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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 - Top Application

Just recived a great deal and delivery on an Amco NOS 2 bow top. Can't find any directioons in usual placed web sites or archives. Hoping maybe someone had either and old package insert from a similar product or some step by step advice or a reference. After getting such a good deal compliments of Gary L in Ohio, I would hate to make a stupid/simple mistake and ruin the materials. Again looking for info advice on fitting a two bow top
Jon L

Jon,
My best advice is to take it to a professional to have it installed. I had a three-bow top installed in the spring and was able to watch it being fitted and installed. It gave the pro some trouble, but he had the experience and tools to work through the difficult parts of the installation. Even after watching the whole process, I wouldn't attempt to install one on my own.
Dick
RF Wacht

Hi Jon, Gary here. The MG tops are normally easy to fit. Take a look at your existing top and other TD's. It will be a text book. The part that can be troublesome is the fitting to front bow. Be sure your front bow/rear wood is good and not deteriorated. Cutting to length for proper tension is easier with two people..one pulling the other marking. If you want difficult try a Sunbeam Tiger..took me six hours.
Gary Moore

Jon, you might look at mgaguru.com. mga top installation but some of the techniques are the same. Also, the Schach book and the Malcolm Green book if you have them available. My 2 bow top from Moss didn't come with instructions.
Regards,
Dennis
D F Sexton

Jon - If you don't already have it, purchase "The Complete MG TD Restoration Manual" by Horst Schach. The chapter he has on installing the top is so complete that I threw away the Moss instructions and used Schach's alone and had the top all installed in about half the time I had alloted. The book was worth the purchase price for that alone. You can purchase the book directly from Horst. His e-mail address is hschach@uky.edu
Good luck - Dave
PS. Horst suggests using gripper snaps to fasten the bottom of the top to the tacking rail at the rear of the car, something no professional installer will "waste" his time on, but doing that makes it a snap to load things into the boot area behind the seat - kind of like a hatch back TD.
David DuBois

Jon,
IMHO...I concure with Dick.."take it to a pofessional". You said you bought it from Ohio...if you are anywhere near Newark,Ohio I can recommend someone that knows his way around on these! He is not cheap but I can show you his work! (or you can see it on LBC's website...that's my TF on Jeff's site.)
I have seen many "hoods" on T's that fit like an "old sock"...mine fit's like a glove! Having the right tools and experance can make a big differance.
Cheers,
David 55 TF1500 #7427
David Sheward

The canvas top I installed on a TF some years ago looks exactly like it was the first one I had done. This was before Al Gore invented the internet, and any books were written, but my vote would still be the professional- but research carefully!
George Butz

This thread was discussed on 23/09/2003

MG TD TF 1500 index

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