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MG TD TF 1500 - What type distributor is this?

I want to install a pertronix ignition in my 54 TF. I'm not sure which distributor I have. Can anyone look a this pic and tell what type it is. The car is still positive ground.
Also could someone tell me what would cause the light switch to get over heated. Or is there to many possibilities to name?
Thanks
Bud


S.A. White

We need to see a picture of the cam under the rotor to determine which type you have. I am a Pertronix fan B.T.W. remember to leave your points plate and condenser in the tool box under the hood, just in case...
-David
D. Sander

Bud, http://www.ttalk.info/Tech/pertronix_igniters.htm might be worth looking at. Bud
Bud Krueger

Pull off the rotor and send another - better focussed - picture.
t lange

Bud wrote:

"Also could someone tell me what would cause the light switch to get over heated. Or is there to many possibilities to name?"

Two that come to mind are:

1. Poor connection(s), giving high resistance, to the switch or (more likely) in the switch itself, especially if the switch is old.

or (less likely, I'd have thought)

2. A short on the wiring to the lamp/lampholder etc. or the bulb is too highly rated.

Hope that helps. No doubt others will come up with some more.

- Tom.
Tom Bennett - 53TD 24232

Have you checked with a mirror to see if there is a plate on the flat side between the distributor and the engine?

If you switch to Pertronix (as I have) and want to carry the old points as a back up, be sure to pack a copy of both wiring diagrams.

The ID plate will tell you the model number of the dizzy the picture without the rotor will tell which of the three style cams you have.
Mort 1950 TD1851 Mobius

Thanks for the advice regarding the distributor. I will take a pic of it without the rotor tonight and send it tomorrow.

Thanks again
Bud W
S.A. White

Hi Bud,

I see you've got one of those rotors with a rivet in it, these can cause problems, and a good non-rivet rotor is now available. Thought I'd mention it in case ignition problems were the reason for going electronic. As Mort says keep the old components as a back up, to avoid being snookered miles from anywhere!

Cheers,

John
J C Mitchell

Bud, see http://www.ttalk.info/Failure.htm for another reason to get a good rotor. Bud
Bud Krueger

If you install a Pertronix it comes with a new rotor. I followed Buds' advice and ground a bit off the bottom of the rotor. See his article
Mort 1950 TD1851 Mobius

Mort - are you saying that Pertronix is now including a rotor with the Igniter? I guess they got my message after all. Bud
Bud Krueger

To Bud and Bud,
Duh,
It's been a long day.

Excuse my mental fog.

Pertronix did not come with a new rotor.

After I got the Pertronix I realized, due to a thread on this BBS, that my distributor was not set up properly. I sent it to Jeff at Advanced Distributors. He did a beautiful job putting everything back in order. He also included the new rotor.

Although it's later in the same long day, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Good night all,
Mort
Mort 1950 TD1851 Mobius

As to keeping a spare plate with a points set up...I just carry an extra pertronixs...once I got rid of points, I don't want to ever go back! I would second the comment on the rotor...get a good red one from Advance Distributors...Moss also sells them now...
Bob Dougherty

This thread was discussed between 19/02/2012 and 22/02/2012

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.