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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 - Car and Engine reunited after 1.5 years

So very excited! After a 1.5 years off the road due to a broken crank, the rebuild short block (1500 xpeg)is back in the shop next to the car. The build is as follows:

- Billet Crank
- Sanez rods with fully floating gudgeon pins
- J+E forged pistons
- Brown and Gammons spider spoke lightened flywheel
- "finger" style pressure plate and clutch disc
- throw out bearing (not graphite bushing)
- Len Fanelli's fast road roller cam
- port and polish job on stock head
- 9.3:1 Compression Ratio
- Manley Ford extractor (to be added later due to short handed capital to finish installation)

The cam shaft that I removed was so worn flat that I was likely in the 40 something HP range. From what I hear I am likely to be in the 80 something range when I get it back together. I will likely have it dyno'd when I have built up the savings acct again.

Along with the engine upgrades, there have been neumorous other improvements:

- 5/8" MGB sway bar
- new rear springs
- new polybush comfort suspension bushings
- new brake pipes
- 4.3:1 axle conversion
- rebuilt pedal box
- new U-Joints
- ballanced prop shaft
- rear brake linings and arc'd drums (fronts were already done)

I CAN NOT WAIT for the first drive. It's been a long time coming. Thanks to all for your help and direction (even if it came many years ago via the archives). What a resource!

Stay tuned for further drive reports!

Alex

My grand'dad's 55 TF 1500.

Alex Waugh

...you will be in for quite a thrill...and what a totally different drive it will be.... the 4.3 by itself makes all the difference...your other modifications will make it all that much better....

(where does one find the headers....)
gblawson(gordon- TD27667)

The headers are from Manley Ford ( a mans name, not a Ford dealership). He is up in MI or MN. Don't remember which.

I see that a fitting has been put where the two pipes go into one. Bet it's for an oxygen sensor to measure fuel/air ratio.
Cheers,
Bob
Bob Jeffers

Does anyone make the finger style clutch in a 7.25 configuration? I have the early TD.
Tom Maine (TD8105)

Congrats on getting this far Alex, I know you've been waiting a long time to get this all together. You're rightfully excited. Very impressive, and looking forward to the time when you drive it down Olympia way. See you in a few weeks for some continued work on my TF. This is really fun stuff, eh?

Cheers -- John
John Brickell

Yes Manley Ford does the headers. I can get his website for contacting him if you'd like. He also did the billet crank. The bung at the end of pipes is indeed for an O2 sensor. Most of the time it'll be plugged. But wanted the option for tuning at some point.

The finger pressure plate was something that Manley suggested due to the extra horsepower. The one downside is the throw out bearing will require a lot of regular checks (adjusting). If too much clearance exists it can interfere with the fingers and much destruction results. I will let you know how it all works out.

Alex
Alex Waugh

Alex,

If you have the flat-fingered clutch, be sure you have a round-faced bearing. The following round-faced bearing will fit Manley's T/O bearing mod (presses right on). I found one at NAPA.

NSK TK40-4A, Datsun number 30502-2100

Jim
J Barry

Jim,

Does this reduce the likelihood of the catastrophic bearing failure I spoke about above?

Alex
Alex Waugh

Alex,
I'm not an expert, but I did ask around and was amazed at how difficult it was to find good information on this subject. However, I was finally told unequivocally that a flat-fingered diaphragm clutch will chew up a flat-faced bearing (or vice versa). The combination I have - flat fingers, round bearing - "feels" pretty good - but I haven't started the engine yet! A new bearing is about $20, and takes all of 5 minutes to press on.

Jim
J Barry

Jim,

The set up I have is from Manley (or at least orriginally supplied to someone else via Manley) so I'm going to bet that it's the real deal, but I'll check out what I've got to be sure.

To ALL:

Here's Manley's website where he sells the extractors and various and sundry other items. Not much more than photos of what he sells with contact information available so you can place an order. Pretty cool stuff even if you don't need it, sure fun to look at!

http://manley776.webs.com/

Alex
Alex Waugh

I reviewed my throw out and it's dished. The pressure plate is behind the engine stand right now, so I really can't tell if it's dished or flat. I'm certain it's going to work though as it was provided out of another T racer's car. He switched up to an even heavier competition clutch (see manley's website).

Alex
Alex Waugh

Alex,

Good chance you have the curved diaphragm fingers then. It was an earlier Cortina/Lotus/Morgan clutch model that's become hard to find. Curved fingers, flat bearing (I was told).

Jim
J Barry

Alex,
I see you elected to not get the built-in intake manifold. How are you going to hold the two different manifolds to the head.

I elected to do the same, figure I'm going to have to do some welding to get a place to put the "toggle bars" from the original setup on to the Manley header.

Don't want to hijack this thread, contact me @ bobj50 at comcast dot net.
Sincerely,
Bob
Bob Jeffers

Bob,

I did the regular intake as Manley assured me that the crabs wouldn't fit on a TF due to the tight bonet. I had the intake machined to a flat surface equal diameter to the hardened washes. I then had the shop make up a small washer that was the same thickness as the intake at the machining listed above. This was then split in half and welded to the manifold plate on the extractor. This now provides a level surface for the hardened washer to bear on both the plate and the intake manifold. I'm at work and away from my photos so you'll have to wait till I get home.

Alex
Alex Waugh

Bob,

Please see the attached photos of what I ended up doing for my manifold/headder. I've not yet installed it, but it is a similar pricipal to the yoke pieces.

Alex

Alex Waugh

2 of 2

Alex Waugh

Tom Maine-- Didn't answer your question about 7.25 in. finger type clutch pressure plates. Yes, contact Steve Neal (Skyhook Engineering) My kit for the 5 speed came with a 7.25 in. finger type. It is in and working!

To be honest, I'd rather have the Borg & Beck pressure plate. Much smoother.

Alex Waugh-- Thanks for the pictures! That solves a problem that has been worrying me for a while now. Like the old chinese philosopher said "a picture is worth a thousand words". Do the "half washers" have to be welded to the header plate? Don't see why they couldn't be fastened with a small screw. I believe Manley used socket head screws to fasten the header to the head. What are you going to use??
Bob
Bob Jeffers

Bob,

They don't have to be welded, but if your machine shop is making them up custom, I'd think it would be the better plan. Due to the.scale of parts, a screw would be a lot of work (I'm assuming a countersunk machine screw. I will be using Allen head harden bolts with hardened washes. Manley set me up with the bolts.

Alex
Alex Waugh

This thread was discussed between 20/09/2011 and 23/09/2011

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