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MG TD TF 1500 - First 60 Mile Drive

Took the wife and her two puppies for a ride yesterday and wound up driving a little over 60 miles. The car preformed flawlessly! I have to adjust the brakes a tad as I guess the new shoes settled in a bit and the pedal gained another 1/4 inch of play, from a half inch to 3/4s of an inch. Other than that, it's a treat to drive. The oil fill cap seeped a slight amount of oil, never giving it a thought before, I looked at the gasket in the cap and found out someone made a gasket out of a piece of thin paper. I made a new gasket out of 1/8th cork and it now fits very tight. That little problem is now solved. Other than that, no oil leaks anywhere! I am considering upgrading the final drive from the 4.8 to a 4.1. Boy do we love this car. All the work for the past 5 years was well worth it! Going to the Fayetteville AR show on Sept 12th. PJ
Paul161

No doubt about it....they are a hoot to drive. I've got 1,400 miles on mine in the first 5 months.

....
MAndrus

And I, sadly, have only just got my engine back together. Oh well, thanks for the encouraging glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel. :-)

Tim
TD12524

TW Burchfield

4.8? You have a Mark II? I would not recommend you go to a 4.1, as you will have little get-up-and-go. You will gain at the top end, but you will be a slug at lights.

I would not go past 4.3, which is stock MGA gearing. You will lose some acceleration but not that much, and you do gain at the other end.

Remember that you push down on the central knob on the valve cover oil filler cap to lock it into place; a cork seal may be too thick.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Tom, he has a TF. Paul, you'll be very happy with a 4.3. Give Dave Clark a call http://www.ttalk.info/ClarkConversion.html Bud
Bud Krueger

Tom, 1/8th cork worked perfect for a gasket. I cut it just a smidgen oversize and it tucks perfectly under the caps outer lip.
As for power, My engine is a 1500, but a 4.3 might find it's way into the car. PJ
Paul161

I second stopping at 4.3. With 4.3 at 2000 rpm, there is zero juice to use to accelerate or pull up a hill. I spend just a bit more time in 3rd, which is fine because our little engines thrive at 2500 to 4000 rpm.

At 60 mph, it's very happy.

I also second Dave Clark.

...
MAndrus

A nifty rpm/mile calculator that came in handy when I was building my '34 hot rod:

http://www.csgnetwork.com/multirpmcalc.html

It will even accept Overdrive ratios.
....
MAndrus

PJ get hold of Carl Cedarstrand's booklet "Ring & Pinion Interchanges for the TD & TF'. Essential reading if considering the taller diff. The comparative power & torque curves will answer all of your questions. I also second the 4.3. It's available from that supplier in California. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter, Dave Clark is in Arizona or Washington State. I sure hope that's who you were referring to. Bud
Bud Krueger

Actually Bud I was referring to the supplier of the booklet, not the hardware. I've heard only good things about Dave Clark... Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

This thread was discussed between 26/08/2015 and 28/08/2015

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