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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 - Suggested Spare Parts for Trips?

fuel pump!

I know I need one of those in the box I'm assembling to have along on any trips, what else do folks suggest? A set of points and a condensor seems like a good idea too.

Any advice/experience is greatly appreciated.
Stan Griffis

AAA! Admittedly mostly local trips, max 3 hour drive to GOF, and have never used any of the spares caried! The only times I was ever towed home involved a broken axle and a broken crankshaft. Maybe ignition stuff, plugs, belt, etc. Depends how far you are going. I have lugged a spare generator around, cap, rotor, fuel pump, and water pump when I had a spare. General repair stuff- wire, duct tape, voltage stick tester, spare fuses, wrenches, spare nuts and bolts, clutch clevis pins, permatex selanat, spare gaskets, and whatever.
George Butz

Stan - If you have the time, I would suggest mounting the spare fuel pump on the frame in the back by the fuel tank, run the fuel line through it and wire it and the primary pump through a single pole double throw switch. If the primary pump ever dies, all you have to do is flip the switch and continue on your way. If the switch is convenient to the driver's seat, you don't even have to pull off the road to change over pumps.

I think that George has pretty well covered everything to take with you, except I wouldn't bother with a generator, in that they can be easily repaired by any local auto electric shop and most everything in them tha would need replacement (brushes, rear bushing and front bearing) can be carried in between everything else you are carying. Pre gap the plugs that you take with you and carry a spare fan belt and spare hoses (all of these can be the ones you just replaced as long as they are still sound). I wouldn't bother with a water pump, just make sure the one on the car is in good shape.

All the above said, we have taken two 5000+ mile trips around the western US in the TD and the worst that ever befell us was a fouled plug on the way home ont eh second trip (about ten minutes beside the road to repair. Oh yes, a cell phone to go along with that AAA card. Good luck - Dave
David DuBois

I wholeheartedly agree with Dave DuBois about mounting an auxiliary fuel pump. I mounted one as Dave describes and connected it with a cockpit mounted SPDT switch. It is mounted up out of sighht on the steering column bracket. The forward position turns on the SU pump in front, the middle position is off for both pumps (anti-theft?) and the rear switch position controls the rear pump. The aux pump is identical to the one shown in the Moss catalogs but much cheaper at Auto Zone. About $15 as I recall. Make sure you buy the lower pressure model.
The other item I always carried behind the seat back on my TD was a spare rear axle complete with the bearing pressed on. In the middle of nowhere, it proved to be one of my rarer good ideas.
Jim Merz

Jim - Between the center off fuel pump selector switch and the fly-off hand brake, your TD should be really safe from theft. Even if someone figured out how to get the fuel pump to work, they will never figure out how to release the hand brake. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

I agree with the installation of the fuel pump in the back of the car and the switch, HOWEVER watch the fuel line used to connect the new pump to the line to the engine if any of the alcohols are used in your fuel. Two types of fuel line seem to be sold in this part of the US (northeast), one called fuel hose that meets specification SAE 30R7 and injection hose that meets SAE 30R9. Hose 30R7 is affected by alcohol after a period of time and will collapse the inner tube. Hose 30R9 is made of viton rubber that has a low permeabilty to the alcohol and has been recommanded for general use by the antique car hobby (Skinned Knuckles magazine).
Janson Hurd

A small container of brass washers is part of my kit. Last year, when my TD thew a rod was the first time it ever broke down on a trip that I could not get it home with some minor reworking. Once had the gasket on the plate on the back of the head fail. While I had to use a vice grip to get the round screws off, It did not take much to cut a new gasket and get the TD back on the road.
Bruce Cunha

Hi Stan . I drive my 53 TD a lot . If fact some folks think it is my main means of transit . I carry at all times ,points ,capacitor , two spark plugs an asortment of odd nuts and bolts and clevis pins and cotter pins some electric tape and some nylon ties and some wire .A good set of tools . I have a by pass gas pump just like the one in the Moss catalog but it came from PeP Boys $15.00 . A cell phone and last but not least is a lucky rabbits foot.
I dont go much over 200 miles from home at any one time . I dont know about you but after 3 hours in a TD my BUTT start to ache and that is my gauge on when its time to stop for the day. Carrying rear axles and such may be a good idea if you are going on a two thousand mile ride . But what are the chances you will be able to find a mechanic that knows MG's and will be able to replace it on a Sunday ? I figure if it blows an axle I call a flat bed and have it taken home . It may cost afew bucks but how much will a room for a few days cost and the cost of some mechanic guy that thinks he can do it cost . Dont worry be happy just drive ,,,,and carry a good credit card .
A.L. Gerstle

Folks,
I know at least one MG "guru" who stoutly refuses to carry ANY spare parts or tools whatsoever on road trips. He claims that to do so might give the car the impression that (1) a breakdown on the road was acceptable behavior, and that (2) he was willing to make repairs. He has some pretty hair-raising stories to tell, like the TC which broke all the rear axle bolts in his driveway, the day AFTER completing a trip of over 1,000 miles!!!
Carl

In line with what Carl said ,,my wife and I were on a nice trip and on our way home when the car developed a vibration at certain speeds . We had about 75 miles to go so I kept going and kept an ear on the vibration . It seemed to be at the worst at 3000 rpm so I tried to avoid that rpm range . We made it home OK.I pulled into the garage and shut her off--the car that is . Opened the engine cover to have a look see . I wiggled the fan and it and the water pump pully and shaft fell off. The shaft nut had been way way over tightened by the prior owner and caused a crack in it . Some how it kept the pump pumping and did not fall off and destroy the radiator and God knows what else .Thank the MG Gods
A.L. Gerstle

I agree with A.L. I don't carry any large spares such as water pump, axles, generaters or starters (there is a hand crank with the car if the starter goes south, which is exactly what my wife used for a week while I repaired the starter on our TD). I do all the work on our TD and so wouldn't have to pay for a mechanic on the road, but I am not about to replace a half shaft by the side of the road or in a motel parking lot. I have read lists of spares that should be carried any time one ventures forth on any trip longer than 20 miles and it would take a U Haul van to carry all the stuff. If a person's car is not in good enough shape to go several thousand miles without breakdown or the person is so unsure of the vehicle then they should stay at home or taek the SUV. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

This thread was discussed between 17/03/2005 and 20/03/2005

MG TD TF 1500 index

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