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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 - Door Lock Plates etc

Anybody know how thick the door lock sub plates should be on a TD? I'm about to make a pair. I've seen 1/8" down to about 1/16". These are the ones that sit directly under the lock but above the door plate with the captive nuts. (Number 11 on the Anglo Parts site). Seems like they're necessary if only to resist the pressure applied to the spindle follower, which is pushed down towards the timber frame by the wave washer. That's of course IF I've got the wave washer in the correct place, which in the absence of information to the contrary, is probably between the spindle follower & the chromed internal lever bottom. Also where are the shims fitted that everybody mentions (if needed)? Finally I require the door lock cover plate securing machine screw details. Length? Head? Size? Perhaps 8BA chrome C/S slots? (Started this new one as the other thread was getting too long). Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Dug a bit deeper into the Anglo Parts site & found the following. The door lock cover plates are secured with 2 6BA x 5/16" C/S slot heads (P/N 162.350). These are obviously chromed. As I'm using the original Silent Travel locks this may be the AM thread type & size & not necessarily compatible with the original ST lock.

P/N 133.325 is described as the "shim lock adjustment" but there is no image shown under the P/N. This is the item number 11, the plate I described above which sits under the lock). This doesn't answer the question re the thickness of the shim nor does it indicate that shims of various thicknesses are available. Logic suggests that this is the case however.

Anybody confirm the 6BA x 5/16"? I tried a 6BA at my engineers supplies but no go, though I didn't want to force it. Possible the lock posts had other screws forced in sometime in the past though there doesn't seem to be any evidence of butchered threads. Help needed here. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter don't you mean number 12, no 11 is the screw.

lock shims are only needed to pack out the door if it touches the body panels when the door is closed.

The thickness of the shims as supplied by Moss is 1.2mm.

The thickness of these shims varies from car to car and lock to body, in fact if the body is set up correctly they are not needed.


The door card ply and trim material combined thickness can also be a factor that may need shims under the lock for good door fit. Don't make any until you know you need them.
Rod Brayshaw


Peter,
I have a new lock set and an original lock set. The cover screws look to be identical. They have a domed countersunk slotted head. I also have a 5 BA tap set which will not fit the hole (too large) Unfortunately I don't have 6 BA taps. I tried thread gauges but don't have a 0.53 mm gauge which is 6 BA. Under a large magnifying glass the 0.5mm seems a close fit. My guess is that they are 6BA.
The only hesitation I have is that a vernier measurement gives an O.D. of 2.7mm which is more like 5BA. So why won't the 5 BA tap screw in the hole?
Max Irvine

I can confirm the screws holding the lock cover on are 6BA
Rod Brayshaw

Yes Rod. Typo, as 12 is the shim & 11 is the screw. Thanks for the confirmation on the nature of the shims & the 6BA thread size. I'll buy a 6BA bottoming tap & clean out the threads. Max the image on the Anglo site shows a C/S slot head & not what you're describing which is probably either a domed or a pan head slot. I think you are almost certainly correct & so I'll order some chrome or nickel 6BA slots from Classic Fasteners in SA once the head type is confirmed. Rod you mention the door card as ply. I'm guessing 3.4mm Lauan? Have you or anyone else ever seen a fibreboard door card on any of the original cars that you've restored? Thanks for your help.
Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter,
I have seen many of these screws over the years on cars that I have owned and on many cars of friends. The screws are all the type that I have mentioned. They are definitely not just a flat countersunk screw.
Max Irvine

I agree Max. The illustration in the Anglo Parts catalogue under P/N 162.350 is incorrect as it shows a flat C/S slot head. Graeme advises Doug Pelton at FTFU has the correct 6BA screws so I'll get them from him along with the screws for the striker & threshold plates. Now sorted. Many thanks Rod, Graeme & Max. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

This thread was discussed between 18/05/2015 and 19/05/2015

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