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MG TD TF 1500 - valve springs - County brand

Cheers all - I've started head first into this next engine overhaul. You may recall I bought the two basket case cars in the basement setting for 30+ years. I got a set of new valve springs in the spares marked 'County' #CVS 481 K 4/1998, I must 'ASSUME' these are of Moss vintage. Several questions come to mind. First, over the last 6-7 years I've heard lots of bad things about the 'County' brand, mostly regarding the bearings. Anyone have experience with their springs, I'm gun shy on them now? I also noticed in the Moss book listed two different sets, TC/TD and TD2/TF. I'm aware of the valve diameter change so believe that this is the difference. How do I tell for sure that I have the correct set for this 53 car? Is there a spec I should be aware of or an overall length I should look for ? There are no other markings or Moss # to reference. In short, what would be the difference between the two sets or does it have to do with the oil deflector change and fitment ? Thanks Jack
JR Jack

Not a guru on this subject, arent the two spring types based upon their tension rating, either 120 or 150 pd.

Graeme
G Evans

Factory shop manual: TD: inner open pressure @ 1.438" 43lbs, outer @1.532" 80 for total of 123lbs, TF 55 and 95, same measurement compression for total of 150lbs. Other specs in there too. I think you are correct- stiffer springs due to valves likely weighing more. This of course puts more load on the now generally suspect lifters. Nothing to do with deflectors. George
George Butz

I'm not an expert on this subject either (or any other) but I think I read somewhere that the TC/TD early springs had a light colored maroon stripe down the length of each larger diameter (outboard) spring. The later TD & TF had a subtle darker purple stripe. Thats how the factory did it and other suppliers followed as well. I can't speak to the 'County' brand for spring sets only to their problem with the bearing shells and I don't want to go there. Sam
SW SAM

I prefer to use the lighter springs, and have had good results with County springs - I test them all first, and they have all been spot on.

I use the lighter springs to reduce cam and follower wear; it lowers the red line by a few hundred RPMs, but I'm not running in the stratosphere anyway. On a race engine I would use the 150# springs; on a street engine, the lighter.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Every time I read these threads I learn something new, I guess that is what it's all about. I was curious about what Sam said about the color stripe on the outer spring coil, so I had to look, sure enough there is a maroon stripe on this 51 car. I got the car in 1980 and the smoking motor rebuilt in 1981. Most all of the parts came from B & G in England, so I don't actually know their supplier. I also got a spare set with the car that are marked 'Class 2' with a yellow stripe down the outer coil, anyone know how to decode 'class 2' without checking the tension? Tom Lange, you have an private email! Curt
CCV Curt

This thread was discussed between 09/03/2017 and 11/03/2017

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