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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 - Mallory Dizzy?

Hello all,
I have another TF owner looking to get his on the road after 11 years of working on it. He has a Mallory "dual point" dizzy (I think came from Moss?)
He is asking for my help installing it. I am NOT an ace mechanic...messing up my car is one thing....messing up somebody elses....not so sure I want to risk that! This gentleman has no computer (smart!)....but I did offer to make a posting here to see if I could gather some info for him.
I believe he said no "gears" on the shaft part number: is 233200. Any insight from somebody that has "been there done that" would be a great help. Let's get another "T" on the road!
Cheers,
David 55 TF1500 #7427
David Sheward

David,

The gear from the/an original distributor is what you use.

Reed Yates
Reed Yates

David, I had one of these on my MGA before I sold it. Very easy to use, adjust points separately, timing is the same as regular distributor. As Reed stated, you use the gear from the original distributor, but you will need to drill the shaft if not already done. If there is no gear on the shaft, what is in the car now? There is a bunch of tweeking that can be done to a Mallory dual point including advance curves via diffenent weights. Where did the Mallory come from and has it been set up for the TF when it was bought? The folks at Moss can help with this quite a bit. In order to get it on the road, you may want to use the original lucas distributor as long as it is in decent shape and fuss with the mallory later.
Cheers, Rob
Rob Silverman

Rob,
I think he purchased from Moss....did not find part# he gave me the other day but I believe he has Moss # 143-180?
Not sure why he is not using the original dizzy unless the gears are bad? I did a little looking into this and this apears a great unit for someone a little more "mechanicaly inclined". I put in a call to him this morning and want to find out what shape his orginal is in. My "gut" feeling is he might be better off with that and a pertronix as I don't think he even knows how to set the points or timming. I need to find out what shape his plug wires and coil are in as this will require different wire fittings there as well...from what I see. I would feel more comfortable with making him some fresh plug wires (if I can find some lucas "bumble-bee" wire) and installing a pertronix for him and setting his timming. I think that might be far less hassle for him in the long run.
Just trying to help him get on the road.
What do you think?
Cheers,
David
David Sheward

Hi David, I agree with you, if your friend is not mechanically inclined, the original distributor and the electronic ignition is the easiest way to start. I have this set-up on my 1950 TD. It is a low maintance way to go, that is really hard to screw-up. Even if there is a lot of play in the shaft, the electronic ignition will work just fine. By the way, I found bulk bumblebee wire on e-bay for $5.00 a while back.
Good luck,
Rob
Rob Silverman

Chaps, Here in the UK the XPAG cognoscenti reccommend fitting a Lucas 45D distributor as an alternative to the original - it gives a better performance curve with modern petrol, and is readily available (fitted to BMC "A" series engines in 70s and 80s)as are the points, condenser etc. I am told that all you need to do is drift out the pin that secures the driving dog, replace with the XPAG drive gear and replace the pin, but I have yet to do this myself (I have a new 45D4 that I planned to fit). AB
Adrian Bennett

Adrian.

Do you know which A series the TD compatible 45D distributer is fitted to. I know this engine can be found in Minis, Metros, Marinas etc. Unfortuately these cars are now becoming scarce in scrap yards and now may be the time buy one for the car and a couple for spares.

I also remember from a Metro my wife used to run that the distriuter had a vac advance mechanism. Where do I take a tapping for this on the EXPAG ?


Cheers

Jan T
Jan Targosz

Jan, The 45D was fitted to A series engines in Metros, Minis, Maestros and Marinas from late '70s onwards. It does indeed have a vacuum advance. The experts I have consulted have mixed views about whether or not to connect up the vaccuum advance on the XPAG - It is probably a case of trial and error to assess the performance. Connection would be to a tapping on the inlet manifold if you do. I had planned to try fitting the 45D4 to my TF without the vacuum advance first, but I am selling the car, so I probably won't bother now. AB
Adrian Bennett

This thread was discussed between 27/07/2003 and 30/07/2003

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