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MG TD TF 1500 - Tilting the radiator right

I am trying to fit the bonnet on my 51/52 TD.
It appears that a good fit is possible if the shell were tilted about 1/2" to the passenger side. However the fender light bracket strap is constraining this. At the bottom the shell is snug against the splash apron right side.;b

Suggestions please

BTW I can only access this group on my smart phone! All
L my browsers hang up.

Jim B
JA Benjamin

Jim; Are you sure that the frame of the car doesn't have a "twist" in it? Look in the WSM for the frame dimensions and check it out first. If it is twisted , you can twist it back, and should solve your problem.
C.R. Tyrell

Jim,
My frame has a slight bend to it. I had to shim the radiator to get the hood lined up correctly. As I recall I used some large washers just between the large rubber washers and the radiator bracket. This is from memory(tricky at my age) but I think they were about 1/8 thick and I used a one more on one side than the other. Because of the geometry that small amount moved the top of the radiator into position. I did this about 2 years ago and have had no problems.

I just checked and there are 3 one one side and 2 on the other.

Hard to see in the picture but a small shim can make a big difference.

Mort

Mort (50 TD "Mobius")

One thought....Are you sure you have the radiator support cross-piece oriented correctly?...They can be installed either way, and it's possible to turn it around, to make the radiator and shell in the wrong position....
Also, make sure the radiator is mounted properly on the cross brace, as there are oversize holes to allow for some alignment.....
The shell really can't adjust much on the radiator, as you have already discovered....So it has to be the radiator that is not lined up somewhere.
Edward
E.B. Wesson

Thanks to all for your suggestions.
I am still having a large problem accessing the group. The smart phone works best. However after 44 years of using a keyboard it like running with goulashes on
The frame was measured for twist, per the WSM, when it was striped, 26 years ago. It has never run since.
As I look at it i need to move the bottom to the drivers side. I think Morts suggestion of shimming is good.
This car, at least since 1965, has never had a true MG radiator..
The one I have is off eBay so I have no reference.
What is constraining the movement is the tie bar and the hoses. Tomorrow I am removing the fenders and hoses so I can better see what room I have


Jim B
JA Benjamin

If the rad came from ebay, was it a used original? Repro? It is very easy to alter the shape/mounting points when re-coring. You could slot the mounting holes in question and shim. However, make sure the shell/grill slats are still straight up and down visually. The top of the splash apron is very flexible. I had to fit a different one to my car ( there had been a floor jack issue years before), and I had to really trim the outer edge of one side to "widen" the space for the shell. George
George Butz

Jim,
I would be leery about slotting the holes forward and back in the radiator support bracket. I don't know how well they would hold the radiator in position. Remember there are thick rubber washers involved.
By reversing the bracket you can get a different forward to back location for the bottom of the radiator. Holes offset front to rear.
By adjusting the turnbuckle on the tie rods you can adjust the forward and back location of the top of the radiator.
Moving the top of the radiator left or right can be done with the large washers as shims as I did.
Moving the bottom of the radiator could be done(I assume) by slotting the holes in the radiator support bracket sideways. Either set of holes should be considered. The two for the radiator or the four for the bracket to the frame.
Of course in a perfect mg td if everything was where it should be none of this would be necessary. But when I was as old as your car I needed some shims also ;))
If the hoses are restricting you there are very good silicone hoses available today that are strong and flexible. I bought some on the internet for my radiator. If you need the source let me know. I can probably dig it up.
Mort

PS: You might want to trash your browser and its associated files in your system and reinstall it.
Mort (50 TD "Mobius")

The browser on my Vista operating system bombs just about everytime I leave a thread but on this almost empty older XP system it's pretty bullet proof.
Jud
J K Chapin

This thread was discussed between 30/12/2012 and 31/12/2012

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