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MG TD TF 1500 - Value of 1954 TF

What is the value of a 1954 TF? It is mostly disassembled. The fenders look good, the body and wood will need work. The upholstery is in need also. The state of the engine is unknown. The engine tag is not on the side under the exhaust manifold, but is on the flange at the rear of the engine. I am not sure if this is the original engine. The car number is mgtf 5110 and was origannly Silver birch red interior. It has never been restored.

Thanks

Rick
RG Taylor

Sounds like it might be a TC engine, they had the engine tag on left rear of the block.
Richard Taylor TD3983

Rick,
Search of :
http://www.tregister.org/search_prod.php

Shows TF5110 XPAG/TF/35141 27-APR-1954 HDB46/5110

That gives you the original engine number at least.
Is the car in Ohio?
I'm not an "expert" but if close, I would go with you to look at it to help determine what it's "needs" might be. I have no intrest in purchasing, so don't worry about me trying to snach it up from you.

Forcast for Saturday is 60 ...good excuse to go for a ride in the TF!
I'm about 30 miles east of Columbus.

Cheers,
David
David Sheward

I am in cincinnati and the car is nearby. The parts are scattered all over a garage / barn. Hard to know what is missing. Mostly the small parts probably. Dash looks complete and the windshield washer motor is there as are the wheel boxes. The tank looks good. Unsure about the remainder. Would like to get an estimate on the value to offer the owner.

Rick
RG Taylor

Rick ,
You know Dave Zyp? He might be a good person to have look at it...if he does that sort of thing has much better knowledge than me.
I'll be in Cinti working the 15th and could come down a little early if you think it might help.
(Have to be at UC by 1pm for basketball game.)
David Sheward

Early TD engines also had the ID plate on the curve of the bell housing. Bud
Bud Krueger

To completely rebuild the tub, repair metal, paint, restore engine, suspension, brakes, cooling system, interior, will run between $20K and $25K if you do the work yourself. It will be an amature restoration worth about the same amount of money. This makes the car worth about zero.

However, restorations are a fun hobby and if one has the ability and resources to do it, then the car is a good starting point. It's a shame the engine is not original but it sounds to me, since you know nothing of the condition of the mechanicals, that the car is worth between $3500 and $5000 as it sits because you need to start somewhere if you restore a car.

If it were running and would move, probably $8K to $10K but it would still need the aforementioned $20K to $25K.

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

I wouldn't go as high as 5, and would stay right around 3. Together but not running I'd be at 5-6 for any TF, but scattered, not original engine and with parts no doubt missing, I'd stay by 3,000.

Tom Lange Bar Harbor, Maine
t lange

Thanks for the input. The car is mostly there - missing the drivers side curtain, the engine is definitely a TC engine #812. the engine has the later style oil pump and the 1.5 inch carbs. Dash is all there. Body has rust in the drivers and passenger rear quarters and will need the lower rail on both sides. Needs a lot, but I think the price is right.

Some picturees to follow


RG Taylor

2nd picture


RG Taylor

third photo


RG Taylor

Last picture. Please let me have your thoughts.


RG Taylor

Hi Rick,
if you can get it for $3K, it is worth that much for parts that can be sold. But you are indeed looking at a $20K to $25K restoration as noted...and with the incorrect engine I don't know what to say. I started with one in boxes and have spent about $15K on it while doing the mechanical, 80% of uphostery, and paint myself...so parts can be big bucks, along with plating and machine work. With one in this condition, you also will need to have 2000 hours(SWAG)of your time available, and the patience of Job. Mike
MW Davis

Same colour scheme as mine (let me know if you need any help with colours). See in your pics where the underscuttle was painted red and masked off behind the crash pad. Is the original tool kit present?

Matthew.


Matthew Magilton

A TC engine cannot bolt up to a TF transmission. TCs have the smaller clutch ,late TD/TF has the larger clutch. TC engine with an early TD bell housing maybe?
-David
D. Sander

Maybe I paid too much for mine--in boxes. $6,200 in 2000. Spent a total of $11,671.01 in parts and 5 years of spare-time to complete the car.


David Werblow

A TC engine does bolt up to a TD/TF transmission and vice versa. There's a lot of TC's running around with 1500 engines in them.
Gene Gillam

Thanks for the help. The engine tag is not where I have seen the TC tags but is right at the top of the flange for the bell housing. I thoughtthe TC tag was about 30 degress off of the center.

I think I will buy this. I have added the car information to the TF data base.

Rick


RG Taylor

Very unlikely a TC engine.
First, a TC intake manifold will not fit in a TF. However your car is not assembled, so this may not apply. 1½" SUs were not fitted to the TC.
Secondly, the TC had a vertical oil filter and could not (easily) be adapted for a horizontal filter.
Lastly, if indeed your car is fitted with a TC gearbox, sell it. Its a lot more valuable (for racing) than a TD/TF box, which is generally, more easily found and less expensive. If you do, make sure first, that your engine is fitted with the 8" flywheel and that you have the 8" bellhousing and clutch ass'y, all of which were standard on the TF.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A Clark

Come on guys, a TF manifold will easily fit a TC engine. It's the head that is different, not the block. For that matter a 1-1/2" manifold will fit a TC/early TD head. Ditto on the oil pump...it's not a hard modification to make at all.
Gene Gillam

Our 49 TC EXU has TF 1 1/2" carbs and TF air cleaners. It has since before 1962.
-David
D. Sander

Resccued TF 5110 today. it now sits in my garage in pieces. Looking for a good source of parts. Any out there besides Moss, Abingdon, ?

thanks

Rick


RG Taylor

Good show....I hope it makes it all the way back. It is tough to see these great cars in such sad shape.
Tom Maine (TD8105)

Congratulations and looking forward to your posts as the restoration process begins and continues until finished. Wishing you the best for all that will come with this project.

John
John Brickell

Rick

Does your wife know that she will be eating dinner on her own for the next five years?
Good luck with both!!

Regards

Mike

PS I hope you are on good terms with your Bank Manager
Mike Sutton

Rick - we'd all be interested to know what you finally had to pay.

Tom
t lange

Price was $2800. Fair I think. Parts I know aren't there - the tie bar for the front fenders and the brackets it attaches to. missing one of the tonneau bars behind the seat - brackets at the end of the gas tank straps - chrome strips on the hood (bonnet) and lots of little stuff.

Wire wheels have the octagon knowcoffs - no wench

Just a start as I take inventory of what is there.

Need a good source of parts.

Rick
RG Taylor

Rick,
Congrats!
I started out keeping a spread sheet:
Parts, cost, time, ect.
The one thing I did not keep track of was "Beer" ...I should of as I gave up on the others.
The Beer continues.
Cheers,
David
David Sheward

I have all the books from the TD. Are there any books on the TF that will help me identify parts and how thins go together? Mounting of the front fenders, etc.

Thanks

Rick
RG Taylor

I was able to get things from Brown & Gammons in the U.K. that I couldn't get from the U.S. suppliers. Some parts on the TF, like the relay box, are common with the MGA 1500 and maybe sourced from less pricey suppliers.
David Werblow

Rick - very good buy; I'm glad you stayed near $3,000.

Let us know what you need, and we can advise you where best to get them. Some are fine from Moss, some aren't, some are best from the UK, some are fine as generic parts.

Tom Lange
Bar Harbor, Maine
t lange

OK - need some help. I have the interior and dash out. Working on seperating the scuttle. All of the bolts are out but I cannto get the wood out between the firewall and the tub. Suggetsions / instructions please. I removes nails I could see at the front of the scuttle. are there nails through the front of the scuttle? Books are weak.
RG Taylor

There are wood screws holding the wood in. The screws are visable under the scuttle, they go in from the scuttle side. Don't forget the screw at the bottom of the scuttle on each side.
-David
D. Sander

Make sure you take lots of pictures as you dismantle it. You'll need them when you put it back together.

The Moss and Brown and Gammon websites have excellent drawings which help show what goes where.

The only aids I used apart from the above websites were the Workshop Manual and the DVD's on dismantling/assembling the engine and gearbox.

AJ
A R Jones

Good one mate,congratulations!

I wish I had the opportunity to obtain a TF at that price. I spent an addiional $A10K to get started on my MG TF adventure.

Best advice I can offer is to take nothing on face value, strip every component and ensure it is serviceable and assembled correctly.

Marvellous what appears on "fleabay" on occassions so dont hesitate to use this world market place.

Good luck, rush nothing and be prepared to assemble and unassemble everything at least 3 times.

I have good contacts here in Aus that possess a world of MG T Series knowledge, if you are struggling for advice dont hesitate to make contact.
G Evans

This was located in the car - the original Warranty to the original purchaser


RG Taylor

Rick
As Dave said start with a speadsheet. Never let the wife see it
Tom
T.L. Manion

Neat document, never seen one of of those before! Parts: ebay. Also O'Connor Classics in CA, ask for used stuff at Abingdon, etc. George PS- second keeping wife in the dark!
George Butz

Very cool document - I have never seen one.

I VERY much second taking pictures, more pictures and even more pictures. Look at Dave DuBois's very valuable site. I guarantee that you will spend 2/3 of the time working on the car trying to remember or figure out how things go back together correctly.

Tom Lange
Bar Harbor, Maine
t lange

I spent 2/3's of my time contemplating the part in my left hand ....with something else in my right hand!
Cheers ;-)
Open invite, if you have no TF's near and want to make a road trip up here.
By no means is mine 100% correct but you, your camera, and your right hand are more than welcome to come visit Abingdon Hootersville North Annex.
The floor is dry and the ale is cold.
David
David Sheward

I would love to take pictures as I take it apart - but - the previous owner dismantled the car.except for the motor and the tub. The motor is strange - Early TD I would guess. The brass tag is at the top of the bell housing and is zpag mgtd no. 824. The number seems like it should be a TC motor. The carbs and the tranny are the correct items. Will know more when I pull the head (engine is stuck).

If anyone wants a copy of the Warranty, I can email a pdf copy. There is printing on both sides.

Send me the request off line.

David - thanks for the offer. I have to get the tub in shape and replace some of the wood / repair rust before I worru about the rest of the assembly. That part is just like my TD. I will need help when I got to assemble the remainder of the car.

Rick
RG Taylor

This thread was discussed between 11/11/2011 and 29/11/2011

MG TD TF 1500 index

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