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MG TD TF 1500 - TD tub restoration

I have owned my '53 TD for about 10 years. I got it in the typical "sat for 20 years condition". After rebuilding the transmission, brakes, carbs, suspension, and various other items it was a driver. I drove it this way for a few years then decided the body was falling apart and I had to do something with it. Of course the tub was in very poor condition. All of the lower wood is completely rotted or missing. Most of the metal is rusted out. So for now I have a very nice drivable (I drove it the other day. Fun!) chassis and no tub. I never wanted a perfect restored car, just a nice driver with a solid body. So here's my question. Does anyone have a lead on a solid tub or maybe some used parts so I can make my car whole again? At this point I'm trying to decide if it would be cheaper just to buy a nice driver and sell what I have or dive into a complete tub restoration. If anyone is interested in what the tub looks like now I can email photos.
Alan
Alan

It is far more cost effective to buy a new body tub unless you can do all the metal and woodwork yourself and even then it is probably more cost effective. I've been there and done that and I could have had a new body tub for less than one half the cost of rebuilding the old body. And the metal skin was in pretty good shape only replaced two metal parts. Phone Craig Seabrook 440 338-5950 or Vintage Metalworks 44 (0) 1753 654144 in the UK. Terry
Terry O'Brien

It'll be interesting to see. I've decided to bite the bullet and start restoring 'the53'. You can see what I'm starting with at http://www.ttalk.info/The53.htm . I'm going to try to repair the sheet metal by fabricating new sections to be welded in rather than buying replica panels. One of our local high schools has a metal fabrication course. I'm probably going to take advantage of it. I'll try to document the process. My goal is to create a driver that is reasonably close to the way that Abingdon created it. But, I may have to attempt a 'gordon' on that steering wheel.
Bud Krueger

Bud, Looks like your starting with a little more than me, but we are in the same boat. I planed on replacing the rotted wood and weld in patch panels where I can. My front panels are too far gone for that and I will have to go with the replica panels for those. I'll send you a few photos of what I have now.
Alan

Be careful Bud... next you will "name" it.... (after all..."the '53" just isn't a "bonding" name....)
gordon lawson

Alan,

When you say the front panels are gone, are you talking about the front quarter panel? (in front of and below the door?) If you plan to weld up new panels, the front quarter is worth making yourself. It's not a hard panel to fabricate if you use the original as a pattern. If your car's rust through is like my car was, the panel is likely in good shape from about 4-5 inches up. I cut the bottom 4-5 inches off with a plasma cutter and but welded new metal in place. You can form the nailing lip once you have the new wood frame ready. The quarter should fit tightly against the wood rail and follow it's contours.

Bud,

I took a welding course at to local vocational school over about 6 weekends. It was very helpful. I found just practicing on scrap sheet metal was the best training. By the time I finished the TD, I was starting to get pretty good at it! ;^)

I'll send you guys a couple of pics of a quarter panel for inspiration!

Good luck,
Evan
Evan Ford - TD 27621

Evan,
Thanks for the photo. Yes this is the panel I'm talking about. Unfortunately mine was in much worst condition. I swept it up with a broom after it was removed. I normally save everything until the restoration is complete, but in this case there was nothing to save. I also gained welding experience from practice on scrap. Then I started with minor patch panels on my '66 midget and worked up to a total body shell restoration on my '59 Sprite and a few others since. I'm O.K. with welding and small panel fabrication, it's the wood I'm not to sure about. I have very little wood working experience. I plan on purchasing the needed wood and front quarter panels from Moss or Abingdon Spares. Anyone use their stuff? How is it for fit?
I know the metal panels sometimes need lots of work to fit. I ran into that on my GT6. The outer sills didn't even come close to fitting out of the box, but everything fit great on the Sprite. I'm going to guess things will be tougher on the TD given it's hand built construction.
Alan

Alan,

I bought all new wood except for about 12 pieces from my original tub that were still solid. It all came from Moss and fit together well. I had to adjust a couple of joints to perfect the fit, but it wasn't much.

Do you have a copy of Horst Schach's book? It is helpful from tub work.

Good luck,
Evan
Evan Ford - TD 27621

If your good with metal...the wood will be easy... just dull down all your metal tools...
gordon lawson - TD 27667

Evan,
Looks like I'm going to order some wood and dig in. I have Horst Schach's book for reference so I should be O.K.
Thanks
Alan

Alan

Like you I had a lot of experience with rebuilding metal work but had never worked with wood. My TD was in pretty sad shape when I received it, the metal required extensive repair and the wood was basically not there. My first move was to buy the Horst Schach book and read it carefully and then I started taking the body all apart. (left with a lot of sawdust and rust) I purchased all of the new wood but not through the two major suppliers, it was made by Fenton Bagely who I believe is in New Mexico and all I can say is that it all fitted perfectly. If I was to buy the wood again I would also consider Craig Seabrook as his workmanship is superb.

Anyway, a lot of reading and careful fitting and the body tub was back together and now that it has been on the road for a season I can say that it is nice and tight. It takes a little longer than buying a complete tub but there is some satisfaction in doing it yourself. In my case it was also cheaper than buying the complete tub.

Brian
1950 MGTD
Brian Smith

Here is one on bay that will be in for a similar process

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=4592222155&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT
Bruce Cunha

Didn't notice your "question for seller" Bud... I just sent off:
Your TD is a 1953... in fact, as they made 29664 cars, and the first number was 251, yours was the 36th from the last, and as they produced 40 a day, yours was built on the last day of TD production. (Don't get too excited, it still needs a ton of work)
gordon lawson - TD 27667

This thread was discussed between 20/11/2005 and 22/11/2005

MG TD TF 1500 index

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