked great. Windscreen down for artistic purposes only. The wiper motor is upside down and I've ordered new arms and links so hopefully that will be corrected soon. I've put about 200 miles on it in 4 weeks (we have great roads for this car in the foothills if SC) with only (1) #1 float bowl sticks closed and starves for fuel - maybe fixed, not sure, (2) clutch link rod nut came off and rod dropped to the ground - temporarily fixed, new rod and nuts (including adjustment nut) in hand for this weekend, (3) brake light actuator switch stopped working - new switch ordered - hoping not to lose too much brake fluid during the exchange.

Life is good!!

Jud
J K Chapin

Jud,
If you search the archives, you will find that upside down is correct for a TD,,, (upside down LUCAS)

Also,
I guess a bit too late as you already ordered one,,, but Francis Wiring sells a switch that will outlast a Moss switch

Changing themn should not result is loss of fluid as long as it is done quickly,,,

SPW
STEVE WINCZE

Welcome aboard. See http://www.ttalk.info/Tech/BrakeLightRelay.htm for adding a relay into the brake light circuit. A NAPA switch should last for a very long time. Check Dave DuBois' articles. Bud
Bud Krueger

Great stuff. Thanks.

Bud, if I understand thsi, the purpose is to reduce the amount of current flowing through the hydraulically operated stop lamp switch. Is that right. The hydraulically operated switch now activates the relay which, in turn, activates the stop lamps. Right?

Jud
J K Chapin

Right on, Jud. BTW, you may find a few more bits of interest at http://www.ttalk.info/. Dave Braun's site is loaded with images of great TD stuff. Bud
Bud Krueger

Two more questions (should I start a new thread?):

1. Can anyone explain the function of the "inspection sockets"?

2. I'm going to check this evening but I think the bows in the rack for my hood are tubular. From the pictures I see from experts it looks like the bows are from flat steel. Mayby my rack is aftermarket. Anyone know?

Thanks.

Jud
J K Chapin

Jud, great car ! Clearly one of the later models.

I don´t think the inspection sockets have any specific function other than being a power plug for e.g. an "inspection light" (the contemporary one looks a bit like like a miner´s lamp and is sold for high prices, functionality is probably limited and any LED torch will be better...).
The hood frames are typically flat with a rounded top side. Never seen tubular ones so far - but they may still be fit for purpose.

Enjoy driving - here in Europe it´s pretty cold now and mostly miserable weather.

Mike
Mike Fritsch

Jud, I expect that shortly you will see their use to power a teakettle. Bud
Bud Krueger

Jud, welcome to the fraternity.

It is possible, even on a positive ground car, to mount a more modern accessory socket if you choose a marine style (plastic) and carefully preserve the isolation of the positive side. Most every thing you would want to plug in (Garmin, cell phone, iPad) are not grounded through the case and will not know the difference.

My website is most easily accessible by simply entering http://www.dbraun99.com as I never got around to protecting the spaces in the addresses. As a result the links people often share need to be either cut and pasted n a browser URL window or edite.

Warmly,
Dave
Dave Braun

Ha Ha ...Bud knows me well!
Here are a few accessories that use the inspection sockets.....stilll looking for said tea kettle pix!

(Note: The TF did not have inspection socket so my plugs are somewhat different than those. I added a socket using simular "audio banana plugs".)


David Sheward 55 TF1500 # 7427

Still my "favorite"!


David Sheward 55 TF1500 # 7427

Welcome Jud

Black plate California TD. Nice. Do you know where it was in CA? I was involved with a group in the south bay area for a number of years.

Looks pretty nice.
Bruce Cunha

Jud,

I use the inspection sockets to connect a battery charger.

Very convenient!

Jasper


JL Nederhoed

Okay, here it is. Thought the owner would have jumped in. Bud


Bud Krueger

David, I recognise the inspection lamp of course (Jud, exactly what I meant), but what is that thing that looks like a pump gun ?

Mike
Mike Fritsch

I'm buying a tesa kettle as soon as I can (I hate hot tea but I'll use it for my low class Maxwell House Instant coffee.

Bruce, the car came from San Dieg. It was owned from the '70s by John Penn and before him by local radio personality Bob Dale. The broker provided the following:
"Regarding the history: The family in the picture including John Penn in the drivers seat were the second owners. A famous San Diego TV weatherman, Bob Dale owned the car prior and sold it to Mr. Penn (I’m not certain that Mr. Dale was the original owner but he may have been). Right after I purchased the car I drove it to a coffee shop and an older woman was walking by, admiring it and exclaimed, “you know, Bob Dale had one just like this!” That after Mr. Penn had told me about Bob Dale. You can do an internet search and find pictures of him – he always wore a bow tie. Mr. Penn bought it in about 1973 or 1975 and proceeded to restore it himself, rebuilding the engine, etc. After that he didn’t drive it much. "

Here's a pic of the gas gauge that came with the TD. Anybody know who Mike Goodman is (was?)?

Jud


J K Chapin

I found the old mounting holes and temporarily installed the hood frame last night (yes, it's flat with rounded top. Thanks) but it doesn't look right. This is a pic of the frame up and I'll send a pic of the mounting bracket next.

Thanks for everybody's help.

Jud


J K Chapin

I just looked at Dave Braun's site again and the frame looks about right but the mounting bracket on mine is in the wrong place. I'll work on this. Any suggestions of finding exactly the right place?

Thanks.

Jud


J K Chapin

Jud,
This might be of interest for new hood:
http://www.lbcarco.com/
Jeff is excellent to work with and offers normal 20% discout on everything in Moss catalog (33% on hood right now.) Got mine there, service was "over the top". (The TF on his site in this section is my car.)

Mike, The "gun" is a Ryndot trouble light...pull the triger for spring loaded clamp.

Mike Goodman was a Ca. service shop (Goodman Auto). Sourced a Bruno water pump from him years ago and he included the "Goodman stick" with my purchase. Not sure if still in business or not?
David Sheward 55 TF1500 # 7427

IMHO: On hood install ...I think best way is to install your side curtains first as their location is somewhat "pre-determined" by the mounting holes in tub and doors. This will make where you locate the mounts for frame in the tub a "no-brainer".
I had a "pro" install mine (chicken...and lots of "unknowns" concerning my install are documented in the Archives under "2 bow top on a TF"). Been very happy with the results for about 12 years now.

Again ...just my opnioun, but at some point you will need to adjust doors on your T car. The mounts for my frame were a mess from years of "PO's" removing them (and "bending" the trim) to do this.
When I re-did the interior I cut the side panels to allow easy access to the door hinges.
Picture may help here so you know what I mean:
(Door Hinge Access...bottom images)
http://www.ttalk.info/Sheward.htm
David Sheward 55 TF1500 # 7427

By the way, I'd like to jack up the whole car. Would it be safe to jack up the rear using the differential (avoiding the drain plug) as a jack point and then resting it on jack stands under the rear axle and then jack up the front and put jack stands under the frame about where the clutch housing is?

Thanks.

Jud
J K Chapin

Yes, but! The but is to not go too far forward under the frame. It begins to curve upward just before that point. Stick with the section where it's still horizontal. Bud
Bud Krueger

One more caveat, Jud. Don't do any serious tub component mounting with the car on stands. That would include attaching the mounts for the hood (top). Bud
Bud Krueger

It is not all that hard to take the rear side panel off, You should be able to find the original holes in the wood for the top.
Bruce Cunha

By the way, just wondering: Can you drive a TD with the bonnet completely removed? Do the panels or the longitudinal hinge support add anything structural? Suppor the radiator or what ever?

Thanks.

Jud
J K Chapin

YES, YOU CAN DRIVE IT WITHOUT THE BONNET ATTACHED,,,,

spw
STEVE WINCZE

MIke sold the business a few years ago, dont know to who but he was a real source of information and parts when I built mine in 98. He did the restoration on one of the cars in our club and it still looks good 30 some years later. Was a pleasure to deal with and a genuine nice guy.
Tom Maine (TD8105)

New Thread: Inspection Sockets
J K Chapin

This thread was discussed between 13/11/2012 and 21/11/2012

MG TD TF 1500 index

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