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MG TD TF 1500 - Radiator mounting threads 51TD

I have the radiator ready to replace. I purchased a new mounting set with 4 rubbers.
The large flat washers that came with the kit have holes that are too small for my radiator threads, so I'm using the old ones (wire wheel brushed to shiny and repainted).
I only have two nuts for this. I read in the archives that it's a PITA to assemble and that each mount should have two nuts on it for safety, but that POs often leave them off, so I'm guessing that is what has happened.
So I trotted round to my local hardware store... and I could not find any nuts to match.
So what exactly is the thread on these radiator mounts? I assumed it was metric 10x 1.5 but the nuts would not match bolts for 10 x 1.5, 10 x 1.25 and 10 x 1.00. They also wouldn't match anything on the SAE aisle that I could see.
Then I went to the fasteners list and couldn't find these listed there either... my excel file shows a number of radiator bolts but they are all the smaller ones (1/4). These bolts are definitely somewhere in the metric 10x size or SAE 3/8 size...
So what is the thread? I would like to use two nuts to lock each mount in place, as suggested in the threads...
Geoffrey M Baker

Geoff BSF was used almost everywhere except for the engine & gearbox which were "mad metric". I strongly recommend saving Chris Couper's site, which I refer to as the bible. Just Google "The Original MG TD", which offers the following;

Bolts are 3/8" BSF & nuts are 5/16" W. Using his site will save you lots of time & grief. I believe it's the very best source of original information on our cars anywhere in the world, by a country mile! I find myself looking something up every few days. If you own a TD or a TF you're absolutely crazy if you don't use this remarkably comprehensive & free resource! Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

On my 52 TD the threads are 3/8" BSF. Just confirmed that yesterday.
B Mooney

Agreed, BSF. You can order them from the usual suppliers. For the record, I've run tens of thousands of miles over the past decade with one nut per side and they haven't come loose. Two certainly wouldn't hurt though!
Steve Simmons

Thanks guys. I guess I've been so focused on the engine for the past few months that I've just been thinking mad metric :) ... I may just use some loctite...
Geoffrey M Baker

This thread was discussed on 14/10/2015

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