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MG TD TF 1500 - Wrong sump?

I believe the sump that came with my project is not for a TF. It has a cable bracket and is not ribbed.

Will it/does it really make a difference?


J E Carroll

Inside picture


J E Carroll

A difference for who?
The car will run just fine.
If going for a show winner, the judges may deduct a few points.
Len Fanelli

a very nice early TD sump. regards, tom
tom peterson

Yep an early TD pan. Even has the clutch cable end. Question is, why? Something had to happen to the TF pan? Any signs the engine has been rebuild, perhaps something broke and busted the pan?
Bruce Cunha

The engine did suffer a broken crankshaft but there is no damage to the block so I don't think there were any big parts slinging around breaking things.

I guess it will just remain a mystery as I have no history on the car.

Here's a question:

Should the pan be painted or natural aluminum? I've seen pictures both ways; same question on the timing cover.
J E Carroll

Original was painted, personal opinion is the engine looks better with the two-tone.
Gene Gillam

A rod can take out the pan without damaging the block. But I would check for cracks just to make sure.

Here is a nice example of a ruined pan. In this case it cracked the back edge of the block and ruined it also.


Bruce Cunha

Are you sure that the engine in your TF is not an early 1250 TD one? Are the coolant holes in the block round or banana shaped?
David Werblow

Bruce ...That pic stops my heart everytime!

I thought TF sump was "unpainted" from factory...or was it just the finned ones?
David Sheward 55 TF1500 # 7427

I would suggest that the sump in question, is an early TD. They were not painted. The oil pick-up in the sump is from a later TD, as the early ones were against the side of the sump and not centered as shown. This was discovered by me after running a bearing on a high banked paved quarter mile track running counter clock wise. It was an OUCH, but could have been worse.

George
George Raham [TD4224]

"running counter clock wise"...no wonder they never made the NASCAR circuit! LOL
David Sheward 55 TF1500 # 7427

When did the horn assembly on the bottom of the oil pick up come in (or go away). I know I have one from my early TD engine.
Bruce Cunha

The engine is original to the car.

There's not even a scratch anywhere inside the block so I'm inclined to believe the sump may have just been mixed up in the shop or suffered from some external force.

I broke a rod in one of the Oldsmobile engines I had in my '40 Ford, before I smartened up and went with a small block Chevy.

It broke in three pieces, I suppose after thrashing around after the original break. The piston and the little end slid all the way up in the cylinder, the middle exited the side of the block, and the big end was still on the crank journal. I made it 3 miles home!

There seems to be a difference of opinion whether the sump was painted or not. Any tie breakers care to chime in? How about the timing cover?
J E Carroll

I have an unmolested virgin TD engine with 20,000 miles and never apart or rebuilt, and the sump and timing cover were both painted - at least the remains of paint are still very clear.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Thanks Tom,

I imagine the TFs were painted as well.
J E Carroll

According to this ..I was "wrong again"!
(Unpainted sump)
http://www.mgcars.org.uk/mgtf/mgtf_finishes.htm

Sister site for the TD shows the same.
http://www.mgcars.org.uk/mgtd/mgtd_finishes.htm

David Sheward 55 TF1500 # 7427

David - although that's not one of them, the site is FULL of errors!

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Tom,
That explains why I am wrong so much of the time! LOL
I can't ever recall seeing a ribbed sump that was painted...even thouhgh the one in question is not ribbed. Then again I haven't seen anywhere near as many as you have.
David Sheward 55 TF1500 # 7427

David...the sump (and timing chain cover) look so much nicer in their natural aluminum state...that's why you see so many like that. BUT the engines were painted in total, not assembled after the block was painted (which explains why there's no red paint behind the timing chain cover).
Gene Gillam

Hello J.E. The sump and timing chain cover on the T.F I'm currently re-conditioning are in their natural cast state. However on the "A" I re-conditioned a number of years past the same parts are painted because, both components are stamped from a highly corrosive grade steel. John
J .R.C Cavey

This thread was discussed between 13/10/2012 and 15/10/2012

MG TD TF 1500 index

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