MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

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 - restore now or not??

I have not posted for sometime. About 2 years ago I bought a 54 mgtf from a 90 year old man. He and his wife had moved away and I was to bid remodeling their house so the Realtor could rent it out. The Realtor told me I'd like this house because there was an old MG in the garage. He had owned the car since 1976 and had purchased it from a neighbor because it would not go in reverse. The car was about half dismantled and half the gearbox was gone and the floor boards were no where to be found. Pretty much everything else was there. I purchased a gearbox. I had the car towed home to my garage. I haven't done a lot to it. The engine cranked over with good compression in all but #3 cylinder which was at zero. I unstuck the exhaust valve, but still zero in that cylinder. I pulled the head, but everything looks good. There is where I'm at. The wood top piece under the firewall is rotted, but the rest seems okayish.I'm told that wood piece is the most difficult to replace. My question is this: since the car is dismantled this far should I continue dismantling and restoring it or should I repair it to run and have some fun first. With a wife and 3 teenage boys and a 7 year old girl, funds maybe tight for this project, but at 58 years old, this is not a project I maybe able to do in the next 15 years or maybe I can. Anyway, I just want your sage, wise advice. Sorry for the long post. George
GH Higginson

Try to get some bugs-in-the-teeth motoring done before you pull it apart. This will help keep you motivated and help your family to understand what its all about. Get the kids involved naturally.

Please post some photos!

Cheers,
Matthew.


M Magilton

Tough one. Matthew has some good points.

Doing a restoration is a great way to really learn about the car. You get to know all about each different part of the car. Finishing a restoration is an amazing feeling.

Also a good project to involve your boys in.



Bruce TD4139 Cunha

There is a huge difference between a few parts pulled off and a full blown restoration. Personally I would repair as necessary to make it reliable and safe, and then drive the car for at least one year. By doing this you will gain much... namely learning what the car truly needs, and what you need to make the car enjoyable to drive. You may even realize you don't like the car at all, and better to find out now than after you're upside-down in restoration costs! Best case scenario, you realize the car is fine how it is so over the next ten years you get to drive it instead of looking at expensive parts all over your garage floor.
Steve Simmons

I'm with Steve etc. Lots of visitors to our house fall in love with the TF, or ask where to find a TC. I always suggest they actually get to drive one for a while (not easy, I know, but I have offered mine to people who seem OK), and see if the enjoyment outweighs the aggravation - for them and their lucky passenger.

Then, if you do like the thing, you'll have motivation to carry you through the inevitable frustration, expense and disasters of the restoration.

David
David Provan

David, I like your interpretation of,
"the inevitable frustration, expense and disasters of the restoration". Hits the nail right on the head! LOL. PJ

Paul S Jennings

Make it safe and drive it as a survivor. You can always restore it later if you wish, but in the mean time enjoy it with your family.
... CR
C.R. Tyrell

George, are you talking about the wood piece that supports the rear of the bonnet? Item #12 in the Moss diagram. Imho, that one's no where near as bad as some of the others. It's one that I had to replace on my TD. I'd suggest giving thought to replacing it and putting the car into drivable condition. There are quite a few T-folks down in Florida who'd be happy to help you out. Bud


Bud Krueger

Make it drivable and enjoy it for 10 years. Restoration is a good retirement
project. Also note restoration rule of thumb:

it will take twice as long and cost twice as much as you planned.
R W Hinton

I thought I only had a few bad wood parts. At disassembly, many wood parts were vaporized under whatever metal covered them. Total restoration takes a huge amount of money and time. I did my TD in about 2 years, with most weekends and evenings working on it. The house, yard, and family were neglected. It will be a big project to get it running- brakes, fuel system and carbs, cooling system, etc. Of course any of those things would not need to be redone if you do a full restoration. Figure twice as long and twice as expensive as you think and you will be about right! Make a long list of parts and price out. Figure $5K to do the engine, etc. Chrome is very expensive, and the repro chrome bits are suspect. Where are you in Florida? George
George Butz

I've spent a lot of time on my TD, but have yet to "restore" it. I think of it as doing "piecemeal restoration" in that I now have a rebuilt braking system, mostly rebuilt electrics, rebuilt cooling, rebuilt convertible top, rebuilt windshield, rebuilt fuel/tank system, and am now approaching a fully rebuilt engine.

Someday, I may do a frame-up restoration, but for right now, I'm still working to get it to a fun and fully driveable condition, at which point I'll drive it until I win the lottery, when I'll buy a BMW Z3 (not 4) and have someone else restore the TD for me. :) Once done, I'll drive both.
Geoffrey M Baker

Another thing to consider... If you restore it, you may be afraid to drive it. I bought a vintage lambretta scooter from a fellow who did a beautiful restoration and then couldn't drive it because he was convened about damaging all the hard work he put into it. I suggest getting it running and then doing a running resto. I prefer the reward of a bit of driving between jobs. It gives me the entertainment encouragement I need to tackle the next project.

Alex
Alex Waugh

GH,

I would make the car safe and drivable while your children are still at that age where memories are formed for a lifetime. We hope we are not the last generation to love these little cars. One or more of those kids may catch the MG fever and have a lifetime of enjoyment to look forward to. JMHO.

I am in northwest Florida. Where are you?


Best regards,

Jim Haskins 1953 TD
J. M. Haskins

It is unanimous. I will take everyone's advice of fixing it to be safe and drive it. It needs a lot, but not as much as full restoration. I like the idea of getting the kids interested in MGs. To George Butz and J.M. Haskins, I am in Fort Walton Beach, Florida in the Panhandle just East of Pensacola near Destin. I would like to meet up with you and any others that are nearby. I thank you ALL for your awesome advice and comments. You have gotten me excited and revved up. Every comment was so great! Thanks again, George
GH Higginson

"fixing it to be safe and drive it."

I think you've got your priorities right. SAFE is crucial. It probably starts with brakes and tires. Even if the tires look good they are probably very old and not to be trusted. New tires from Vredstein (sp?) or some of the other suppliers aren't that expensive. Brakes are essential. If the engine dies or something falls off you can get home on a roll-back - if the brakes fail you may not get back home. Beyond that I agree with all of the advice and with your decision.

Jud - '53 TD
J K Chapin

Ditto on get the kids involved!


Willem van der Veer

George, I also live in Fort Walton Beach and currently restoring a TF. Email me and lets get together. I think I can be of great assistance. John
JR Mahone

My daughter was quite excited when I told her that I would be able to get my TF put together in time to drive her to her first day of kindergarten, I didn't quite finish it then ,but later I planned to drive her to campus when she went off to college.....two years ago I got serious and was sure we could use it in her wedding using wedding cars tonbridge.... not quite. Now that I am retired I am pretty sure my first grandchild will enjoy a ride to kindergarten if I finish up the final details!
I say get it running and enjoy it until you retire when you will have plenty of time to restore it if needed!
JK Barter

Good advice from half the countries on the planet!

Drive it to get a feel for what you want out of it.

At age 58, no problem. If you said you are 28, I'd have my doubts.
JRN JIM

By the way to Bud Krueger, It is the wood pieces #12 & #11 in the Moss catalog (Front Top Rail Outer & Inner.
Looks like I could remove the bolts that run through the firewall,the outer, and inner top rails, remove the scuttle top, replace the wood pieces and reassemble everything. Is it that easy or do I have to remove engine, firewall and all to do the job? Thanks again, George
GH Higginson

George, do not remove the scuttle top as it involves cutting and re-welding to the side panels at the door shut. You have to remove the firewall, remove the nails from the scuttle top first. The two wood sections are also screwed together under the firewall.
Rod Brayshaw

I second that, fix it to drive, I did a rolling restoration for a couple of years and after doing that did a full resto on the car. Drove it after fixing the brakes, engine. I did a little each year then did paint and interior, running gear was done over a three year period. Drove it in summer worked on it in winter. Brakes first. ya cant go if it don't stop.
TRM Maine

George, Rod has it right on. That #11 is the problem. But, it may be able to be 'worked around'. It can be reinforced from behind. Removing the scuttle top can be a time consumer, and it leads to many "while I'm at it" operations. Enjoy the car. Bud
Bud Krueger

If you can get away without replacing any wood for the time being, do what the guys are recommending and fix it to drive. You can restore it later after you get the enjoyment of driving it, as it's very time consuming. Replacing wood usually requires a complete tear down and more wood was replaced than shown here. PJ



Paul S Jennings

GH,

You are very near at hand. I am in Mary Esther, FL not far fro0m Santa Rosa Mall. Would be thrilled to meet and work with an other MG owner so close to home. If you care to please contact me at jhaskins2@cox.net. Looking forward to seeing you.

Regards,

Jim Haskins 1953 TD
J. M. Haskins

This thread was discussed between 17/04/2015 and 18/04/2015

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.