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MG TD TF 1500 - TD Rear Wheel Arch Hole

While gluing the felt to the rear wheel arches today I noticed a 5/16" hole on the top of both arches. This initially made no sense, unless a PO had perhaps once installed a seat belt bracket there? No sign of any sheet metal reinforcing though in that area. I don't have a pic. It isn't for the seat adjuster and bench support bracket, as those two smaller holes are where they should be. Am I missing something? Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Hi Peter,

I think that if seat belts were fitted to the rear arches without any heavy duty reinforcement and the car was involved in a frontal crash the rear of the body would be lifted off the chassis! Having said that there were some questionable mods made to cars in the 1960s

Cheers

Jan T
J Targosz

Agree Jan. Obviously no prang as the arches are straight and true. Still wondering what the holes were for? Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Some people's idea of reinforcement is just to put a large washer under the nut, which in the case of a T type would be completely inadequate. I think they were (badly done) seat belt shoulder fixings.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Thanks Dave. I'll get rid of them. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Found this pic on my gallery while looking at trim details. It was taken at a concours in Sydney about 7 years ago and shows a shoulder strap mount roughly in the location of the hole I was enquiring about. Cheers
Peter TD 5801

P Hehir

A part of my car no one is allowed to see. :-)

I have the same sort of holes at the bottom of the wheel arch and also behind the seat. I also still have the big eye-bolts and huge washers that go on both sides. A 1960's attempt at a safety mod in what is essentially a rolling coffin.
Christopher Couper

Wow!!! “That setup” is an absolutely worthless mod that only made the owner feel good and gave a very false sense of security for an unwitting passenger. The wheel arch being the thickness of a old tin beer can which is flimsily spot welded to the quarter panel. Absolutely no integrity to keep the torso stationary in a frontal impact.

Bill Chasser
TD-4834
W A Chasser

This thread was discussed between 21/03/2019 and 24/03/2019

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