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MG TD TF 1500 - What Battery for a TD???

I have purchased a TD, though not picked it up yet. What type of battery does it take? My guess is a 12V Pos. ground. My Dad thinks it was a 6V pos ground. So which is it?
The car has not been run since the 70's. Does anybody have any thoughts on what should be done 1st, 2nd ...
D.M. Black

DM
12 V battery. Find one with the Neg pole on the right side when the terminals are forward. One without side terminals.

Others here can probably give you specific types or sizes.
Bruce Cunha

My TD has the pos. upright post on right side and neg. upright post on left side and is 12V. LISTEN my 1932 MGJ2 had a 12volt elec. sys. don't ask me why the Colonies held on to 6volts for so long. Same with suspended pedals.
Greg & grimm
G.J. Cenzer

If the car is original postive ground, the positive post needs to be on the left (sitting in the car) side, to the front, neg. on the right. Or a Group 35 size where the terminals are nearly equidistant front to rear. That size is way more than enought to crank it. You can buy an "original" tar top battery (the huge group 27 ones) from Moss or Abingdon for big $ for concourse restoration. What should be done- everything. Brakes will be shot (wheel cyls frozen), hoses rotten, carbs/fuel system gummed up with carb seals bad, etc. Does the motor turn? Rust in the cylinders? Seems this starting the long standing car was discussed in the archives a while ago. George
George Butz

12Volt and depends on what PO has done if it is poss (stock) or neg (modified) ground. Tar-Tops are neat looking ..but at this stage of the game kind of costly. (If you get lucky, you can always take a little black paint to an interstate or off brand andput a "LUCAS" sticker on it for $1.49! Check the archives for TOO much info on what/how to do there! Again check the archives for "how-to" on starting a motor that has not been run for years...but IMHO ....a little Marvell Mystery Oil down the old plug holes, (I use a section of clear hose to feed that in myself), nice thing about the "T" is you have that niffty hand crank to slowly turn the engine over a little bit at a time over the next few days after letting the oil sit in there for a while.(don't get in a hurry, let the oil work so you don't snap a ring). Drain the old gas out and inspect the tank for "crud" ...if it's nastie in there use a gas can with fresh gas for your test fire! Again don't get in a hurry and pull a bunch of crap into the carbs that you will have to clean out later! If you are going to just fill with fresh and try it....do yourself a favor and put a clear "in-line" filter in the line ahead of the carbs. Fill the dash pots with oil and check to see they are operating correctly. Have a fire extinguisher handy (the revief valves on SU carbs made a great "eye wash", if the floats stick you will have gas all over the place once the fuel pump starts ticking!) The best advise we can give you, DO NOT get in a hurry! READ THE ARCHIVES !!! I recently purchased a car from CA. with freshly rebuilt engine that had not been started for only 3 years...the transporter ignored the "extra charge" to "winch" the car only ...he started it and snapped the rings...could have saved me a lot of work and $!
Cheers & Best Regards,
David 55 TF1500 #7427
David Sheward

Maybe we should have a hint as to who the transporter was so no board members use them.
Greg & Grimm TD11547
G.J. Cenzer

If you pay to have the car winched, have the seller send you the distributor cap via mail.
Tom

Tom, Good idea...for "next time"!
Greg, As for sharing the name of the shipper I have no problem with that. I wrote and called several times requesting that they at least refund the "extra $100 winching fee" I was charged...but they will not answer my emails or return my calls. National Car Shipping out of Texas was the company, Bob Wilson was the agent.
I felt that a refund for "$100.00 winching fee" was a very reasonable request in as much as they did not follow directions and cost me much more than that to have the engine re-built.
I won't use them again!
David 55 TF1500 #7427
David Sheward

This thread was discussed between 21/10/2005 and 23/10/2005

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