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MG TD TF 1500 - Rubber gearbox cover/snug

I am confused as to how best to fit the rubber snug. Does it go on before
the metal gearbox cover i.e. between the gearbox and the metal cover, or after i.e. on top of the metal cover. Many thanks. Lionel.
L.F. Thorne

On top of the gearbox cover.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

Thanks Ray. Lionel TD 3490.
L.F. Thorne

https://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtd/mgtd_carpet.htm
Christopher Couper

Thanks for the link Chris. I had already read it. I have found your site extremely useful. Thank you. When I finish the restoration I will post
some photo's and your site will definiately be in the list of credits! I couldn't
see anything in the link about the rubber cover. The reason I asked the
question was because in Dave Braun's site he says the cover goes on top of
the metal cover, but, in his book,Horst Schach says it goes under the metal
cover.Two conflicting authorities.
Many thanks Lionel TD3490.
L.F. Thorne

Horst says the rubber goes under the cover. Then he has a photo of it over the cover saying that is where it goes?.
Under the cover will transmit vibration directly into the chassis negating the rubber engine mounts.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

This component is another MG nightmare. Try fitting one of these to a TF tunnel when you have a TC gearbox installed. To obtain a leak proof/ draft proof seal is virtually unobtainable. There has to be a more practical solution.
G Evans

Ditto Mr Evans. The snug seems to be anything but! After spending half an hour with a pair of shears trying to get something to conform I have abandoned the idea. Mind you I am dealing with a Toyota transplant!
Chris
C I Twidle

Lionel: "I couldn't
see anything in the link about the rubber cover."

Very first picture. :-)


Christopher Couper

I am in amazement that an author of MGs would state that the Gearbox Cover Rubber Snug would 'go under the cover' ! Surely he must have meant under the underlay/carpet 'cover' !!

If you are using the original Gearbox and metal panel cover , the Snug will actually 'sit' quite nicely.

Rob Grantham
TF3719("Aramis"), TF9177("Athos").




Rob Grantham

Rob: I have heard this from many people before. I wonder if it is because they don't slip the back under the selector and move it forward when installing?
Christopher Couper

I have had several TD, and both had the rubber snug under the metal cover...NOT on top of it. The metal cover had a fiberated tar paper type cover glued to ot. Over that went the carpet padding and carpet.
That's my story and i'm sticking to it. I believe the rubber snug was ment to fill the space between the trans and the metal cover to "snug" the metal cover and reduce sound/ vibration. Something it would not do effectively if it were simply laid loose on top of the metal cover.
Brian W.
ZBMan

I just wanted to reactivate this thread as I had a conversation just today where another owner is citing the Horst Schach TD restoration book as a source for the idea that the rubber cover is placed directly over the gearbox and under the metal bellhousing/gearbox cover.

I am convinced that the rubber cover goes on after the metal cover simply due to the facts that it fits very well that way and - most importantly- it allows one to easily remove the rubber cover in order to access and remove the 4 bolts which secure the gear selector extension assembly. To me, that ease of removal is the entire reason for the large opening in the metal cover. The rubber snug was designed to then complete the covering of the gearbox - while allowing for this easy access to the extension.

It would be wonderful to see a factory photo showing the rubber snug in place - unfortunately the shop manual does not include a mention of the piece or a photo/drawing.

Is this a question that can be considered resolved, or are there still those who feel the rubber should be placed beneath the metal bellhousing cover???

Thoughts/comments/condemnations!!!!

Best regards,

J. Delk
DLD

If you sit and study Horst’s book you’ll find a lot of errors and discrepancies.
W A Chasser

As for the TC snug (only) Doug Pelton "From the frame Up" has been producing a better snug than the poor quality ones sold by others!
As I understand it.
Len
Abingdon Performance Ltd.
Len Fanelli

Here are two pictures from Chris Cooper's original TD web page. Two different cars.




Bruce Cunha

Here is another I came across that shows the rubber excluder and how it relates to the insulation on the cover.

Bruce Cunha

This thread was discussed between 02/05/2020 and 14/05/2023

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