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MG TD TF 1500 - What is this hole for? + exhaust pipe size

Refinishing the inner dash on my 50 Td. There is a bracket below the gauge area that is attached with countersunk screws. This hole is in the plate. It does not appear to be a drilled hole as the neck is too even.

Any thoughts on what it is for?

What diameter was the original TD exhaust pipe? Was the pipe off the manifold the same size as the back pipe.?


Bruce Cunha

I think the original exhaust was 1 1/4". I'm running 1 1/2" but don't tell anyone. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

I have just measured the bore of my TD downpipe, and it is 42mm (over 1.5") - maintained all the way through. The outlet hole from my exhaust manifold is also 42mm, but I remember I opened it out from 40mm some years ago. The gasket hole is over 42mm, so not a problem. Going from 40mm to 42mm diameter gives a 10% increase in area.
R A WILSON

There was a rubber bumper screwed to the back of my inner dash somewhere. I would have to review my pics to see where but maybe it was this extra hole. It has been discussed before and the bumpers use is unknown. Lol I have a new one for when I put my dash back together.
rich40701

Bruce, my dash in the 51 TD also had the rubber bumper that Rich mentions. It was at or near the hole you show. I know people have discussed its purpose before but I don't think anyone had an answer.

Tim
Timothy Burchfield

Here is the rubber grommet.

Tim


Timothy Burchfield

Peter is right. The original muffler had a 1 1/2" inlet and a 1 1/4" outlet. So the tailpipe was smaller than the header pipe.

Most of these lasted about a week and were immediately replaced with a pipe that was the same 1 1/2" all the way through. Plus I am sure it helped a bit with back pressure and therefore with performance.


Christopher Couper

Tim. Interesting. Do you know if your plate was changed? Reason I ask is my plate has flat head tapered screws, not round head. The rubber you mentioned. I did not find that on mine.

Your plate also has fewer screw holes.

I don't think we are ever going to learn about some of these differences. I guess, just different manufacturers or minor changes to save money.


Bruce Cunha

Bruce, as far as I know the dash is original. I just got another dash that has the same metal brace as that shown in the picture. It has the same screws. The pictured dash is from a 51 TD and the other one I have is from a 53.

Tim
Timothy Burchfield

Thanks Tim.

Perhaps another factory part change. Mine is TD 4139 Built Nov 1 1950.

Anyone else have a picture of the metal plate on the lower edge on the inside of the inner dash. Post the ID of the TD it is on.

Bruce Cunha

TD 3983 built October 24th 1950.


rich40701

Bruce, I think your image may be upside down. Rich's may be correct. But, there's also the question of RHD/LHD. Is the bracket reversible? I still have the original inner dash from Lazarus, TD10855 9 Oct. 1951, originally milled out for chronometric instruments, but modified to take magnetic ones. There is no indication of holes for such a bracket having been in place. Bud
Bud Krueger

Rich,

Sorry for hijacking this thread but mine is TD3966 of October 23 1950. Very close!
I guess the closest I know...

Jasper
Jasper Nederhoed TD3966

Bud. My bracket has counter sunk holes to accommodate tapered wood screws, So I don't thing it is reversible.

I still find it interesting that the TD LaVerne is restoring Low 1200's does not have the support, but it also does not have the half moon cut out in the lower part of the inner dash.

Tim's 51 posted above has a different bracket. Shorter, and only 6 holes. Thought it may have been cut down, but the holes are not angled like mine.

Any clues what that half moon cut out was for? It looks about the arc of a small dash gauge. To curved for a speedo or tach. Same curve as is in the plate.

As for the rubber bumper. I would speculate it pushed against the steering column support bracket. But other than that, I don't know what it did. Perhaps just to prevent metal to metal contact?
Bruce Cunha

I am not sure about the half moon cutout since I have not gone out to the car to check. Could it be to accommodate the bolt/nut for the distance adjustment if the steering wheel was pushed up to its highest point?

The factory may have discovered that this rubbed without the cutout. Just speculating here since I have not looked.
Christopher Couper

Does anyone have that bracket on a later TD, i.e., one with magnetic instruments? Bud
Bud Krueger

Not on this one....but it might have been nice :-)


L E D LaVerne

For what it's worth my TD8986 (July 11, 1951 production date) with magnetic instruments has no plate on the back side of the inner dash plywood panel. Not sure if the instruments were changed between 1951 and 1977 when I took ownership.
John Quilter (TD8986)

TD29133 (RHD) has the plate but not the special hole in it.
And the distance adjustment bolt interferes with the dash far before the highest position.

Laurent.

LC Laurent31

This thread was discussed between 22/02/2018 and 09/03/2018

MG TD TF 1500 index

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