Excellent !! My first car, bought in 1964, was a '53 MG TD MK II. Fresh engine, gear box, clutch, Carburetors, dynamo, the works. but in pieces. I bought it for $400 USD. I was 18 yrs old. I assembled the car on my own with a limited number of tools. A wonderful car. I miss it very much. I would like another. I currently drive a 1963 MGB. Thanks for the memories.
Great video as always Ivan & John. I had a TD many years ago when I was 19/20 (I'm now 75) Lovely little car in light green with beige upholstery, luggage rack and the University Motors plate on the passenger door. The engine was a little gem. Clutch judder was cured by replacing the engine steady bar. Never had any real issues with it but fell in love with a TC with a tuned engine (Toulmin pistons etc) which turned out to be a mistake ! Such is life.
Very cool, Ivan, I love my TD and drive it all the time in the Catskills where the 5.20 rear end shines. There are two upgrades I did on my 1953 TD that made all the difference. First, sealed bearing water pump by Racemettle. Twice the flow and no overheating. Second, Dynalite alternator, looks just like the stock generator, but twice the juice and bypasses buggy Lucas stuff.
Dave Headley (rip) told me to ditch all the rubber springs to ubolts and it makes rear solid and not all wobbly. Also made ubolts of 1 size up on bolt diameter, and drilled mounting plates to fit. Worked a treat as you would say!
Back in the 60’s I had a 3 1/2 Jag that had no feel at all on the steering, it would just wander all over the road. That had leaf springs on the front for which I made similar axle mounts to your rears but with a wedge section giving some castor and improving the steering completely. Whether it should have had something similar already fitted, I don’t know but it sorted it.
Very nice TD, Ivan. It certainly sounds that the 4 cylinder has received some extra attention at some point in it’s life. I can’t imagine MG’s rationale for utilizing a rubber interface between the rear springs and differential - very odd. It was sure to eventually introduce drive line snatch to the system. Here in the States many amateur mechanics would stumble over the geometry and proper adjustments of the early MG hydraulically operated clutches. Have the book and read it. MG built some wonderful little autos; it’s a shame they passed into history. Enjoyed the video as always. Thank you
Lovely stuff! I agree with what you said about "liking pootling along" in a '50s small, non flash looking car. I feel the same about my mini converted (a period conversion) 1959 Berkeley T60 3 wheeler.....my biggest problem being that before I bought it, some crook stole its ID (chassis number and UK registration) and sold it to someone in France, who registered it in 2011. I've tried everything over the last 2 years and am now taking the Ministry of the Interior (DVLA equivalent) to the Tribunal. The problem has been that the gendarmerie couldn't be arsed to go and ask the other owner for the history of his car.....and so far nobody seems to have any authority to start an inquiry. So someone is driving around in a Berkeley with false documents, while I, with correct docs, can't use my car!
Ivan, for the rear axle breather... can you extend it with a rubber tube clipped up under the bodywork above the axle with one of those cheap inline paper-in-plastic fuel filters on the end...? This allows the axle to breathe while keeping the air clean going into the axle... , the oil mist to condense and drip back into the axle... plus the breather intake will be well above any normal water level you might need to go through....
Hi Ivan, I liked the alloy blocks you put on the rear axle of the TD. Reminded me of the lowering blocks I put on the back axle of my Morris 1000 when I was a lad. 🤣That set up had very little rubber between the springs and clamps so I think you are onto something. Love the MG TD, had a couple of MG’s when I was younger (MGB & a Midget) all the best from an old fella now living in Australia! Really enjoy your videos mate!👍
In one of my hooligan cars of the past I used solid mounts but longer so they laid further along the leaf spring, seemed to work very well to stop axle tramp. On your differential vent maybe use a tiny K&N filter? Everyone goes flat out on the A40 at some time or the other.. it's the law.
Machined the aluminium blocks for the rear springs... fitted them yesterday.... its stopped the axel tramp and makes the drive much smoother.... brilliant advice thanks Ivan..👍
Thanks for all your tips on making that little car a wonderful car to tool around in. Tanya is doing a wonderful job on the videos as well. A pat on the back to John for all the machining and other work he does. I think the racing Bugatti is going to do quite well. Looking forward to the next one.
Beautiful shots of bonnet under way. Quiet cars are more enjoyable, thought of adding a second “Silencer” to my vehicle. Driving fast is exhausting, cruising the way to go. Cheers Ivan and the lovely lady.
Great to see how relatively simple things can improve a car. The rubber sleeves around the spring look identical to minor 1000 parts, you can get polyurethane replacements for those off the shelf which would have much the same effect.
Lovely video Ivan with your life of expertise maintaining a beautiful old car for ' modern ' motoring , the TD is my favourite of all the ' T ' series, combining a still vintage appearance with excellent performance and brakes.A friend owns a similar 1953 TD 11 in ivory and bought in 1966 when he was 17 , it has become an important part of his life !.
Those XPAG engines are really great as you've discovered. Cant believe that the milage is correct though, it must have been round the clock at least once. I've owned a 1958 sprite since 1966 and had it round twice and I bet that its previous owner had done so at least once.
I imagine that if someone were to build MGTDs today they would likely sell around $30,000 or more. But what a bye gone era these delightful cars came from. Seems ashame that these cars will never be repeated. Even Morgans are overly modernized now. Too bad. Guy in Columbia Mississippi
For my MGTC the axle breather is a hole in the filler cap but I'm intending to block the hole and fit a little brass screw-in breather that has a one-way valve to keep water out (for trials and river splashes). It'd be a neat solution for your TD for under a tenner. Google 'Landrover brass axle breather'.
Your 'Intro' always makes me smile.Well done. I've admired the MG's since I was small,and that's exactly what I picture when I think of a perfect original.Thank you for sharing it with us.Thank you also,for the tips and tricks you've show that'll make mine right when I find one.Cheers !
Another cracker video and I felt like I was in the passenger seat. Brilliant and definitely suits you. Nice to see and hear the Bugatti video bomb. Thanks.
That occurred to me too, but then again personally i wouldn't take it out when there's salt on the roads; it's too tidy. Being an experimental mod and ally being easier to machine, could always knock some up in steel later being as the mod is successful. It sounds to me like it has non-standard cams- which would have made the exhaust bark more than you'd expect. It certainly seems unreasonably fast to be running factory profiles.
The roar from the exhaust is all part of the "wind in your hair" experience. What hair? But seriously with the top down and sitting so far back as in the MG you are bound to notice the exhaust more.
Just needed sorting. XP series, MG engines are good. Fixing oil leaks help alot. TDs are pretty sweet. Watch those revs Ivan! Keep at it,,,Izzy Strong,,,,
Love your video. I will certainly check the u-bolts on my MGTF and my MGTD. I may do the same mods you made. However, your MGTD is much too quiet now. Oh, I recently bought an adjustable clutch rod kit for my MGTF because it's clutch is much too jumpy. I have not installed it yet but hope to soon. Regards, Guy in Columbia Mississippi
love your video good little tips , I own a red 1951 td almost ready for the road again keep it up will be starting on my 1972 TR6 soon , need all the advise i can get cheers
I’ve got a TD same silly issue with the squint steering wheel when I got it, but my car steers beautifully and wants to centre. Mine is nowhere near as tidy as yours but I like it and I like not changing gear all day. No idea if I have those rubber pads on my back axle. All the best Ivan
Ivan, that is a very slick TD. While your not chasing the gears, as a viewer I can tell its so very smooth. With regard to the sagging or flailing propshaft at the UJ next to the Diff', could the rear axel not be moved forward a smidge thereby allowing the Diff' drive flange to sit further in the Diff'? Not shure that the axel mounts arn't keyed some how to the leaf springs. Just a thought from a slightly younger G7 olde git in the Forest of Blackness. Mike.
Commonsense old school engineering problem solving, dont ever change Ivan the world needs down to earth sanity check and out the box thinking.......plus the worlds MG TDs will all get a decent clutch rather than a undeserved reputation.
