1847 downloads to date. Download Now
Totally T-Type 2 (TTT 2) is a free bi-monthly technical publication compiled for MG T-Series owners by John James, the creator and original editor of the MG Car Club T Register publication, Totally T-Type.

TTT 2 is available to read in a choice of two formats. To download the selected issue as a PDF for viewing/printing, simply click the cover picture on the right. Alternatively, you can also read the selected issue directly on this website by browsing the contents on the left. To browse a different issue of Totally T-Type 2, simply use the dropdown box at the top of the left-hand column to select your desired issue.

Featuring the content on this website as well as the ‘traditional’ PDF download encourages a two-way dialogue between the article authors and you, the reader. Under each article is a ‘comment’ section in which you can make remarks on or ask questions about the content of the article.

We hope you enjoy TTT 2! Article contributions are gratefully received. Please direct your T-Type technical articles to the following email address: [email protected]

48 thoughts on “Totally T-Type 2

  1. William Chambers says:

    Hi John
    Always good to receive latest copy from you.
    News is topical and interesting.
    Keep it up and Stay Safe
    William

  2. Ricardo Prado says:

    Dear Sirs, Compliments for keeping quality information as usual. I read the E10 article, and would like to share with you that in my country, Brazil, since long ago the petrol has 25% of alcohol mixed. Even with original cars, with original engine not rebuilt, apparently very small change observed in terms of maintenance and performance. For SU carbs I never experience corrosion (I own my TC 41 yrs. now) but it is necessary to change the carb needle to enrich slightly the mixture. The only detail is keeping the first 2 zones of the needle very near or same as original to be easier to adjust idle. I suspect also that in TC it becomes more prone to vapour lock, so I added a heat shield to solve this issue. For cars with Solex carbs, I use to enlarge the main gicleur about 10% in diameter. Never had problem with valve seats or other. Important to say that here also, the gas only lasts about 3 months. After this period, a kind of brown mud can forms and block carb holes and sometimes seize valves or even pistons. Best regards,

  3. jddevel says:

    That`s some interesting information from Ricardo and perhaps worthy of follow up with other Brazilian owners.

  4. Peter Lancaster says:

    Every month l look forward to receiving and reading your magazine. Very informative. I reckon My TC is the same colour as in issue 61 and looks as good. Wonderful vehicle!

  5. Terry Peddicord says:

    I truly enjoy each new addition of TTT2. A much appreciated distraction from the outside world today. Many thanks for your tireless work keeping the T-series flame burning.

  6. Rudy de Heer says:

    Also in the Nertherlands we read with a lot of joy and interest your TTT additions. Alway a lot of verry usefull info. Keep the good work going and thanks!

  7. Martin van der Merwe says:

    I am a recent member and I have just finished reading all 62 issues to date, cover to cover. Having thus binged for a few weeks I am suddenly faced with a void. When are you publishing the next issue? I need my fix!!
    Here near the southern end of the African continent, I sense an increase in T type activity. Quite a few TCs, in particular, are surfacing. Not that one sees much of them in regular use. Some restorers are working on multiple cars, hopefully the intent is not to export them on completion. Unfortunately, the value of our currency has dropped drastically. In 1985 I had my instruments restored in England. Each GBP cost me around R1.38. Today it is R20.00. Which is why many cars are exported. A fair price in the UK is an astronomical number in Rands. Back then old car parts were duty free and there was no sales tax. Today, bringing in parts, with delivery charges, import duty, GST on the total, each GBP costs around R38.00. As a comparison, a double Big Mac Burger is R8.60. Enough whinging.
    After many years of neglect, I have restarted my T type restorations. I worked world wide constructing process plants My only regret is not contacting like minded people during my travels. The only exception I recall was meeting Doug Pelton. He is amazingly diligent in his research and sourcing perfect parts. I have been fascinated by all the re-engineered improvements to our cars. Unfortunately, now that I have retired, my source of revenue to indulge my passion, has diminished and due to the economy and politics, become woefully inadequate. What should have been a comfortable pension now barely covers living expenses! Hence my interest in making the required bits and pieces.
    May I express my gratitude and appreciation for your publication, which is obviously a considerable undertaking. Long may you succeed and enjoy your endeavors.

    • Jerry Heard says:

      I feel your pain. Retirement is good except for one’s age….and I understand that the comfortable pension now barely covers living expenses….I am 100 miles north of Atlanta, Georgia USA, and we started the Southeastern MGT Register back in the 70s. It was a good group for a long while, but many or the older folks are “gone” now and it seems today the younger folks don’t want or appreciate our T cars….fortunately I have been able to keep up my 1953 TD for 58 years…some of the time my only means of transport. I have transplanted a 1980 MGB engine and an English Ford Pickup truck 5 speed transmission…2900RPMs now at 60 MPH…originally 4000RPMs @ 60MPH…it makes for a much better ride….I wish you luck in your restoration.

    • Bunny Mentz says:

      Tell me about it Martin! I’m in Knysna. Unlikely to improve for a while (and if the UK wasn’t in a financial mess itself, the Rand/pound would be nearer 30:1! But keep smiling! Cheers

  8. Peter G Banks says:

    A pertinent comment showing how politics can intrude in wise plans made so many years ago. I too reside in S.A. and experience the problems described when discussion about the price of spares starts with my colleagues.
    Many skills exist among those retired employees that through no fault of their own find themselves without employment and still young. The will exists to do something and all it will take is a market.
    Enjoy your classic as long as you can. Yes, we have the weather for open top driving but the standards of other road users put a limit on what can be arranged.

  9. mike sherrell says:

    Great to hear Derry is still TCing in 5405. Hope you can pass on my best to the man himself and Carol. Memories of roast lamb, home made jellies and lots of red wine. What a welcome! Wonderful people.

    • JOHN JAMES says:

      Hello Mike,
      I’ve done so. He tells me that he is busy making a model antique beam engine to pass the time during ‘lockdown’.

    • Charles Wiggins says:

      Mike I think you will remember meeting Malcolm Hogg on a Autumn Tour 2003. Times flys by when you are busy keeping a TC on the road.

  10. Bruce Cunha says:

    I have a question about the Beehive spring article. I own an early TD (Nov 1, 1950 TD 4139) and it never has had these springs. In talking to other early TD owners, it appears these were added later in production.

  11. Martin van der Merwe says:

    Thank you for another greatly appreciated issue. However, I have an “issue”. Eric Worpe, in his followup article on the rear main bearing oil seal set-up, refers the May 2010 issue and later, to the September 2010 issue. I cannot find either of these issues. Presumably they refer the that other publication that the editor was associated with. Could you please reprint the details of the setting gauge? Perhaps that would clarify the intent of this latest article.

  12. Abey Stevenson says:

    In this period of lockdown it is such a pleasure, and informative, to read Totally T Type.
    I always wait patiently for the next issue and also to read the technical notes of members.
    On a technical note, Could anybody help in a problem I am having with my 1250 TF, 1954. ULG 338.
    It has a Gold Seal engine, and I think it has been used for racing as I found solid sleeves on the rocker shaft instead of springs. I have no history of the car.
    The problem I have is that the rocker cover gets full of oil to the extent that it comes out of the filler. I have installed the correct breather to the air cleaner box and this has helped a bit.
    I have not experienced this on my TC XPAG engine.
    Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    • Jan Mazgaj says:

      Had a similar problem with a car I owned. Eventually diagnosed as a problem with the tappet inspection cover gasket covering the breather pipe.

    • Mike Packer says:

      This takes me back 50 years when I had my first TC. A couple of miles after starting from cold, clouds of oil smoke would come into the cab as the rocker box overflowed onto the hot exhaust. A friendly garage man told me the solution – put a restrictor in the oil gallery, ie, take out the oil pipe union in the head and loosen the lower union. Find an old bolt the same diameter as the gallery (5/16 or 3/8 from memory) cut the head off and file a flat approx 1/8 inch wide along its length and put it in the gallery . Reconnect the oil pipe and hopefully problem solved. It may be easier to use round bar, but it wasn’t readily available back then.

  13. Michael Bangs says:

    Thanks for including my core plug fix, John. Hope it will help someone.
    Incidentally I have some spare adjustable plugs if anyone is interested – had to buy several at a time.

  14. James Corbett says:

    Most helpful information in solving obscure mechanical faults etc, not covered in repair manual.
    Well woth belonging to .
    GCY 45 49’tc

  15. GerardDubois says:

    Bonsoir et merci pour votre magazine T TYPES fort intéressant.
    Celà représente forcément un travail considérable pour l’éditeur, chapeau bas
    De ce côté ci de la Manche, on peut en prendre de la graine (expression française qui veut dire que l’on a encore à apprendre.)
    Salutations

  16. Jens Clasen says:

    Hi John, as always an excellent issue #73. Eight weeks can become rather short to collect so much interesting information i guess…thank you for your effort to create such a superb publication!

  17. Hugo says:

    YEAH one fo you Miker

    Mike you speak of this in your green book the green book talks about blocked side cover gaskets and grub screwed rockers ???

  18. Andrew Felthouse says:

    Thank you John for TTT2
    The artices in this publication have made the difference in the renovation of my 1950 MGYA, and she wouldn’t be on the road today without them.
    Still waiting for an article on insertion of an overdrive, though!

  19. Peter Lancaster says:

    Hi James, l often wonder why you do not include information on the MG “Y”s. They are becoming more popular in Australia and with my YTs hood down, the average admirer would think that l had a four door TD! I have 5 “T” types and 3 “Y” types. Keep up the good work. l look forward, regularly, to reading your magazine. Kind Regards Peter

  20. JOHN.GILLETT says:

    Hi James, my first comment to you. I live in Australia near Melbourne, but currently in UK/Europe. Your efforts in producing this great newsletter are very much appreciated; please keep going. I would like to share some news of events here with you.
    Two weeks ago I enjoyed participating in the 100 year MG celebrations at the UK National Motor Museum at Gaydon. I know there has been debate about the most appropriate date to mark the 100 years, but the 1,350 MGs that came to the event show the marque is as strong as ever. There were many T Types as well as the best display of vintage MGs I have seen, and a line up of every model of MG. Quite a sight.
    The weekend just past I went to the MGCC France 100 year celebrations at Epernay, and enjoyed the company of about 350 cars and 700 people in the spring sunshine. The organisers are to be congratulated on two days of driving among the grapes including a visit to the historic Reims circuit, dinners and lunches to cater well for the numbers, and a grand finale display in the centre of Champagne Avenue (home of the imposing HQs of the famous champagne companies) in Epernay. People came from all over including a strong presence from Australia. Again all models were present, and several rally routes were used to separate the numbers into four age groups, with T Types and MMM cars driving together.
    Its not over yet… next weekend is the MG Live meeting at Silverstone including a pre-war MMM race program and special displays by each register as part of the continuing celebrations.
    We can’t go to all of the events this year but will perhaps see some of you at the European Event of the Year in Denmark in July or the Angouleme weekend in September.
    These gatherings lift your MG spirits!

    Happy 100 years to all, kind regards, John

  21. Robert Oates says:

    Hi John, I would like to add my congratulations to you on your retirement. As someone who has been involved in being and editor of a club magazine, I have an appreciation of your efforts and the never ending commitment involved in keeping up the continuous stream of material. Your years of service have been an impressive example to us all. Thank you sincerely.
    I must add on my own behalf, grateful thanks for being able to bring together the thoughts and knowledge of many T-Type owners to provide a huge pool of help for all of us. I, like many others would have been hopelessly in the dark without that knowledge being shared.
    Many thanks and best wishes, Robert N. Oates

  22. Geoff Fletcher says:

    Very informative and helpful publication, it and the editor have been of great help to me during the long process of the restoration of my TC. Long may it continue and hopefully the car will be finished this year, I Think I said that last year also and possibly the year before that..

  23. Frank Shore says:

    What a loss your retirement will be to the community. You certainly are entitled to retire after such long and excellent service

  24. Franz Tenbrock says:

    I am so sorry
    it was a lot of fun to read the whole thing every two months
    I have learned a lot during this time
    a healthy time as a pensioner
    and a long life
    Thank you

    Franz tenbrock
    owner MG YA 1675 and MG TA 1932

  25. Walter J Okon says:

    Sorry to see that you will no longer be putting out TTT2. I’ve only been reading it the past couple of years but thoroughly enjoyed it. I have an XPAG in my Lotus Mk VI which was completed by Autextra of London in 1954. Would like to see any information on Autextra.

  26. Christopher Bristow says:

    Hi John,
    Thank you so much for 13 years of TTT. It has been great knowing you and I hope you’ll remember some good times at the Filkins CCC. Best wishes and it would be great to see you if you are ever in sleepy Pershore. Enjoy your well earned retirement! Chris

  27. B C DIVE says:

    Dear John,
    How do we continue to read our favourite MG T magazine?
    Your editorship will be truly missed. Well done for all your hard work in the past.
    Best wishes for a happy and peaceful retirement.
    Kind Regards
    Bert Dive

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *