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MG TD TF 1500 - TD w/MGB engine, crossflow head, Webbers

This (53?) TD was at "Mayhem in the Mountains" in Hiawassee Georgia last weekend. Neat car. MGB engine, crossflow head, two sidedraft Webbers. Brooklands windscreens and of course no side panels.

LaVerne: You commented on the photo on our facebook page and showed a pic of the car on a trailer. What can you tell me about it?

https://www.facebook.com/gofsouth (copy-paste)

Lonnie
TF7211


LM Cook

Has 4 wheel disc brakes, Saw it in person last fall at the Colorado Conclave in Denver. He has something very special in his basement if I remember correctly. Dan Craig can tell you a lot more about it as he worked on it this year to correct a few problems.


L E D LaVerne

Fronts


L E D LaVerne

Rears


L E D LaVerne

More


L E D LaVerne

Hi Lonnie; I did not put it together but have worked on it a couple of times. MGB front end, MGA rear end and a T9 five speed.Disc brake conversion on rear and a remote servo to make the pedal effort a bit easier. Changed it to an alternator last time it was in. Dan Craig
momsauto

We have such a TF here in our area. TF with a tuned 1960 MGB engine, light flywheel and Mazda 6-Speed.

MGB front brakes and standard MGB 3.9 complete rear axle and "15" wires. He had to fiddle with the spring perches.

The guy told me it took him 3 weeks to convert the clutch from a (TF) mechanical to MGB hydraulic. He ended up scrapping the entire pedal box and installed MGB pendulum pedals. He also had to provide more cooling including an oil rad.

Unfortunately, he had his own ideas on what the dash should look like and compared to a stock TF, its downright terrible (didn't ask how he operates the wipers).

The BMC "B" Series engine should have replaced the XPAG. The B engine fits like a glove in a TF. I didn't drive it (but I sure wanted to) but he left my place very rapidly.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.



Gord Clark

There's a TF in the UK with an mga twin cam engine and twin webers which is regularly seen.
The link below takes you to a movie clip on Dropbox showing it in action in the Yorkshire Dales. Make sure you have the sound turned up.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/bpvuiys4cjfq5ox/TF%20Twin%20Cam.mov?dl=0

David
David Wardell

For Gord Clark, do you mean a 1960 B series engine, as the MGB was not made until 1962. A 1960 B series engine, if it came from an MGA, would be 1588cc. For the rear axle spring perches, they must be cut off and rewelded on either closer together or further apart to match the TD/TF spring centres.
For the hydraulic system, the owner could have used an MGA 1500 master cylinder, which has twin pistons, and can bolt in place of the TD/TF master cylinder. I realise the TF is probably LHD, and the clutch pedal is not a mirror image of the RHD clutch pedal, but I think using the MGA 1500 master cylinder would have required a less substantial, but reversable, modification. Is the car missing a rev counter - my TD now has an MGB 1800cc engine, and I fitted the original dynamo, so I have a rev counter, which did need to be recalibrated. It is now possible to buy an alternator with rear rev counter drive, although the rev counter may still need recalibrating.
Regarding the UK TF, is it possible to know how the owner dealt with the clutch and rev counter.
(my picture may be slightly fuzzy)



R A WILSON

The video is also on the MGCC T Register Facebook page where the owner is answering comments about it -
https://www.facebook.com/mgtregister/
If you’re not a Facebook user, just get back to me and I’ll try to find out.

David
David Wardell

I am not on Facebook, but I was able to watch the video you first mentioned, which was the same as the second, and there was only an external commentary, not the owner talking about his car - have I gone through to the wrong video? Anyway, I would be grateful for more details.
With the extra power, I am also curious if wider wheels and tyres are used - I have 4.5J x 15" wire wheels with 165 radials, but I sometimes think that 5J rims and even wider tyres would be better, although the MGB only had 4.5J rims.
I think the TD in the top photos looks excellent, but on my car I have retained the bonnet (hood) side panels.
R A WILSON

Are you the R A Wilson who receives the T Register's monthly email newsletter? If so I have your email address and with your permission, I’ll pass it on to the owner whom I’m sure will be delighted to converse about the car.

David
David Wardell

Yes I am, and I hadn't twigged that you send me the T Reg newsletter. Please forward my email address.
(Hopefully this will result in my not taking this thread in a wrong direction)
R A WILSON

RA,

No, I meant 1960cc 3 brng engine. Owner estimates abt 140 HP.

Never thought of the MGA dual cyl Master. Food for thought if I ever convert (which I'd love to!)

That TF, when he left here, was very fast. With the standard MGB cwp of 3.9, must make great cruiser, although 6th gear in the Mazda is a double overdrive. Only 4th is 1:1 - overkill, I think. The Mazda 5 speed (www.vitesse-ltd.com/shop) would be quite adequate for me and likely, less expensive.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gord Clark

1960cc and 140 hp must push a TF along a bit - the owner has probably forgotten what hills are. I agree with you about 6 gears - my car has the Ford 5 speed gearbox (Hi-Gear conversion), and fifth gear, 0.82:1, is a perfect overdrive (4.3 diff, so overall 3.526:1).
R A WILSON

Thanks for the info on the yellow TD "B" and for subsequent info on other B engine conversions.

The yellow TD zipped around the mountains of Northeast Georgia with ease. Some of the sections were 1st gear inclines.

Lonnie
TF7211
LM Cook

Hi Gord

Are you saying a Mazda box can be fitted to a TF / TD? I have examined photos and the box appears to be much longer than the Ford and MG ones.

The MGB kit from Vitesse is very good value for money since it includes a brand new Mazda gear box. Ford Type 9 boxes are rare now a days and are very expensive. The days of buying one from a scrap yard for £10 are long since gone.

Cheers

Jan
J Targosz

My Ford type 9 five speed gearbox, in excellent condition, cost £50 in December 2005 - did I overpay ?
My 1976 MGB engine, in worn condition with carbs and manifolds, but no starter or dynamo (alternator ?), cost £150 in the same month.
R A WILSON

These days you can add a zero to that number and think that you have done well for a good one in excellent condition. I fitted the High Gear kit and a reconditioned Type 9 box and together they cost me £1000, which I was very happy with. I changed the diff to 4.55:1 using the Moss Kit - a bit noisy on the overrun, but it works.
Dave H
Dave Hill

You don't mention dates, but my Hi-Gear fitting kit on its own cost £950 in Feb 2006 - and I collected it. I will say it all assembled perfectly.
R A WILSON

Yes, I think it was about 2011. They both came from the estate of some poor fellow that had bought them, but hadn't got around to fitting them, owing to a fatal illness. Around that time you could find a ratty Type 9 for £200 or so that needed rebuilding and a good one for £500. When I was looking a gearbox reconditioner told me that any Type 9 can be adapted by changing the requisite parts (even one from a Ford Transit if you can also find a car type gear selector) and it wouldn't cost the earth. The main issue is finding one at a sensible price.
Dave H
Dave Hill

This thread was discussed between 30/09/2017 and 06/10/2017

MG TD TF 1500 index

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