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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 - TF ignition coil

I have a Lucas HA 12 coil that came out of a 1958 Triumph,
is there any reason that it should not be OK to use it in my TF? It seems to work OK in it but I thought I would check.
Thanks
James
J K Barter

anyone know if there is a major difference between a Q12,LA12 which I gather are original TF ignition coils and the HA12?
J K Barter

JIM,

I have no idea what coils you're talking about, but that really doesn't matter.

Points are points, period.

My only recommendation is to eyeball the condenser to make sure what you're running halfway matches what that Triumph had. Size is not super critical, it only slightly changes the Voltage spike and ringing decay rate. A good condenser and tight connections are important for sweet running and long point life.

another JIM
JIM NORTHRUP SR

Q were early basic coils. Later designs were LA, a "standard" coil - 20kv, HA a "high output" 30kv, and SA "Sports" 40kv.

Morris & Austin etc had LA, MG maybe Tr had HA, and aftermarket/race/high end (more cylinders & high rpm - AC, Jag etc)had SA. HA are excellent for any 4 cylinder and most 6cyl engine.

FRM
FR Millmore

Hi James,

I came on this late but FRM is correct - your HA coil is fine, and if painted black will look period. As a matter of interest the Q series coils were 'solid', and made up to around 1955, but supplied through dealers for some years after!

Later Lucas coils were better, being oil filled, presumably for better cooling and insulation, but for the purists to note, were slightly fatter than the Q series. I've got several 70s and 80s British made Lucas coils suitable for my TF, and failure is rare - they often last 20+ years, unlike many current 'branded' coils of unknown provenance !

Cheers,

John
J C Mitchell

This is the coil that came off of my TF. I cleaned it up a bit, painted and added a decal. Is it correct? I don't know, but it looks good. PJ


Paul sr

Thanks, all- this coil has a 1958 date stamped on it but still works fine, I will paint it black and use it.
JB
J K Barter

I just switched from a HA to a pertronix 40,000 volt coil (black). Engine catches noticably quicker.

Got it for $30 from LB Car Co at the British Invasion in Stowe.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A Clark

This thread was discussed between 21/10/2012 and 01/11/2012

MG TD TF 1500 index

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