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MG TD TF 1500 - Fitting the gas tank

I'm installing the gas tank on my 51 TD. I'm concerned about the clearance between the spare tire holder and the tank. As you can see in the picture the clamp is resting on the tank. The clamp on the other side has a 1/16" clearance. I worry about paint damage and, at the worst, wearing through the tank. Any one had the same issue? Is the clamp turned the correct way. I have no idea if the tank or the spare tire carrier are original to the car.

Thanks

Tim

TW Burchfield

I had the same problem and filed the contacting area flat. There is no load on that clamp, and it is virtually invisible. Good find while in primer/mock up. George
George Butz

I had same issues as well. I ended up getting some small round felts with stickies on them used to put on the bottom of furniture legs so they don't gouge the floor. Works very well and barely visible
W. A. Chasser

Thank you George and Bill. Excellent suggestions. I wonder if cars went out of the factory with the tire rack clamps resting on the tanks.

Tim
TD12524
TW Burchfield

Had me wondering, so I had to look at Lazarus. I can see light between the clamp and the tank, but there's not enough space to slip a 3x5 file card through it. Bud
Bud Krueger

Tim - The strap that holds the tank in place is attached through the rear bulkhead of the car and the other end of the straps end in a threaded rod. The rod fits through a hole in the spare tire rack and is tightened with nuts on the threaded rods (two nuts on each rod, so they can be locked in place). The trick (if you can call it that) to keep the spare tire rack from rubbing on the tank is to tighten each strap sufficient to bow it away from the tank - then lock it in place with the second nut on each side. Cheers - Dave
DW DuBois

Thanks Bud. That's about the clearance I have on the left side.

Dave, I've been fiddling with the straps tightening and loosening each side in turn to try and get a gap. No luck. Do you suppose the thickness of the bottom rubber pads might be an issue? The pads are unused but I'm not sure of their age or original thickness.

Tim
TW Burchfield

When my rear was reassembled after the respray in 1971 the tank & carrier were touching in that area also causing paint to be rubbed off. My tank had been setback from the tub by the addition of an extra thickness of rubber on the 2 angled mounts between the tub & the tank. Not sure if this relationship between the tub & tank will also impact on the problem encountered above as I'm yet to remount the tank & carrier. It seemed this had been done by a PO to ensure that the top of the tank was clear of the tub as my tank had rusted all along the top & had evidence of soldered repairs there where it touches the tub. This was no doubt caused by leaf material & the like settling in that area, turning to compost & ultimately rusting. Most cars I've seen have the tank pretty much hard up against the tub. Obviously this rusting isn't a problem nowadays with cars that are permanently garaged & are kept spotlessly clean. So I'm also interested in clearance between the tub & the tank as well as the clearance between the carrier & the tank & whether there is a relationship between the two. Cheers
Peter TD 5801.
P Hehir

Tim,

The clearance of the clamp on TD3966 is less than 1 mm. I think the carrier is a solid construction so I do not believe that this could cause any damage to the tank.

Jasper

JL Nederhoed

This thread was discussed between 25/08/2016 and 26/08/2016

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