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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 - Side Curtain Rivets and Washers

Looking for a source of the original rivets and washers used to secure the rear side curtains to the frames on a TD and TF. Both items are finished in plain aluminium. The rivets are solid and also described as 'Tinman' rivets. The head is half round not the more common pan head or 1/4 round. The shaft is 1/2" although I suspect 3/8" may be long enough. The supplier in Melbourne seemed promising but turned out to have the wrong finish and head shape.

The washers are again plain aluminium about 0.400" to 0.435" OD, 0.130" to 0.143" ID and 0.030" thick. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Pic 1 showing original washers and rivets. A washer weighs 0.165 grams and a rivet 0.376 grams. Cheers
Peter TD 5801

P Hehir

Peter are the rivets in your image the old ones or new as they look to be? Forrest TD/C22679
Forrest Rubenstein

Here is a picture of an original set from Rod Brayshaw who gave me these measurements:

The head dia is 5mm, the round head height is 2.8mm, the dia is 3mm. The washer is 3/8" x 18swg or 1.2mm

The picture makes them looked coned shaped but perhaps Rod can weigh in on that.



Christopher Couper

They are NOS Forrest and appear to be as near as dammit to the ones in the pic posted by Chris. They came from a very reputable local source but in an extremely limited quantity. I have enough for my car but no spares. This search is for the benefit of others. Of course the originals were imperial so they weren't 3 mm but 1/8". But who's going to quibble about 0.025"? The rivet head diameter is 0.215" which is 5.47 mm, again not an issue. The 3/8" washer (0.375") is also slightly smaller than the 0.400" that I measure with my digital vernier.

Worth noting that almost all solid rivets sold today don't have a round head but rather what I'd describe as 1/4 round. It seems the ones described as button heads most closely resemble those in the pic I posted. Also most modern rivets have a finish of some sort, not the raw aluminium that was original to the TD and TF. It seems I may have found a supplier in China of the metric equivalent rivet, which is close enough for all but the most anal of us.. Still chasing the washers though. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter: Check out this companies round rivets in Imperial sizes.

http://www.sapphireproducts.co.uk/641t1.htm
Christopher Couper

Just FYI. The rivets sold by Moss are too short. The ones sold by From the Frame Up are long enough. These aren't the original type rivets but what most people use today.

Tim
Timothy Burchfield

Chris, that Sapphire Products link didn't work for me but this one did
http://www.sapphireproducts.co.uk/

Tim
Timothy Burchfield

I don't know what's with my browser and posting https links. I will always need others to clean up my mess it seems. :-(

Just remove the s on my link and it will be OK.
Christopher Couper

Thanks Chris. A comparison of the 1/2 round original solid rivet in aluminium and the Sapphire appears below.

Original
Shank Dia .125",
Head Dia .215",
Head Height .110",

Sapphire
Shank Dia .125”
Head Dia .219”
Head Height .094”

I couldn't find an email contact on their website though, just a fax number. Anyone in the UK able to find out what the rate per 100 is? Cheers
Peter TD 5801


P Hehir

Another rivet image

Rod Brayshaw

Thanks Rod. Any ideas on sourcing the washers? Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter, it is on the index page

sapphireproducts@yahoo.co.uk
Ian Bowers

Thanks Ian. Pleading domestic blindness. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Tim just checked out FTFU however no mention of solid rivets for the rear side curtains. What are they suggesting? Not that I'll be using their alternative, just curious is all. I'll add the short Moss rivets to my list. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

When I did my side curtains a few years back as I didn't know what kind of rivets to use so I didn't install any. Thanks to everyone that posted I can now make some up to suite. That's why I like looking here. ForrestTD/C/22679
Forrest Rubenstein

The following washers are available from McMaster-Carr.
No. 6, ID 0.149", OD 0.375", Thickness 0.024"-0.038", Hardness Brinell 120, Min Qty 100, P/N 93286A007, $4.56/100. These are fine in terms of ID and thickness however the OD is a little small, 3/8" not the desired 7/16". I think they'd probably be fine though.

MSC Direct have the same washers #67494161 for $8:16/100. Both are plain aluminium finish. However neither seem to ship to Australia though.. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

https://www.hansonrivet.com/rivets/blind-pop-advel-rivets/mate-rivets/

Regards, Tom
tm peterson

Thanks to a BBS member in the States the washers from McMaster-Carr are now sorted. Peter is arranging delivery and will then post them on to me. Tom (see above) has given me a lead on a Californian supplier of the solid rivets in LA. Assuming the price isn't outrageous (Sapphire wanted about 60 cents a rivet!) I'll buy 300. Anybody live near there who could purchase them for me and then send them on? I can reimburse you via PayPal. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter,
Did you ever finalize your source for the correct rivets and washers?
Tyler
C.T. Irwin

Hi Tyler. Yes the kits are available and I've sent quite a few all over the world. Cost is $10 AU by ordinary air mail to OZ and an extra $3 to the States. Payment by PayPal add another 4%. Let me know if you want a set.
Cheers
Peter TD 5801

P Hehir

Peter,
Please send me an email: irwin51@yahoo.com
thanks
C.T. Irwin

Tyler you have mail. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter
please contact me so i can also get a set. Robert@BirchwoodBuilders.com
Thanks
Robert Weinstein

Robert and Jim you have mail. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Robert and Jim, the kits posted today via Australia Post economy air mail. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Tyler yours went as well. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

This thread was discussed between 27/04/2018 and 22/11/2018

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