Sheet metal work
Andrew Carnan reports as follows:
“BK Sheet Metal Ltd have recently remade the roots of both of my front TC wings, removed dents, reinforced cracked areas and straightened them along with repair work to my running boards. I can thoroughly recommend their quick work and excellent workmanship, and they are right next door to the MG Octagon Car Club. Contact Jason Lee at BK Sheet Metal Ltd, Sparkenhoe House, Southfield Road, Hinkley, Leics. LE10 1UB. Tel. 01455 633511 info(at)bksheetmetal.co.uk [substitute @ for (at)] www.bksheetmetal.co.uk
It is difficult to find good panel beaters that have T-Type panel experience”.
“I also can recommend SPL Ltd at Dudley who stripped all paint and rust prior to sheet metal work and afterwards e-coated all panels in primer. See their website at www.surfaceprocessing.co.uk I have tried cleaning bodywork in the past with wire brushes, also blasting, using various media but the acid based total immersion processes at SPL and the subsequent electrophoretic tank priming is almost unique and incomparably better”.
The Kithead Trust https://kitheadtrust.org.uk/ is a useful reference website if you want to find out where your car was registered from new and with contact details for the Licensing Authority who first registered it, together with an indication of what records they still hold. Before you get too excited, surviving records are few and far between, as most will have been destroyed when the vehicle licensing work was centralised with the setting up of the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for the benefit of readers outside of the UK).
The Kithead Trust was the recipient of some of these records. In the main these consisted of index cards, the function of which was recently described to me by the ever-helpful Peter Jacques of the Trust as follows:
The index cards we hold were originally location cards. Every vehicle had a vehicle file which followed the vehicle around according to where it was currently owned. The card system recorded any changes of location by way of a request from the new area to the previous area to forward the file. Consequently, a new card replaced the old which was discarded. The cards themselves never included ownership details; after all, the vehicle file itself could be referred to in case of need. The system lasted until computerization in the 1970s.
Having read this explanation, it does seem to me to have been a wonderfully bureaucratic process with files whizzing around and criss-crossing the country; so much so that one is almost grateful that the DVLA was established – but no, hold your horses! – based on my experience of many dealings with this organisation, I hesitate to endorse this sentiment!
TC rear spring shackles
Paul Busby was short of two of these, so he made a small batch. pyb.7(at)tiscali.co.uk [please substitute @ for (at)].
TD & TF rear springs
I have never seen a drawing for TD or TF rear springs, but the two spring makers I am aware of (Jones Springs in Darlaston, West Midlands and Owen Springs in Rotherham, South Yorkshire) must have them as they supply the springs.
However, to the best of my knowledge (it is certainly the case with Jones), neither of these companies bore the springs for the insertion of the interleaf pads and do not supply the springs with the wider clips to accommodate the angle pads.
First two pics show the angle pads in position; the next one shows the wider angle clips.
This begs the question as to why the drawing does not show the holes for the interleaf pads and the (wider) measurement for the spring clips, or if it does, why the springs are not made to the original specification.
However, we are where we are, but I wanted my springs made to the original spec. So, to cut a long story short, I agreed with the helpful Kevin at Jones Springs that I would remove the rivets from my old springs to free up the clips and them on to him. Kevin suggested that I also send my interleaf pads for him to insert between the leafs (I refuse to refer to them as leaves) which would save me taking the new springs apart.
By the time this issue of TTT 2 appears I am hoping to have received my new springs.
Expansion core plugs – The following from Michael Bangs:
“A leaking large core plug at the rear of the XPAG block has been a problem that has led to owners mutilating the bodywork in an effort to fit a replacement.
There is no room to flatten a replacement core plug with a hammer. Short of lifting the engine and moving it forward, there seemed to be no obvious solution.
Faced with this problem on my TC, I investigated various websites and found an answer on the mgaguru website (mgaguru.com).
MGAs have a similar access problem and a metal screw in core plug made by Dorman is identified as the answer. The size wasn’t right for the TC but I found a screw in plug on eBay that I thought would do the job.
It uses rubber sandwiched between two metal plates. When the plates are screwed together, the rubber expands to form a seal.
These expansion plugs seem to be available only in the USA. I ordered some and they work (Item 222794860473 on the eBay US site).
They are intended to be a temporary fix, but on a You Tube site someone demonstrating them said he had used one for five years!”
TF heat shields
I have a few of these, designed by Barrie Jones in stainless steel. The top picture is the TF shield, the bottom is for TB/TC which should be available in about one month (just waiting for the spacers).
The heatshield will not fit if you have a 5-speed ‘box and the engine has been moved forward.
The price of the TF shields is £19.50 each plus postage. The cost of sending the shields from 1st January 2021 within the UK is £3.20. Unfortunately, the cost of sending outside of the UK has risen dramatically with three price increases during the last 12 months and it is best to contact me for a quote: jj(at)ttypes.org [substitute @ for (at)].
Starter motor and dynamo overhauls
Philipp Will in Germany e-mailed to say that he is very pleased with the quality of the work done for him by Chris Wallis on the restoration of his dynamo and starter motor. In particular he’s most impressed with the speed of the turnaround and very good communication from Chris.
Chris Wallis, 39 School Lane, Chellaston, DERBY DE73 6TF (01332 703630) clwallis39(at)hotmail.co.uk [substitute @ for (at)].
Luvax TA/TB shock absorbers – Wanted
Tom Lange in the US is seeking a set of 4, pair or single Luvax TA/TB vane-type shock absorbers needed for TB0327. All help greatly appreciated. tlange(at)prexar.com [please substitute @ for (at)]
TC PARTS
Now that I have sold my TC, I have a few surplus parts that I no longer need. These are as follows:
- (new) keyed washers for the front ‘pin’ on the TC rear leaf spring (5 available at £4 each plus postage at cost – I am not sure if these are available commercially).
- (new) oil seals for the bottom of the Bishops Cam sector shaft housing (3 available at £4 each plus postage at cost).
- Buffer rear axle (Moss UK part no.280-660) unused, but old – free, please pay postage.
Thin steel gaskets for tappet chest cover
Further to Paul Ireland’s Keeping Oil in an XPAG article in Issue 63 ((December 2020) sufficient interest has been shown for the thin steel gaskets, so an order has been placed for 10.
The gasket material to use with this installation is automotive cork (nitrile bonded cork).
Enquiries for the thin steel gaskets (and for the previous TC PARTS item to jj(at)ttypes.org [please substitute @ for (at)]