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MG TD TF 1500 - Info on fasteners needed

I got back on task on my TD frame and body fasteners list. I have a few areas that I need assistance on as I don't have originals.

Size, number and washers for the rear deck (boot) wood.

Were the screws used for the starter handle bracket phillips or slotted? Chrome or black?


Does anyone know the thread for the machine screws used on the front spring cups?
Bruce Cunha

Look at picture #44 in Original MG-TD pages: An Unrestored 1953 MGTD (23834) I'm pretty sure they are round head, slotted, and definitely not chrome. There may be better pictures on there somewhere, or I may have one, not time to look now. George
George Butz III

Not a TD but on my early TF the screws were unpainted (cad) slotted round head wood screws.
Frank Cronin

Bruce,

Size, number and washers for the rear deck (boot) wood.

If you mean the horizontal wood panels above the diff on a TD, the center one is removable to service the diff, the screws are 1/4" BSF countersunk flat head 1" in length. No washers there.
Lew Palmer

Thanks All. I will add these to the fastener list.

I hope to have a draft out by early next week. It will be up for evaulation and discussion on what I found and what may not be correct.
Bruce Cunha

Could someone get me the head size and potential length of the bolts that hold the floor mounted Dip switch?

Hate to have someone stick their head under their dash, but if possible, any lettering on the heads?
Bruce Cunha

The three bolts for the dip switch bracket mounted to the cowl or the three screws that attach the dip switch unit to the bracket? These screws are 2BA. I can find out the bolts next time I'm working on the TF.

Frank
TF1414

Frank Cronin

Thanks Frank. As it turns out I needed both, but I did get the bolt information. Thanks for the screw information.
Bruce Cunha

Frank or others. The bolt used to put the floor dip switch to the bracket. Was it a hex head, round head slotted or phillips?

I see that the dip switch has threaded holes. Did the fastener come in from the back into the dip switch or ?
Bruce Cunha

Hex with lock washers from the front
Christopher Couper

Picture


Christopher Couper

Thanks Chris. My mind is goofy tonight. I was thinking it set on the bracket, not through it.

Makes perfect sense.

My bolt/fastener list is coming along. It is impressive how many fasteners there are not including the engine.
Bruce Cunha

BTW that dimmer switch is made with stainless I think. I polishes up real nice.

Looking forward to the fastener list to fill in all those gaps.
Christopher Couper

I came across an intersting nail on the TD today. Found it in the back corner of the inner fender well. There are two per side.

It has a 3/16 rounded head and a 1/2 inch spiral nail with a cone shaped point on the end.

Other than in the inner fenders, I hav not found any more, but Chris indicated there may be. Anyone find these in other areas?

Bruce Cunha

Here is where it is located.

Bruce Cunha

Not that it helps you, but those body panel to wood fasteners were common in US wood framed cars to hold the sheet metal to the wood frame.
Regards, Tom
tm peterson

I ran into another discrepancy. I need an accurate list of the floor board fasteners. My car did not have them all.

I have Chris's list and it differs from Abindon's list. I also looked at some of the retailers and the picture they list has a different count.

If anyone has an accurate list and placement for the TD floorboard fasteners, I would appreciate it.
Bruce Cunha

Thanks to Lonnie Cook, I received a full list of the floor fasteners. Also a great map of where they go.

Thanks Lonnie. I will add this to the fastener list.
Bruce Cunha

Bruce, do you know the size/thread of the bolt for the lower edge of splash apron on the back of the car. On my '51 TD both of the bolt heads fit a 14 mm wrench very well. BSF and SAE wrenches were not even close. In the process I got one out with the PB Blaster use but I broke the other one. I'll need to figure out what size it is to drill it out and re-tap the threads. Thanks, Mike
Mike Hipsher

Mik: I show them as 5/16 W. (3/8 BSF). 3/4" length. That converts to a 15.2 metric so I am thinking somone forced a metric thread bolt into the frame. You should be able to drill it out and retap with whitworth.

Worst case would be you would drill it out larger and put in a whitworth helicoil. Amazon lists a vendor for the coils. https://www.amazon.com/Helicoil-Thread-Repair-Inserts-Insert/dp/B077ZZ8SSK
Bruce Cunha

Thanks a lot, Bruce. I'm looking forward to your list whenever its ready to help me on my restoration of TD 3178. I've had it since 1968, but it hasn't run since 1970. Only now do I have the resources to get to work but it has been stored carefully
Mike Hipsher

Anyone have an original washer on the front pan tab to frame? Chris lists this as a larger washer. Not as big as the fender washers.

If I could get a measurment, I would appreciate it for my fastener list.
Bruce Cunha

British Fasteners also sells helicoil kits.

https://britishfasteners.com/index.php/helicoils.html
Frank Cronin

Mike. I can understand that. I rebuilt my 50 TD in 1973 when I was 21. I did not know what a TD was when I bought it. rebuilt it by looking at the Moss catalogue diagrams.

I have done the mechanicals since then, but the body was the same as I rebuilt it to. So now that I am retired, I wanted to tackle rebuilding it again. This time, trying to keep it closer to what it was when it was sold at the dealer.

Frank. I use BF for as much of the fasteners as I can. I just learned that BF and Caswell Inc. are possibly one and the same. They have the same address in Lyons NY.

I am hoping BF might look into building a TD faster kit that would have all the TD fasteners in one kit.
Bruce Cunha

This thread was discussed between 17/07/2019 and 02/09/2019

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