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MG TD TF 1500 - What's everyone's thoughts on...

Actually it's probably what's my thoughts on cleaning & repainting parts I take off the TD.

For example. I took the fan blades off. They were slightly bent & the ends were mashed down a little as if it had hit something. I've peened them back into shape & blasted them for re-painting.

Was this wrong? They were mostly missing paint and slightly rusty. Should I just be cleaning them & putting these right back on they way they were, on such an original car? I also have the thermostat housing & elbow off & will be taking off many other parts to make sure they are in working order. ie: engine mount is shot as well as some other rubber bits.

Maybe one day I will restore the entire car but for now I want a clean functing driver.

When I had mentioned to someone that I had such an original car, they told me not to mess with it. To what degree should I not mess with it? Am I hurting the current/ eventual value of this car. I know I have to inevitably make the decision, but I just wanted to know your thoughts.
V.W. Piņa

I think you did the right thing.
Everytime you handle a part you can make a dicision about repainting it. F.i. the brake drums, springs etc. I would freshly paint them black if they are off the car and leave them "rusted" if they stay on the car.
Willem van der Veer

My vote is with Willem. If something comes off, in my opinion it should be repaired and painted. In the first place, the value of a T series MG, even in 100 point concurs condition is not that great that a reconditioned part is going to degrade the value all that much. Secondly, as long as the original part is on (or saved), even if it has been reconditioned, it is going to be worth more than an aftermarket part that doesn't match. That said, I put a 7 blade plastic fan on our TD because there have been a number of cases of fan blades sheering off and doing damage under the hood and I would rather have a plastic blade than the heavy steel blade of the original flying around if it breaks off. The original fan is stashed away so it can be put back on if someone is going to want it that way at such a time as I sell it (unlikely in my lifetime). My philosophy has always been to restore the car as close to original as possible, consistant with good operation. I try to make any modifications to improve operation/reliability be as transparent as possible or at the vary least make them reversable with as little effort as possible. Thus the solid state fuel pump modification (transparent), or plastic fan (reversable with about an hours work). Any add on modification (head light/ fuel level alarm, third brake light) are installed such that they can be easily removed, etc. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

I'm going through the same thing with my YB. I am trying to keep as much original as possible, but sometimes you need to restore a part to prevent decay. When I pull the engine, it will be repainted since the existing paint is mostly worn through and rust is setting in. But I won't be repairing the minor body rust because I don't want to strip the car's original finish and repaint. You have to take it one part at a time and make the best decision between originality and practicality. If it were a museum car I would leave the fan be. But since you plan to drive it, I would repaint to prevent rust. See my thread on the broken fan in my MGA if you want a reason to keep yours in good shape!
Steve Simmons

I removed the water pump to rerplace it and while it was off I also cleaned and painted the blades. I painted them black with about two inches at the end bright red and a thin white stripe between the black and the red like the prop on a Spitfire.
It does not help with the cooling one bit but you would be amazed at how many folks take note of it at shows and think it is a spiffy look.
I feel it's your car , do what you want to make it yours and not just another boreing TD that looks just like every other one.

PS I stuck a glass pack muffler on it also.
At least it sounds fast. THe MG motor has a very distinct sound as it moves up the RPM scale that sets it apart from any other car.
Alan

It's your car, do what you like. I'd fix as you go and repair as needed. Mine was a bucket so no choice but start at ground zero. Tried to build as good or better than new. Show it? Maybe. Drive it? Damn straight! If you wont drive it why have it. I like the patinaed look better than restored myself but there comes a point when it no longer patina. Problem is that when you decide to fix one part and then you decide you might as well fix something else while your in there and things just snow ball from there.

Keep her rolling.

LaVerne
LED DOWNEY

If we leave a 100 % original car original, it will rust away to nothing in another 100 years! Paint fades, gets polished off, pieces not protected rust... such is life!
Is a TD chassis covered in oil 'original'? Nope...should be clean... how does one keep it clean? Don't drive it?

I would do what you are doing (and I'm doing...) protect the parts, repaint them as close as you can (if that is your want) and drive and enjoy it. In my mind, 'Patina' counts for so much more then restoration! It gives the car its history...! Have said it before...the first thing owners did when they bought a new T car was head for the accessory counter...(who wants a car just the same as everyone else)...if he could afford it, then on came the wood wheels, cast valve covers, etc... its what made a car theirs...and it was the start of the car's personality.

You and I have two fairly original cars...yet if we take them to a concours show, we will be laughed out of the competion by someone who bought all 'new' Moss parts and put on a few dozen coats of 'new' paint... There will be very little original left, but they will be applauded for their efforts! Is it fair...nope, but such is life.

Do what you are doing and enjoy it.... !
gblawson - TD#27667

I think I am going with the clean as you go look. Any bare metal I come across will get fresh paint. No point in cleaning it all up just to have it rust again. I decided after I worked on my GT that a restoration of any car at this point in my life would be nutty. I am a freak for perfection and any slight scratch, chip or blemish would make me loopy.

I blasted all of the wire wheels on me GT. Had tires put on and within the first 20 mile of test driving around the block, chips. I am not going to obsess over it. I'd rather drive a piece of history and keep it on the road as long as I can.
V.W. Piņa

To V. W. Pina -- I am of the school that if it still looks stock, whose to know whats under the hood. Pertronics ignition is a good example of my thinking. Unless you remove the distributor cap everything looks original. Rear axle gears are another example. Some of my other mods can be spotted more easily, temp sensor bulb in the old themostat housing, hot water take-off for the heater etc.

In that respect these cars were sort of like the Model T's, your first trip was to Western Auto to get the acessorys you wanted. Well back in the 1950's the same was true for the 'T' series, you put the gadgets you wanted on it and made it your car.

Ain't it fun??
Cheers,
Bob
R. K. (Bob) Jeffers

Bob, I like your comment. It's something like "a totally original Mini isn't".
Willem van der Veer

Hi:
One more thought. A friend of mine has a very original MGA and faced the same decisions as you. He opted for trying to find original MGA parts from others that were restoring their cars. It is amazing what he has found and most of it free. He only replaces what is better than his and it must match his car. The exception to this is rubber bits as most are in bad condition so he uses repro.
Godspeed in Safety Fast
Jc
John Crawley

That is what I am hoping for. Donations or cheap original parts that might be there waiting for me to take from someones storage shelves. I don't care if they are used as long as they look & or operate better than I have on the car. I agree about the rubber and have ordered a bunch of new parts.

Thanks to those who have & will eventually help me out.

If you got 'em, I'll take 'em!
V.W. Piņa

BG LAWSON.

Amen to that. It's MY car why would I want it to look like some one else's car . I do balk at the Volvo engine thing . There is a certain thrill in going for a ride and not being totaly sure you will make it back. But that is just me being a thrill seeker.
Alan

This thread was discussed between 04/10/2006 and 22/10/2006

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