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MG TD TF 1500 - Bell housing color

Color issues seem to be a common issue and irritant here. :-) I checked the archives and http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtd/mgtd_finishes.htm. But I'm still confused about the bell housing color. Checking Google images I see the bell housing red or natural/silver with the inspection plate painted red. Cars.org.uk says transmission housing and cover - red but doesn't mention the bell housing (unless the cover refers to the bell housing). So excuse my ignorance but I'm the new guy.

Tim
TD12524
TW Burchfield

Welcome aboard Tim. The donk & tranny are engine red but the extension is natural aluminium with the clutch inspection plate black. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Here's mine. PJ



Paul S Jennings

Another shot,



Paul S Jennings

Uh Oh PJ, looks like I used the wrong color red. I used the Rustoleum maroon. Saw it suggested several places. Thanks guys for the info on the bell housing.
TW Burchfield

Tim, It was mentioned that this color should blush out and loose some of it's gloss after running, thus getting much closer to the original color. We'll see, if it doesn't, guess what, it stays anyway. PJ
Paul S Jennings

Guess it is another of those items where there is disagreement.

Here is an original transmission. The inspection plate is more rusty, but I do not see any black on it.

Bell housing has no paint on it,



Bruce TD4139 Cunha

I updated the TD and TF sites to add the bell housing to remove the ambiguity.

Bruce: I think the paint came off of the aluminum parts easier hence you often don't see restorations with the bell housing, timing chain cover or pan painted. Plus it looks kind of cool with bead blasted aluminum. No debate though on the shifter housing.

Notice how most of the paint is gone from the pan on this unrestored car.

Christopher Couper

Thank you everyone. This place is like the Encyclopedia Britannica of the MG T world (you young guys will need to look up what the EB was).
TW Burchfield

TW, it was my understanding from my father who was an original owner of a 52 TD MK II that the bellhousing was red as well. but the paint didn't stick to the aluminum and would peel and flake off. My TD which had been laid up for +47 years had remnants of the red still on it and I must presume it was original as the patina matched the transmission. I however didn't repaint it and left the natural finish. it add a little contrast to the engine compartment and except for the engine mods it is one of the few deviations from appearance that I chose to do. Of course I've probably only fueled the debate....

Cheers

Bill Chasser Jr
TD4834
W. A. Chasser Jr

Bill, I applied an etching primer to the surface of the bell housing before painting. We'll see how long it holds up.
Tim
TD12524
TW Burchfield

Tim, you will find lots of opinion on colour on this site as owners choose colours that they like, after all its their car and they restore as they want. This of course adds to the confusion.

The engine and Gear box colour was not bright red originally it is more of a burgundy maroon. The reds do not show the shade correctly at image reproduction and computer resolution that makes it difficult to see correctly. The sump on Chris post looks close to correct on my computer. the colour you used is possibly close enough.
Rod Brayshaw

The bellhousing should be the same color as the engine and gearbox. See http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtd/mgtd_finishes.htm . Chris has done a lot of research in this area. Bud
Bud Krueger

Bud, that was the first place I checked. But the bell housing was added to the description after I posted this question. I am in awe at the amount and quality of the information on Chris' site. As a new owner I quickly found that his pages are the first stop (then this one) in any search for knowledge regarding MG Ts.
Tim
TD 12524
TW Burchfield



TW,

Bud is hiding his light, his web site is also a veritable fountain of information.

http://www.ttalk.info/

Jim
James Neel

Than you Jim, it certainly is. Bookmarked.
Tim
TD 12524
TW Burchfield

This thread was discussed between 16/05/2015 and 18/05/2015

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