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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 - Hybrid TD options

There is a basket case TD with a solid frame, usable fenders, no interior, no dash, no gauges, a seized XPAG replacement engine, a blown transmission and a very, very rough tub less than two miles from my parent's house.
This car would not be a good cantidate for a restoration due to the missing parts and overall poor condition, yet there is too much there to part it out. I could easliy put 35K in to it and would end up with a non numbers matching car worth maybe 15-20K.
I am toying with the idea of turning this in to a project car with the runnng gear from another vehicle. Not a show car, but a good looking fun driver that would look all stock until one looked at the dash or under the hood. What are some popular conversions for T series MGs? Does the Volvo engine bolt in? At lease it has twin SU carbs. Any thoughts?
D. Sander

Hi D?

The Volvo engine, transmission and rear axle make a very suitable replacement for the original TD units. A friend made the exchange many years ago, and the car is still on the road, but has gone through 2 other owners. I was fortunate to get the TD engine, tranmission and axle Which have been put to use in many ways. I would class it as the best exchange for the original units with not a lot of mods to the chassis.

George Raham
George Raham [TD4224]

A rear wheel drive toyota would be my choice. Find a older celica with a 2000cc aluminum engine. The light weight would be great for the TD. It would be very peppy and you could move up in power all the way to turbo if you wanted.
Bruce Cunha

Mmmmmm- Turbo...
D. Sander

Volvo seem to be the most popular back in the day. I have seen a number of B series engine/tranny transplants also. Keeping it period you could go with a small Ford flathead. Me I'm with Bruce. Modern 4 banger and transmission. Might be an ideal candidate for a Honda rear mount complete with trans axel although I think the front end would be way to light.
LaVerne Downey

Dave,
Seems to me that you have the makin's for a cool, period, flat head Rat Rod!!!


See you in Mystic in Sept,
SPW
Steve Wincze

Miata running gear
l rutt

...I would go with MGB...dime a dozen and still looks sort of right and at least is the right make.... there again, you could put an electric motor or a Maz rotary
gblawson(gordon- TD27667)

The mazda rotary would be one fast machine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steve Wincze

...one of our members has a Rotary in an MGB...really moves...

gblawson(gordon- TD27667)

Dave I have drawings for a Volvo conversion made by a graduate mechanical engineer,the first No. 3 George Taylor. He made at least one conversion which is still around, up in Maine I believe. Cause I have the engine that came out of it.

If I can get copies of the drawing are you at all interested?
Cheers,
Bob
Bob Jeffers

Since originality isn't an issue, a Volvo B20 with a P1800 transmission with the rear shift extender would make a fine machine - fast, torquey, and reliable. I'm with Bob on this one.

Alternatively, for some silly money, I think a hot-rodded Ford V8-60 would be fun - but to do that properly would be big money, I think. Here's a V8-60 with Ardun heads and Webers in a TC - this would have been an interesting project.

Dave

Dave Jorgensen

I recently evaluated a TD with a TR4 engine - see pic.

Seems like a sensible conversion, till one notices the tub, cut away to accommodate the engine. This was done in deference to making accommodations with the radiator, which probably makes sense, but the tub is now cut through right into the interior of the cab.

However a few years ago, a member of our club was faced with a dilemma similar to that described by Dave (Sander). His most economical solution, was to install a Ford 109E engine, for which there are zillions of ‘go-fast’ parts available, as this was the original engine in Formula Junior. He now has a really quick TD putting out about 95Hp - lighter, too!

Gord Clark TF4592
Rockburn, Qué.

Gordon A Clark

If you want something a bit more exotic, how about a water-cooled motorcycle engine? Who cares if the diff has 5.125:1 gears when the engine will rev to 13000 rpm?
Tom Sorensen

I am really interested in the Volvo option. From the pictures that I have seen, it almost looks like it belongs there.
While I do want to build a hot rod someday, I just can't do that to a TD...
Where would one go to aquire a Volvo driveline? Does the P1800 seem to be the engine/transmission of choice?
D. Sander

If you go with the volvo option, a 74 with overdrive might be good choice. This is a similar od as the B uses with the switch for the od in the shifter. I owned one of the 4 cylinders with od in 74.It was a nice system.
Bruce Cunha

A '52 WITH A '37.

Marvin Stuart

Hi Marvin. I had one of those in the first model A, I owned. Used to hate to work on that front mounted distributer
Bruce Cunha

Bruce.. Simca VEDETTE used the Ford v/8 60 engine but they had a distributer that came up from the front on the left side just about in line with the centerline of the cyl head.
Sandy
SANDY SANDERS

I think the Volvo gearbox with overdrive would not work in a TD unless the chassis cross shaft is repositioned. A Volvo B18 or B20 engine with twin SU's and a Volvo gearbox with the shift extension is a very nice conversion as well as being super reliable. I think the horsepower for the B18 is about 90 and for the B20 about 100. You could go with the later fuel injected B20 which will give about 125 HP. I have several B20 engines and gearboxes for sale as well as a transmission tunnel made for the Volvo conversion.
Hugh Pite
H.D. Pite

The Volvo B18 makes for a great alternative, especially with the P1800 remote shifter set up.

Stout driveline with easily available parts, the accessory location mirrors the XPAG, double the HP,
plenty of clearance for the steering column, and pretty much drops in.

A very popular swap way back in the day, when you could pick them up at the junkyard for a couple of hundred bucks.

I've got one in my garage. In pieces at the moment, but someday may be together again.

Unfortunately, it's been like that for about 10 years, so maybe not.
peter whelan

Here's an MGA with a rotery in it. As you can see, it doesn't take up much room. Interesting. PJ



P S Jennings

Marvin.

That’s a very pretty installation. The flathead Ford was often seen in a TC, but that’s the first I’ve seen in a TD/TF.

As some of you may know, I follow the hot rod scene and have been a subscriber to ‘Street Rod’ magazine for many years. I highly respect the rodders ingenuity and creativity, and especially their ability to adapt almost anything to almost anything!

The standard flat head Ford (221 cu in) put out 65HP, but the Mercury version (255cu in) put out 80, but became impossible to find. Now however, new standard Ford blocks are available (from France!!), and an even larger 335 cu in block by the renowned Mark Kirby, in aluminium, uses many of the original parts and is identical in dimensions to the original 221 cu in and of course, uses all modern technology.

So Marvin, sounds like a great idea. I can visualize a TD keeping pace with a V8 engined MGB.

Gord Clark TF4592
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A Clark

This thread was discussed between 08/07/2010 and 25/07/2010

MG TD TF 1500 index

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