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MG TD TF 1500 - P.O.s will get you every time!

Got home early today and thought I would put my new brake components on my TF 1500. I ordered all new parts without inspecting the old parts, seeing how the car had been sitting stored for over 30 years.
Not having ever inspected the brake before, I was surprised to see that the P.O. had put new locktabs on the drum nuts, but failed to bend them over! Now I am nervous about what else might have been left unsecured.
Any wild stories about what I should look for prior to putting this thing on the road? What ever stories you have to share, might save my life! (or someone else)
Cleve

My brother failed to torque the steering wheel nut on his TF restoration. (He was 16). It came off in a turn and he went through a fence! No real damage.
Dave
D Clark

Cleve,

Off the top of my head I can think of a few:

Lock or Jam nuts on the axle-to-leaf spring U bolts.

Lock nuts on the drive shaft bolts.

Lock tabs on the rocker shaft towers under the valve cover.

Split pins on the steering shaft to the pinion shaft.

Split pins on the A-arm nuts.


I'm sure others will have some additional suggestions....

Good luck,
Evan
Evan Ford - TD 27621

Cleve,
Not sure what part of the country (or world) you are in. I would be the first to addmit when it comes to the "T" I wanted to do all the work myself. After all the car had been a dream of mine since age 3. I would also have to say that no doubt the "smartest" thing I did, after all my work, was to load it on a flatbed and head north for John Twist shop in MI. (I have of course found "compedent" shops closer since), but being "new" to the MG world I sought what many considered the "best" in my part of the country with MG's. John & his excellent staff made a appointment for me and did a complete check-over of the car and supplied me with a written list of recomendations of what should (and/or could) be done and the cost for each. Not having "unlimited funds" this was great..I was able to "check-off" the one's I wanted his shop to do and decide what on the list I wanted to do myself! The cost for this was very reasonable and I was able to afford to get the car on the road and start enjoying it right away, but still had some confidence that it was safe to drive! I guess if you have $90K to have it "all done" ...that's cool (if you have been following the recent TF1500 thread) but if not spend a few bucks to find "the expert" close to you and see if they offer a service like this. IMHO some of the best money spent! PS: #1 on the list from Mr. Twist on my TF was the brake job that I did "close to right"...I had him fix that one! All the "paint,body work & other work" in the world ain't worth a crap if you can't stop the car!
Cheers,
David 55 TF1500 #7427
David Sheward

As the car has been off the road for many years I would check the main safety critical sub assemblies such as brakes, suspension and steering. Look for signs of components that have been dismantled and then loosely bolted together again. Missing split pins and bent back locking tab washers are all clues, as well as nuts which have been wirebrushed to remove years of mud etc. Levering with a crow/pry bar will reveal excessive play. All of this is really part of the process of recommissioning, as you never know what a PO might have done or not done. Copies of old bills might yield clues on what was done and by who. Seems like a good opportunity to get to know the car, and run over it armed with a parts/workshop manual. Surprising how useful a parts manual is. Catalogues supplied by B&G and Moss are excellent sources of reference. If you are at all wary, I would suggest like David that you get an expert to run over it and come up with a list of jobs. Bearing in mind you will need an mot at some stage, which is a stringent test in itself.
Henry

This thread was discussed between 29/12/2005 and 30/12/2005

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