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MG TD TF 1500 - How did this Windscreen alignment pass MG quality

I had my tub rebuilt and there were no holes put in for the windscreen struts. I am drilling these out myself nervously! I reckon the distance from the end of the strut to the edge of the tub is about 9cm. Would this be the same on other TF cars. See pic

I have one further added complication in that on the old scuttle top the same measurement on the other side was 7cm.
I now understand why as I have removed the interior metal bracket and the holes on either side are in different places by about 2cms Again see pic.

Can't imagine how this ever got through quality control but now considering re drilling these holes to match the other side. But which is right!

Any help before I attack it with my drill would be really appreciated.

D Lamb

Left side of the bracket about 8.5cm to the first hole versus

D Lamb

Versus right side (right hand drive) first hole located at 10 cm.

This has to also affect the fit of the soft top when up.

D Lamb

I don't know if this helps or makes it worse, both sides of mine are like this.
Ray TF 2884

Ray Lee

I don't believe it Ray a 3rd option and how does the hood fit?
D Lamb

I rebodied my TF in 1979. I used all new wood but retained all metal frame work and the scuttle top.
The new body was jigged to the original bulkhead so I know it is in the same place. The scuttle drillings were used to line up the holes for drilling using a large "G" clamp to give me the orientation of the drill
When finished the original sidescreens fitted exactly so I know my screen is in the factory position.
My panels were so bad I made my new panels out of 'Birmabright' aluminium as I could work it easier. Buying new panels from Naylor Bros was beyond my pocket then.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

To continue.
I think the screens were probably jigged into place then hand drilled so room for error. I have never seen 2 TF's with the same bonnet length so why should the screens be accurate.
The WSM shows TD bodies being lowered into place with screen fitted already
Ray
Ray Lee

Cheer Ray
Appreciate you taking the time to measure this for me.

Looks like the passenger side measurement is closer to yours.

Not the one I drilled out last night. At least it's just one hole and will be covered by the support.

Interesting that my original brace which has the holes for the windscreen support to connect to should be so different on either side.

I will wait for 1 more confirmation of the measurement before I let loose with the drill again.
D Lamb

as I said I think there are a lot of variables and no two cars or sides will be the same. Even the sockets for the sidescreen pins are off-set to allow for adjustment.
Just watch "MG TD Body Build" on YouTube to see how brutal they are to make things fit.
No CAD/CAM there
Ray
Ray Lee

I have never seen that video Ray. Hutson the company in the video made my tub up from a number of my salvaged parts 19 years ago. Only now getting the car together!
Thanks for sharing.
D Lamb

I would suspect the holes were drilled from the outside so where they ended up on the plates inside would never be the same. I think they were also drilled by hand so you were at the mercy of the person holding the drill.

My screws are all bent and rotated. You have to put the same screws back in the same holes. And you have to rotate the screw until it flattens out in the bracket before you let the nut tighten it.
Christopher Couper

I rebuilt my TF in 1968/9 but if I remember rightly I didn't have to replace any of the timber in the scuttle. Nor did I have to replace any of the Metal.
My measurements are the same as Ray Lee's on both sides, i.e. 8cm . Hope this helps.
Ralph
TF 9181.
R E J Stewart

I have an even 8 - 8 as well.
D's car was CKD so MG are probably not to blame here.

Matthew.
M Magilton

Thanks Guys this all helps.

So Matthew you reckon the holes would have been drilled when the car was assembled in Ireland. And therefore an Irishman's mistake...

Looks like I may be redrilling both sides.

This might make things easier as I won't have to try and drill from the outside and get it through the 3 holes on the bracket inside!
D Lamb

I doubt if MG attached the windscreen stanchions since they would have needed to be removed for painting.

I would never blame an Irishman Darryl ;-)

Matthew.
M Magilton

Just finished installing the windscreen struts at the new distance of 8cm. Coincidently the 3 holes I drilled on the passenger side passed through the holes in the brace inside the tub. I had to drill 3 new holes in the brace on the drivers side.

I do have a query though. Once all was installed there does seam to be excessive strain on the passenger side of the windscreen seen in the picture. Is my alignment slightly out?



D Lamb

You learn from your mistakes and unfortunately I think as well as marking the struts 8cm from the front I should have marked the height on the scuttle top with the windscreen installed on the struts and not relied on various pictures which showed the height level with the joint on the scuttle.
D Lamb

Scrap the last comment although I should probably have measured as mentioned I may have got away with it. The brass screw wasn't tight after I switched the brackets around. There is a quite a bit of pressure to get both wing nuts and capped nut tight but hopefully this will ease in time.

Final question what type of bolt scree goes into the hole at the top of the windscreen bracket. I don't appear to have this.

Thanks everyone for all your help.
D Lamb

Darryl: Actually your windscreen looks pretty good. Better than many. That is an area that never seems to fit like you would want it to.
Christopher Couper

Cheers Chris appreciate that. I fits even better now I tightened the brass screw.

D Lamb

This thread was discussed between 15/11/2015 and 17/11/2015

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