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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - which distributor?

1952 MG TD's came with a 45D distributor, yes?
R C Flowers

RC, the following is an article by Bob Grunau which should steer you in the right direction.


"Here we'll talk about ignition and distributors

A- COIL
The stock coil is good to about 6000 engine RPM and therefore suitable for street cars. For high revs and high compression, a "Lucas SPORTS" coil is recommended as it is suitable for revs to 8000 RPM ( but 8000 RPM is not recommended for the stock 'T' engine).

When connecting up the coil ensure that the low tension leads are connected properly. This is, the "CB" contact is connected to the "Contact Breaker" connection on the side of the distributor and the "SW" contact is connected back to the "Ignition Switch". In the case where the coil has been replaced with a different type, ensure that the "+" coil contact is connected to the distributor on positive ground cars (all 'T's + MGA's) and the "-" contact is connected to the ignition switch. The car will run if the connections are reversed but maximum performance will be reduced and spark plug wear will be increased.

B-DISTRIBUTORS
Distributor model interpretations are: Prefix D indicates = Distributors. KY= die cast body with pressed steel contact breaker base. "4" = four cylinder. A= automatic advance. Specific distributor numbers follow, eg 40162 etc.

The type of block, compression ratio and camshaft all influence the choice of distributors. Three models of distributors are available for the XPAG - XPEG engines as follows:

1-Model DKY4A - This model was fitted to the TC and early TDs and is fixed to the engine block using the TC microadjuster or TD external clamp and 1/8" spacer ring. The measured thickness of both of these types of fixings is 1/4" total. The length from the center line of the drive gear to the bottom of the distributor body is 2-1/2" on the model DKY4A distributor. Therefore, using a TC micro-adjuster or TD clamp and ring fixing results in a center line gear to bottom of fixing of 2-1/2'' - 1/4" = 2-1/4", this is the portion of the distributor that is inside the block. Using these distributors for the late TD and TF, a spacer ring of 1/4" thickness must be used or use two 1/8" early TD spacer rings to arrive at 2-1/4" gear to effective distributor bottom. The late TD and TF use a different block and side clamp cotterbolt to clamp the distributor.

2-Model D2A4 This model was fitted to the late TD's and all TF's and is fixed to the block using a single cotterbolt with a cut out on the side on the rear of the distributor (no external clamp or spacer rings). The length from the center line of the drive gear to the bottom of the distributor body is 2-1/4" and again this is the length of the portion of the distributor that is inside the engine block, same as the TC and early TD.

This distributor cannot be used in the TC or early TD block as no convenient means of fixing the distributor to the block is available without using the TD 1/8" thick external clamp ring. Use of this ring results in gear to effective bottom of distributor height of 2-1/4"- 1/8" = 2-1/8" and the gears will not mesh properly.

3-Model DKYH4A - This model was not originally fitted to the TC, TD or TF but is suitable for use in any engine. The length from center line of drive gear to the bottom of the distributor is 2-3/8", therefore, for the TC and early TD use the TD clamp only without the 1/8" Spacer ring. Resultant "in block" length to center line drive gear is then 2-3/8" - 1/8" = 2-1/4" For the late TD and TF use the early TD 1/8" spacer ring only and lock the distributor by the cut-out side cotterbolt lock bolt.

Resultant "in block" length to center line gear is still the correct 2-3/8" - 1/8" = 2-1/4"

Please note if you use the TC micro-adjuster with this distributor the drive gear will be 1/8" too high and will not mesh properly with the cam gear (ie: 2-3/8" - 1/4" = 2-1/8" only in block).


C. DISTRIBUTOR CHARACTERISTICS BY MODEL & NUMBER

1. DKY4A - Model Distributor Number Full RPM Advance Degree Int. RPM Advance Degree Low RPM Advance Degree No Advance Degree Recomm. Usage
40048B 2600 14-16 2000 13-15 500 1½ - 3½ 200 Stock TC
40162A 2600 14-16 2000 13-15 1000 8½-10½ 200 Stock early TC or TD
40348A 2200 Nov 13 980 05. Jul 500 0-2 300 High compression & stock TC, TD or TF cam


2. D2A4 - Model Distributor Number Full RPM Advance Degree Int. RPM Advance Degree Low RPM Advance Degree No Advance Degree Recomm.
Usage
40368 2600 14-16 1150 9½-11½ 500 1½ - 3½ 200 Stock TF
40367 2200 Nov 13 980 05. Jul 500 0-2 315 Late TD
Or High compression & TF cam
40441A 1500 09. Nov 900 6½ - 9½ 600 ½ - 3½ 425 AEG122 cam & high comp




3. DKYH4A - Mode

Distributor Number Full RPM Advance Degree Int. RPM Advance Degree Low RPM Advance Degree No Advance Degree Recomm.
Usage
40115H 1500 09. Nov 800 05. Jul 400 0-2 200 AEG122 cam & high comp. For TC, TD, TF with appropriate spacers.

NOTE that the above advances are distributor advances at distributor rpm. As the distributor runs at 1/2 engine speed, the advance and rpm are doubled for crankshaft readings.


D. DISTRIBUTOR CAMS

The early distributors were fitted with "symmetric" or "asymmetric" cams, these use a point gap setting of 0.010" - 0.012". Dimension across high points of cam lobes is 0.748" and across cam flats is 0.701"

The later "High Lift" cams use a point gap setting of 0.014" - 0.016". Dimensions across the high points of cam lobes is 0.748" and across cam flats is 0.643". These dimensions are my own measurements and not factory numbers. The high lift cam was fitted to later distributors to improve ignition system performance and increase contact life.

Cam Angles are as follows: Open Period Closed Period
Symmetric 45° ~ 4° 45° ~ 4°
Asymmetric 41° ~ 4° 49° ~ 4°
High Lift 30° ~ 3° 60° ~ 1°


The above listed distributors are those listed or recommended for the various cars and various stages of tune. Other distributors may operate satisfactorily, but the individual characteristics must be checked and an attempt made to match the recommended characteristics. If you have an "unknown" distributor, I have a complete Lucas listing of the characteristics and would be happy to provide the appropriate numbers. However remember that many changes have been made to disributors over the last 60+ years so carefully check the advance plate instead of relying on the distributor number.

The MG Factory recommended static setting for all distributors as points just opening at TDC ( Top Dead Center ) . However with modern gasolines and higher compression the timing can be advanced to give much better performance. Static settings of 5 or 6 degrees BTDC ( Before Top Dead Center ) are recommended with a total advance of about 36 to 38 degrees BTDC at approx 3000 to 3500 crankshaft RPM.


E-Distributor Advance Plates

All T type distributors have a centrifual advance control plate attached to the vertical shaft. This plate is usually marked with a number indicating the maximum distributor advance allowed by the plate. The advance is controlled by shaft speed and also by a positive maximum stop for the advance weights. The positive stop is a pair of holes drilled in the advance plate. These holes stop the centrifugal advance of the weights, hence control the amount of total distributor advance. Various advance plates, with various holes sizes, were available to give distributor advances for a normal distributor speed range from 10 degrees to 21 degrees. The distributor runs at half engine speed, therefore the distributor advance number has to be doubled to get crankshaft advance measured at the flywheel or front pulley. Therefore a TC/TD distributor with number DKY4A -40048 or 40162 had an advance plate marked 15 ( 14 to 16 degrees ) giving an automatic advance of 28 to 32 degrees on the crankshaft. These advance plates can be modified to give more advance by drilling the stop holes a bit larger. Maximum recommended crankshaft advance using modern fuels is approximate 36 to 38 crankshaft degrees. This can be achieved by statically setting the points opening at 5 or 6 degrees BTDC and an advance plate of 13 degrees. Or a smaller static advance and a slightly higher advance plate setting. In any case, make sure there is no pinging or pre-ignition anywhere on the rev range. If pinging is occurring, back off the distributor advance setting. Pistons and/or valves will burn out if operated for extended periods under pinging or pre-ignition conditions.

Measuring different distributor advance plates gives the following table ( sorry, I can't do a graph , but you can using squared parer or the computer ) . With this information you can modify your advance plate to give the desired distributor advance.

<table x:str style='border-collapse: collapse; width="70%" border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0">

Distributor Advance Plate Degrees Max. External Hole Dimension (inches)
10 1.510
12 1.545
15 1.593
17 1.625
21½ 1.690




F-Distributor spring

Lucas made hundered of different distributors for different cars and specific applications. The T type distributors used two different spring sets to control the automatic advance. One weak spring was snug on the distributor weights under static conditions. The second spring was much stiffer and was loose and had no tension under idle. At low engine speed, the weak spring controlled the automatic advance in a straight line. As the engine speed increased, the second spring comes into effect and because it was heavier it caused a break in the advance curve and the curve became more horizontal. Maximum distributor advance is usually achieved before engine speed reaches 3000 RPM and remains constant all the way up the range.



Trust this is of interest.

Bob Grunau"


P Hehir

RC - "1952 MG TD's came with a 45D distributor, yes?"

No. The 45D distributor is for late MGBs. The proper distributor for the 52 TD is probably the D2A4 per the information in the article by Bob Grunau quoted above.
Cheers - Dave
D W DuBois

Dave is correct, plus the earlier MGBs had a 25D, as my 72 has. My TF has a D2A4. PJ
Paul S Jennings

Thank you all very much. The information given is greatly appreciated and I'll put it to good use. The printer is already running. Thank you again.

I think over the winter I'm going to send my distributor off to Jeff at Advance Distributors for an electronic ignition rebuild.

I'm sending my carburetors off as well for a complete refurbishment. Either Dave Braun (I've not spoken to him yet) or Joe Curto.
R C Flowers

Good luck getting Jeff to do an electronic conversion. He, like I, is a firm believer in a points system. Besides, he feels that the current products from pertronix create more problems than they solve. A well set up points system will perform well without any of the issues introduced by the later Pertronix systems. The early Pertronix could solve many problems of variable timing due to worn parts, but so will points in a unworn rebuilt distributor at a fraction of the cost.
Lew Palmer

Thank you Lew. I was looking for the most reliable set up. I have an old Petronix that hasn't given me any problems. I was seeking council from a professional.

I was considering having Advance rebuild my distributor. The only reason I brought up the electronic ignition is because that's what I put on my TD 3 years ago.

I was open to the guidance of a professional, without any expectations as to which would be better for my situation.

I just wanted something reliable, points or electronic really didn't matter which.

R C Flowers

Thank you Dave DuBois.

I hope things are well for you out your way.
R C Flowers

When Jeff rebuilt my 72 distributor, he recommended keeping the points, which I did. That was in 2006 and even though I have a new set of points and condenser as a spare, the same set Jeff installed is still in there! PJ
Paul S Jennings

This thread was discussed between 09/09/2014 and 11/09/2014

MG TD TF 1500 index

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