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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 - How lucky we work on older cars.

I have restored a 1950 MGTD, and also a 1967 MGB. These cars required work, but all the parts were available and they were fairly simple to put together.

So now I am working on a 1979 Triumph Spitfire. This is not a total restoration, more of a refresh.

From my experience with the TD and the B, I am expecting that getting parts would be fairly easy.

Wrong. This 79 is a "california" car. Moss does not even have pictures of many of the parts on this car. Example. It has thin steel tubes that run water through the manifold. They are heavily corroded and need replacing. Not listed. VB shows a gray picture of the tubes (gray as in "we know they go there, but don't supply them"

Then we move to the interior. There is a rubber part that goes around the arm that keeps the door open. No one lists this part for the 79 Spitfire. There is a plastic rim around the door handle in the door card. It is cracked and falling apart. Nothing listed on the Moss, VB or spitfire sites.

The fuse cover is a little white plastic piece. I touched it and it crumbled (this car has been in a garage for 9 years). Moss does not sell the cover separately, want the cover, you have to buy the whole fuse box assembly at $75.

This is not as much a complaint as it is a reminder why I like our older cars. (for those of you with later MG's you may have some of the same issues)
Bruce TD4139 Cunha

I feel your pain. My grandson and I are restoring a 1953 YB. Almost no parts available.
Larry Brown

Have a 57 ZB currently for sale. Running parts are readily available and the body stuff is being made, but it has to be ordered from the UK.
Bruce TD4139 Cunha

Hi:

Try The Roadster Factory. They specialize in Triumph and MGB parts.

http://www.the-roadster-factory.com/indexmain.php

There is also a place called Spitbits which is a Spitfire parts specialist.

https://www.spitbits.com/

Regards,
Sherman
Sherman Kaplan

Bruce: Keep in mind that both AS and Moss use the original MG parts manual for the source or their pictures of the parts. Al Moss even made special pictures of his own at one time (for those that have old Moss catalogs).

Not sure what they would do today if they did not have those drawings available.
Christopher Couper

Thanks Sherman. I totally forgot about the Roadster Factory. They do list 2 of the 3 pipes. The 3rd is no longer available. I can make this one if I need to.


I am hoping the EGR valve on this car is ok, they list at $300 but are not listed by Moss, VB or Spitbit. As the car is currently in California, I can't remove the smog system unless I sell the car outside the state.

Chris. I did have a very good conversation with one of Moss's reps relating to the door check rubber. He even had the factory parts manual and still could not find the rubber. Fairly sure the one's on this car are factory. I did buy a set listed for the GT6, but found they are very different and won't work on the Spitfire.
Bruce TD4139 Cunha

HA!

I restored cars in the 70's. It's CAKE these days. Back then we had to send $5.00 for a paper catalog and place orders by phone or with a check through the mail if they didn't yet take cards, and most didn't.

Today.... Answers to impossible questions at the stroke of a few keys, parts shooting out of a UPS truck faster that we can catch them in just a few days instead of months... or never.

What a millionaire's paradise the internet would have been back then. What a gift are today's parts manufacturers, the long reach across the pond in mere seconds for long lost original parts, and for repop parts that didn't exist just 10 years ago.

These are the glory days boys and girls.

.....
MAndrus

We whine about the cost of parts for our old cars but try working on a new one... A ignition switch for my Honda CRV will cost $300...
Geoffrey M Baker

Spitbits has the door check seals, 602821 for $2.50 each.

www.spitbits.com
Dave Braun

I bought a lot of parts from The Roadster Factory for my B years ago. I'd also suggest Rimmer Brothers in the UK Bruce.
http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/


As for the coolant fitting through the manifold. I know what you speak of and yes quite often they have corroded away. Personally I'd be inclined to by pass it myself. Maybe have a look at removing what I could of the pipe and threading the manifold for a pipe fitting if you want to keep the water flowing through it.
MG LaVerne

Thanks all. My primary point on starting this thread was to say that working on the older cars (without a lot of plastic or smog systems) is easier. The newer cars just have a lot more "things" to them. Working on the TD or the B just seems a lot easier/simpler.

And, I do really appreciate the suggestions for parts.
Bruce TD4139 Cunha

Hi Bruce: I'd like to talk to you about the Magnette you have for sale, as I've been looking for one. Could you let me know your email address or phone? I'm peter dot pope at bellaliant dot net. -- Thanks
Peter Pope

Like may threads, it kind of wandered, Bruce. I agree, earlier cars (at least popular early cars like the MGs) is much easier than working with modern cars - and parts are often MUCH cheaper than modern car parts, too.
Geoffrey M Baker

Larry, What Y-Type parts are you looking for ?. I have a shed full of used parts for YA/YT - might be able to help you ?.

Contact me at: mgyregister at optusnet dot com dot au

Tony Slattery
The Classic Workshop
Black Mountain
Australia
A L SLATTERY

This thread was discussed between 13/08/2015 and 14/08/2015

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