Is hopping up a MG TD off or on topic?

"buy a morgan plus 8"...blah, blah, blah..."buy a morgan plus 8", wah, wah, wah..."buy a morgan plus 8"...squak, squak, squak...

 

Alfin brakes? do tell...

TD's look so heineous with a wires on them (though do know where there is a set of borianni's.)

 

I sold my '52 TD about 6 months ago to someone in Iowa. It had 85K original miles on it and was a blast to drive around town. If you are interested in hopping up the 4 banger then you might want to look at Moss Motors in Goleta, California. www.mossmotors.com

They have quite a few nice pieces available for the T series cars including supercharger kits and a 5 speed transmission conversion. As with everything MG your wallet will be considerably lighter after owning one. I have owned a TD, 9 MGBs and a MGC over the years and currently have a 1980 MGB with 42K miles on it. Of all those cars the TD was the most uncomfortable and the most fun. My left knee has more scars from hitting the door frame getting out than I can count. I don't know about the TC (which had a solid axle) but the TD and later models have a very stout suspension. One thing that throws most people is the knee action front shock/upper control arms, and independent suspension that uses King pins. The only adjustment needed on a good front end is toe in because all the other geometry is built in. And the TD also has rack and pinion steering. The only issue I ever had on my TD was a slight over steer tendency.

By the way, I have a friend here in OKC who has a "M" type (1930s era) for sale. It is a definite restoration/rod project. If anyone is interested PM me and I will put you in touch with him.

 

My father in law has a MG TD absolutly imaculate but never used ....have you tried to get in one as there aint alot of space from the seat to steering wheel..........Bloody tight.

 

Totally on topic, I think that they used to Drag race them out here at Orange and the strips up in Maine. Some one will have to help me out here as I wasn't around then, but I want to say that someone in the Ty-Rods had a hoped up one and used to trounce the compitition. I think it had a flathead in it. (I'll check later). Great cars though, I have seeen them with a MGB conversion in them and it doesn't look out of place.

 

A natural swap is the old Volvo b1800 sport engine. It has tremendous amount of torque and power. It fits in nicely with the appropriate modifications. I remember an old MG TD that had a ford flathead in it.

They get a little wanky when you drop a big block in them, at that point you might as well build a gasser

 

the steering columns adjust both up and down and in and out (mine is way out so I dont smack my knuckles on the dash). Aftersome adjusting I "fit" fairly well in mine and I am 6'1" 240.

I need to "adjust" the gas pedal, then it should be pretty good.

 

as I own both a B and TD, there is no way I would swap out the XPAG motor for a 5 main 1800 (i have not driven a 3 main 1800). The XPAG is so much more fun to drive versus the BMC unit. The only "problem" is that the carbs are on the wrong side on the B unit.

 

I never had trouble getting behind the wheel, but I could never figure out where to put my left foot if it wasn't on the clutch pedal.....

 

Alfin brakes were used on lots of British race cars in the pre-disc era. The fins are more like grooves around the drum, rather than buick-style fins.

Here are some for an MG ...
http://www.mgcars.org.uk/news/news443.html

 

very cool, and right down the street from me...

 

http://victorylibrary.com/mopar/blower-eaton.htm

 

Skip Kelsey of Shadetree Motors is dead and D. Elgin Racing Cams has moved to Santa Rosa.

 

Bob Grunau (Canada) makes and sells the Alfin brake drums for TCs and TD/TFs. Not cheap but high quality.

Moss Motors no longer sells the Magnacharger for the XPAG engine and won't commit to bringing them back anytime in the future. Superchargers can be found though...I have a Marshall-Nordec clone, an Italmechanica and an Eaton, all set up for the XPAG.

Moss' 5-speed is a worthwhile investment though - it's a rebuilt Merkur T-9.

 

When did Elgin Cams move to Sant a Rosa, I thought they were in Redwood City?

 

About 2 months a go now. I picked up the last cam he did out of his old shop.. Dema was sweeping the floors and the shop was empty when I picked it up. http://www.elgincams.com/. It was a cam for my 67 MGB. 286 seat duration, 244 @ .050, .286 lift. Had Gromm racing heads do the head.. 10:1 compression, Harland Sharp 1.625 roller rockers...

 

I spotted this a few weeks ago at a Historic race car meeting. It's a bit earlier than a TD and was built as a racer in 1949,the present owner grabbed it a few years ago at a swap meet in pretty much the condition seen here. I reckon that body has to have been made from a skin off a WW2 airplane,

 

Been around these things since the early 70's. Theres been much done and tried over the years. Many of the mods mentioned in the other posts are on target. I'm not to impressed with Moss's parts quality but with so many parts being made overseas issues will arise.
Be carefull modifying an XPAG with an undercut crank. They didnt do well under load even when new. Now add a supercharger and new cam and it will let you know it feels neglected.
In respect to your original question, it's hot rodding and is relevant . We all learn from each other. With 3 pages of posts I guess there are others that have messed around with a couple of these.

Had a friend who put a 289/271 ford engine with a T-10 and narrowed 57 olds rear end in a TD. The biggest problem was the front springs could not handle the weight of the V-8. He had to resort to air bags inside the front springs to keep ride height, but they were prone to blow out . The other one that was a good set up is still owned by good friend. He used a early 60's Nova 4 cylinder (essentially half a 327) a 5 speed nissan trans and has had quite good results with this set up. Even uses some 327 performance parts on the 4cyl.

Regards

 

Wow. I'm amazed at all the posts. Thanks, guys.

Do the Alfin drums really make that much difference?

fur biscut, I'm surprised by how much you know! Why do you say that the XPAG is so much more fun to drive versus the BMC unit? I would think that 1800cc's would have more toque and power. Does it not rev as well?

 

Would a hopped up Model B fit? If you want a 215 / 3.5 I think someone's trying to sell one here on the HAMB. If I remember correctly, aren't they about 320Lb ish ready to run?

 

I talked to a wise man and he informed me that the main problem with the TD is the crankshaft: many were cracked from the factory.

btw, did you get my email about the facel 3?

 

V8-60 in an MG-TC or TD was a common swap in the day. My wife's Dad raced one in the early '50s in So Cal. The rear ends won't handle the power and the suspension will need to be beefed up. I think he used a Ford gearbix as well. His car progressed from a stock TD to a total modified with very little MG left.

Don't cut up a nice car. There are parts cars around that you could use as a starting point. Look at "Tam's Old Race Car Site" for inspiration.

Kurt O.

 

i am curious about the Alfin drums too. I would assume that they have better heat dissipation as they are finned alumium...

I think that the XPAG engine is rated at 54 hp and the BMC is at 80 hp.

the XPAG unit (in stock) form rev's quicker and on the whole "feels" more free. Not that the B unit is a boggert in any way. I have a header on my B and a completely stock TD set up and the TD seems to rev quicker.

That being said the TD has 4:56 in the ass (but runs 15" wheels) and the B has 4:11 (on 14's) so that may also lead to a change in the engines response.

 

Very true statement fur_biscuit! I like the road feel, and engine performance that my TD had much more than the MGB I now drive. The only thing scary about the TD was running 4K revs at 60 MPH. I regret selling my TD more than any of the other MG's I have owned including my MGC which came with a 2.9 Liter in line six with twin carbs. The other cars would run faster top end but none of them compared with the sheer exhilaration of running the TD with the wind screen folded down and wearing tanker goggles on winding roads.

 

MG T racers have more fun... (even if there mostly TA and TB's)

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a bit of TD scootin'...

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OK guys, had to get in on this one. I have a TD that my dad bought in early '60's. I learned how to drive in it (mid '60's) then after I got outa high school it got parked and is in pretty rough shape now. It is currently out back of my shop, waiting and waiting. But fur biscut, you got my attention with your plan to build an old road racer with yours, I have been thinking that would be the way to go with mine if and when I ever get around to it. Interestingly enough my dad bought one before this present one, it had a chevy v-8 in it and it was such a pile of shit that he traded it in on the secound one after about a month. He had no idea what he was getting I don't think, the v-8 was nothing but trouble, we called it "The Elephant". Wonder where that one ended up. I wanna hear more about your project fur biscut as it progresses.

 

haha another closet MG owner comes out!

i will have to give in and post some pictures of my inspiration, eventually.

 

unreal check out the ferrari!


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Here's my favorite: