MG TD TF 1500 Will a heater make any difference BBS discussion at MG-Cars.net

MG TD TF 1500 - Will a heater make any difference

For YS - taking the heater water from the front of the cylinder head, as per the XPAW, would actually give hot water, so is much better. The housing shown in the photo is for the Wolseley 4/44 and, apparently, the TF, and it is available from NTG mg spares in the UK. As you possibly have a TD, you might have to fabricate an angled 'manifold' for the top hose to clamp on to (if there is enough room).

R A WILSON

In late November of 1959, I drove my TF to Sebring for the US Formula 1 Grand prix. It was cold going, and even colder returning, But my top was down for the entire trip, arriving back in Montreal on December 6th with a temperature of -6°. I was warm and toasty the whole trip. My sidescreens were on and the tonneau was covering the passenger’s seat. The heater installation is my own concoction. I didn’t want to have ugly black hoses running through the engine compartment. The appended picture shows only the front and rear halves of my engine. You can see that 1) I blanked off the water pump at the casting and 2) welded on a new pipe to the lower rad tube (standard later on the TF 1500). I then 3) attached a long copper tube packed with asbestos lamp wick at each end, and ran it UNDER the exhaust manifold (dotted lines) where it picks up some additional heat, and 4) goes through the bulkhead into the heater. The water return then goes into into 5) the plate at the rear of the cylinder head. I’ve heard all kinds of arguments that this doesn’t work, but it has worked well since I made the installation in 1957. Several of my T-owning friends have made similar installations with equal success. Gord Clark Rockburn, Qué.

Gord Clark

Ray, That is a good suggestion and I certainly will look into it. I have just unpacked it and it looks quite nice considering I only paid £36.00 for it. The seller says he has tested it. I wonder what car it came off. I will have to make up some brackets to fit it once I have it powder coated or I might just do a wrinkle paint finish. Regards Declan

Declan Burns

With out side curtains, You will need fresh air to move heat back and around you. In winter I have a 1 inch PVC pipe in front of engine and comes in at heater core. This pushes heat all over very well. Pipe is removable and a plug in hole. If side curtains are installed, you will have to open the back flap of your top. This will let heat all over the cab and not just at feet to cook you.

M Grogan

Declan. Both the TD's I have owned had Smith heaters and there was no problems with the load. Like normal, with head lights on and wipers going - ammeter it is in the discharge when idling same thing with the heater. Once your revs get above a 1000 it will show a slight charge - depending on Bat condition. I run a Battery Tender when the car is not in use. Simple plug in job and it maintains the battery in top condition. In the interest of making the dynamo last longer - Possibly. I fitted this year LED's to front and rear side lights and flashers and also a relay kit for the sealed beam halogen head lights. Cant honestly say I saw any change on the ammeter. But I am sure the switch will last longer. Heater is mounted on a plate of mild steel, bolted to the back of the tool box to suspend it in the right position. When I was driving in Germany in 1968-9 I used and old oxygen tube from a Hunter to direct the large vent that pumps heat onto your leg, to feed up to the windscreen and it would remove condensation and Ice in the winter.

Rod Jones

I have a Mohave heater and it provides great heat with or without the top up and/or side curtains.

Mort Resnicoff

When I bought my car it had the modified rear plate as a heater hose connection. I did not like the water flow pattern and removed it. I remove the hose from the thermostat housing and the "Y" bypass and made those my heater connection points. The car runs great and provides all lot of heat. Mort

Mort Resnicoff

FYI

Mort Resnicoff

I cannot say enough good things about the Mohave heater. It mounts neatly below the toolbox. The motor is wired for three fan positions. I mounted mine on the dashboard but it could be elsewhere. We use the high position initially then switch to the low position once the cab is warmed up. I had an intricate valve system in the engine compartment for controlling the summer and winter flow. I removed all of that about a year ago and now use just the thermostat to control the flow of coolant. We found the heat generated by the hot water flowing through the heater, with the fan turned off, to be insignificant even in the summer. For the last two years I have removed the louvered sections of the hood during the warmer months. This is a relatively easy procedure. I know many purists object to the look of the TD without the sides however, the benefits far outweigh any objection as far as we are concerned. The increased airflow throughout the engine compartment keeps the radiator and engine running much cooler. Even on the hottest days under extreme conditions we have not felt any discomfort in the foot well. The difference in the comfort level in the foot well it is truly amazing. Mort

Mort Resnicoff

This thread was discussed between 27/10/2017 and 10/11/2017

MG TD TF 1500 index

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