British-Cars.org

Welcome to the DMR Site for British Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

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 - Hinge pillar bolt issues.

I installed the rear tie bar. Reading the archives I decided to make the same kind if braces that others had made out of 3/16 stock. Yesterday I ordered some 3/16 by 1-1/4" 1018 from McMaster-Carr. It arrived today. I cut it to length and I milled it down to 1-1/8 and clamped it in place.

My plan was to use transfer punches inserted in the old hinge holes. (They are actually tight on a 1/4" punch.)

The punches would let me mark the continuation of the holes and I could drill and tap the bars.

To my surprise the holes are at quite an angle. (See picture). The black rods are punches.

These are the original pillars and holes. The tie bar is affixed by #8 FHWS in the original holes.

I have replaced the bottom rails.

Is this common? Has anyone sen this before?

I now plan to make drill guides and drill pilot holes and tap drill holes to get the angle correct.

Any other suggestions before I proceed.

JA Benjamin

Mine have a few of the bolts this way, bent at the head to make it flush. These are original. Mike
Mike Hart (52 TD 16378)

"Rocky", my TD is in pieces, and I made body braces....
When I took out the old hinge bolts, the ones that bolt the hinge to the door post were severely bent, a result of tightening down at an angle....
It's almost like the factory thought it would be better this way, to keep them from coming loose.
Edward
E.B. Wesson

Thanks for the information.

That sort of negates threading the 3/16 plate since I could never tighten the heads with a slotted drive tro be flat. I would need to have bolt on the rear to tighten it down, bend the head and tightren taper against the hinge.
I do note that one of the hinges has had the countersinks "buggered"

I might as well as drill the holes in the 3/16 plate through and use a nut. I had wanted to use 1/4-28 UNF screws which I have. Since there would be no nut it would be impossible to tell it was not BSF but perhaps I should go for 1/4-26 BSF. However these will be well hidden so UNF might still be OK.

I bought a screw kit from Moss, put it carefully away and can no longer find it. I am not sure it was BSF but it did not look like SS.

Jim B.
JA Benjamin

Mr. Benjamin: If the angle bothers you and causes fitting problems there is a cabinet makers fix. It seems that 1/4 " is snug to the holes. Fill the holes with 1/4" hardwood dowels and a good polyurethane exterior grade glue, such as Gorilla Glue or LePages Polyurethane glue. Both are waterproof and as they cure they expand making a very tight fit. Leave the repair "proud" and trim flush after a couple of days to make sure the glue cures fully. Then re-drill for the new bolts and whatever attachment you are going to use.

Good Luck!
C.R. Tyrell

This thread was discussed between 22/11/2011 and 23/11/2011

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archives. Join this live forum now