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MG TD TF 1500 - Looking for a special bolt

I'm starting down the home stretch on my late 52 TD. Just got my instruments back from Nisonger and they look great so I'm wiring up the dash and then upholstery. I'm looking for one very special little machine screw. It is a 1/4BSF round head machine screw that is 1/2 inch long and has a phillips head. It goes on the little Z bracket that attaches the long european size license backing plate to the front bumper. I don't know of any other application for this size and type of screw on the car.

Does anyone know of a source for this special machine screw. I've looked at the obvious sources and have not found it. I just need one.

I know this sounds crazy to be looking for this specific screw when just anything would work, but I'm going to risk it and ask if anyone out there can help me out.
Thanks,
Allyn
ACD Davis

Rare to see a phillips as a true round head. Not a flat head? Don Harmer is very good with T type fasteners.

Matthew.

Matthew Magilton

Hi Allyn,

Don't worry about lookig for the 'right' number plate bolt - we've all been there, and you're not crazy!

Having said that, by the early 50s, AF/Unified fasteners were becoming more common in the general UK garage trade, and the plates were fastened with what was to hand by the supplying dealer. Furthermore if you look in the Archives, there is some evidence that hex. fasteners were originally used, the universal fashion for more attractive, plated Phillips/Posidrive having not then arrived, especially with what was then regarded as a mundane 'close to the ground' application.

If I were you I'd use a 1/4" AF fastener, hex or crosshead, fastener. Most of our cars were exported to the USA anyway, where such fasteners were the norm.

Just a personal view, hope it helps, others may have more info.

Cheers,

John
J C Mitchell

Going slightly OT but still on the subject of number plates, for a while I'd been meaning to quiten mine down as it was rattling away behind my right ear, most everywhere I drove. It's one of the original types, with the raised grey characters riveted to a black backing plate, several of which were loose and were chattering, nineteen to the dozen, every time I started her up.

I'd thought of using a smudge of glue but, in the event, a couple of whacks on the back of each rivet did the trick.

Now that and the starter motor "jingle" have been fixed (thanks to information in the archives), I find I'm driving a far more civilised car.

(Until the next little "problem" appears, that is.......)
Tom Bennett - 53TD 24232

I have one chewed-up damaged, rusty one. The head is virtually identical to the rounded phillips headed 6mm screws used all over older motorcyle engines. If you don't care about the threads, it would be pretty much undetectable. Try a bike shop. Also, Lowes or Home Depot had some stainless round head phillips screws at one point as well. George
George Butz

McMaster Carr has 1/4-28 SS Round Phillips, 1/2" long
part # 91773A557

$11.34 for 50.

If you are worried about originality, use a 1/4-2 and put a Whitworth 1/4" nut on it. It will thread right on.
Part # 91773A537

$9.03 for a pack of 50.
JA Benjamin

This thread was discussed between 29/09/2011 and 30/09/2011

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