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MG TD TF 1500 - TF Switch Layout/Nuts

My TF is a LHD model, originally exported by the factory to the US.

I am repainting my instrument panel to match my new steering wheel (it had been painted sort of a dark copper color). When I put it back together, I want to do it correctly.

When I took it apart, the switches/knobs were laid out like this (I hope this shows up OK on the BBS):

"A" "P"


"S" "L" ign. "C"


Shouldn't the A & S be swapped with the P & C?

Other than swapping the positions of the tach and speedo on RHD v. LHD cars, were there changes to the positions of the switch gear?

Also, can anyone tell me the size/thread of the nuts that hold the panel to the dash? Four of the six nuts had been replaced by nuts with the correct thread, but they were larger and I couldn't get a nut driver on them because there wasn't enough clearance between the nut and the edge of the dash

Thanks, Greg
Greg Van Hook

Well, it didn't really show up right. The "P" should be directly above the "C".

Greg
Greg Van Hook

Greg: Have to wait for a TF person to respond for sure but I believe everything is in reverse order from RHD to LHD. It is on the TD for sure.

Chris
Chris Couper

Greg,
Pretty sure I have mine "sorted" correctly now...(tach & speedo were wrong when aquired). I went with whats in the manual as well as old photo in 1954 mag of a US import "LHD" when it was new. Will send pix directly.
Cheers,
David 55 TF1500 #7427
David Sheward

I have :
P A
C L S
Lord knows ...I have been wrong before!
David
me again!

My RHD (original UK) car has exactly the same layout as David Sheward's TF
John James

Greg - I am not familiar with the nuts that hold the facia panel to the dash on the TF, but if they are anything like the TD, they would be 2BA threads. If you can't get ahold of any 2BA nuts, use 10-32 nuts (American), the 2 are close engough that they will fit either way, albiet a bit snug. Good luck - Dave
David DuBois

The TF Panel Layout on LHD Cars

P A
Tach Cluster Speedo

S L I C

The nuts are 2BA, and are smaller outside dimensions than standard 10-32 which may be why you can't get a socket on some of them. Contact someone in England for the proper 2BA nuts.
Don Harmer

My supposed to be original LHD TF has the layout Don said.
Terry Jacobs

That's the layout in the workshop manual, which makes no distinction between LHD and RHD models. My RHD TF has the same layout, but I can't guarantee it's original.
Mark B.

The Operation (Owners) Manual is the same as my RHD car.
P A
C L I S
John James

Greg,
So where did you put them?
I'm sure I have that "old photo" in a mag from 1954 on the US model knob layout.
Got to love a car that nobody can aggree on anything about how they were built!
My theroy:
The boyz in the factory drank a lot of OSH and are up there laughing at all of us
cause they did everything they way they felt like it!
("oops it's tuesday..."starter" knob goes on the left on tuesdays ...right?")
I like my choke next to the tach...so leaving it there even if it is "wrong"!
And the wife likes the "aux" near her for making tea and turnning on our "map lamp"!
Cheers,
David
David Sheward

Apologies! The layout in the shop manual is:

P A
C L I S

As in John James' post. This is also the layout in my RHD car. I didn't read closely enough when I posted my 'me too' post earlier.
Mark B.

David
I would think the boys in the factory drank tea at work and local beer in the evenings. Having spent some time at RAF Abingdon I vaguely remember an Abingdon brewery which produced a very powerful brew. Sort of OSH on Thames and a royal hangover.
Hic
John
John James

Thanks guys.

It looks like it's really supposed to be:

PA
CLIS

I liked Don Harmer's better tho', 'cause I'm not sure the cables will be long enough when I switch C and S. :(

Where can I get some OHS?

Greg
Greg Van Hook

Checking Jim Holcombe's VERY original TF 1500 (LHD)
the Starter is in front of the driver, as is the Tach and the Choke is in front of the passenger. This scheme is the same as RHD cars. The Service Manual shows the Panel for RHD cars.

This is as I said above. (It would be aukward to pull the starter cable if it were so far to the driver's right. The choke is easier.)
Don Harmer

Don,
Not that I doubt the "location" on an orginial LHD TF...heck I dove arount for a few years with my tach on the wrong side before I noticed it....but :"It would be aukward to pull the starter cable if it were so far to the driver's right"....you'd have to have some "VERY" short arms for that to be an issue!
Good grief I don't even have to walk around to the other side of this car to clean the windscreen! One could even argue that you only need to hit the starter once (hopefully) but do need to "feather" the choke on a cold engine...so wouldn't next to the tach be a more logicial location? Just stirring up some trouble cause is was 65 here yesterday and 9" of snow today!...nothing personal!
Cheers & Best Regards,
David 55 TF1500 #7427
David Sheward

On the TC, both the starter and choke are on the passenger side, with a fast idle knob by the steering wheel. So it gets kind of weird sometimes. Could use a third arm.

OK Don, I'm back on board (sorry David). Not only do I really want to believe that the starter originally was on the left, but now I don't have to worry about cable lengths, which I just checked, and it would be a problem to switch them.

Greg
Greg Van Hook

Don
Get some cable from a cycle shop and cut it to the required lengths. The outers can stay where they are.By the way, my RHD UK car has the tach in front of the driver as this was the main reference for "real" men in those days.
John
John James

David,
Then your starter switch spring is a lot weaker than mine. It takes a hard pull to turn on the starter,
and a pull straight towards me is much easier than one offset at the passenger position.

John,

Of course the Tach is in front of the driver whether RHD or LHD as is the Starter switch.
Don Harmer

Don,
Do you have a new switch?
Just another example of how "the car" and I are somewhat alike....wife says my "spring" got weaker, but I sometimes need a litte harder "pull" once I hit 50 as well! ;-O !!!!
My cable,(on TF) is a bit short as well...so on the right is a straighter shot to the switch.
Does Enzyte make "cable lube" for our LBC's?
Cheers & Best Regards,
David 55 TF1500 #7427
David Sheward

David
My spring is hair trigger light so the direct run of the starter cable is wasted. The choke cable could do with a straighter route as the jet return springs put up a lot of resistance.
By the way, have you put away your snow plough yet?
John
John James

John,
Not yet...those of us that have lived here a while know the drill this time of year...shorts, sunglasses, tanning oil, gloves, parka & a snow shovel!
Cheers, (hot tea &/or cold ale)
David
David Sheward

This thread was discussed between 15/03/2004 and 19/03/2004

MG TD TF 1500 index

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