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MG TD TF 1500 - Wished I would have....

Just finished removing body and preparing engine to go to the shop for rebuild. This TF named Daisy has never been restored before so as I proceed I was hoping to get some feedback from those of you that have been down this road . I am doing most everything myself except the engine rebuild and final paint. Is there any lessons learned or things you wished you would have done or had done differently when you did your frame off restoration. Tom published a engine rebuild check list which is a great help.
Thanks all
Mike
m r phinn

Take lots of pictures of where things go when you are removing parts from the car. Also label everything you remove and put in a plastic bag where possible.
Your time putting the car back will be much easier, we think we will remember how something go together, but time passes and we forget.
Louis
L.M. Levin

Well one suggestion I give people who want to do body off restorations is the do all the major body work while the car is still together. Then take it apart and do the finishing work. It generally makes the car look more complete if you can line everything up while together.

Unfortunately I think you are beyond that. :-(

So the other suggestion I have for you is to search the archives for how to fit the doors. Its the hardest part to get right and there are about 5 different techniques. You will need them all. Part of it gets done when you put the body back on the frame and part could be done bending the hinges if needed before painting. There are other techniques too involving straps, turnbuckles, pads etc.

Good luck
Chris Couper

I would strongly recommend you do this in stages.

First, get the motor done and back in then drive the car. If you still have issues then work that, ie, redo all the brakes, then suspension etc. It is much better to get everything mechanically perfect and fully operational first then make it pretty. That way you don't have to worry about buggering things up after all the nice paint is on.

It also helps as it doesn't seem as daunting of a task to just tear in and strip it down and have a mountain of parts laying around for 3 years vs doing a section at a time. For me it was first getting it running and working proper, starting with engine and tranny. Then brakes and front suspension, then rear end and suspension, the electrical. I then tore down just the front half for repaint of the frame, then the back half. All the while keeping it a rolling chasis. Then all the body parts for repair and paint (which I did myself). Again, keeping it a roller. Then the interior, then the top.

Working this just a section at a time kept the tasks smaller and didn't seem to monumental.

Also, baggies are your friend. Bag and label everything, Dave's site was better laid out than almost anything I could havd documented so I just used that for the most part. I had limited space so keeping things in smaller phases and keeping the car a roller was important.

For paint I purchased a 12' x 20' temporary storage shelter from Norther Tool for $270 that I set up next to my garage as my dedicated paint booth. That and a pair of HVLP guns from HF. I ran air and electrical out there and did all my priming and painting in there. Worked outstanding IMO. When finished, I tore down the temp storage and boxed it back up waiting for the next project.
L Rutt

IMHO:
Rebuild the pedal box now ...whilst you can get to it!

Search the archives for modifications you may want to do. (unless going for concourse points)

Read everything here:
http://www.ttalk.info/

and here:
http://www.dbraun99.com/

and here:
http://www.mgcars.org.uk/mgtf/

David Sheward

I would NOT have used a 2 stage paint (base + clear coat). Color sanding the clear coat added months to the project!
Search for "efhask" on Youtube to see my adventure, including the pedal box rebuild.

Have "fun"!
Ed
efh Haskell

really good input guys, thanks so much. I did bag and label but at one point got ahead of my self and now have a few mystery bolts. Did take many pics, most close up I know they will help. The body work..... I did do the alignment and straightening before disassembly since it had some rear damage, but at a point, the fenders had to come off for final tweeking. Hope it goes together OK. Pedal Box suggestion is a good one , I see quite a bit of slop in the clutch bushing. Approaching this in bite size pieces is a good concept. The qty of job tasks and dollar amounts can make one wonder if maybe my clutch is slipping a little.

Thanks again
m r phinn

Reinstall the gastank line before you put in the floorboards.

Jim B.
JA Benjamin

Best thing about doing Pedal Box early on is it makes everything else seem easier!
It also adds new words to your vocabulary.
I invented at least 3/4 new curse words...none that I would repeat here.
David Sheward

...all of the above plus get an understanding from the engine rebuilder on just what it is that needs to be done and an idea of what the cost will be. Do not take it to him and just say 'look it over and do whatever is necessary to make it a good engine'. Don't ask why I suggest this!!!
J OSTERGREN

In the early 90's when I was 'restoring' Lazarus I had never heard of the notorious 'pedal box'. Last week, when I started working on the total redo of the brake system, I found myself face-to-face with the bugger. Oh, how I wish that I had redone it when I had the tub off of the frame. It was so (relatively) easy on 'the53'. I'll do it before the Texas trip. Bud
Bud Krueger

Throw NOTHING away until you have completed the entire project.

Old parts, panels, bolts, etc are invaluable for later reference.

Dave Braun's site is a master piece of help.
R W Hinton

Make sure to juice up the brakes before you put the tub back on. I have spent a week chasing leaks but finally down to two stubborn fittings that want to seep but I am being patient and tightening them up a little each day.
Richard Taylor TD3983

I put snaps on the hood - so that I can get to the side curtains (or anything else) with the top up. It was a nice suggestion from someone here although I do not remember who. no one knows but me.

Tim
tw hager

Mike, I would do things differently. Looking at all the unfinished projects that come up one thing is common. Pretty well all have a rebuilt engine and none have had the body work completed. The reason is that the body is a much more difficult job than rebuilding and engine, gearbox or brakes. People do all the easy straightforward stuff first and then abandon the project when the very time consuming and often tricky body is attacked.
My suggestion is to restore the frame (and pedal shaft!) then use this for a platform to get the body done ready for final painting. After that deal with the mundane job of the mechanicals. I'm pretty sure that if things were done in this order there would be a lot less unfinished projects hanging about.
Cheers, Hugh
H.D. Pite

Mike, I agree with Hugh. My previous project before the TD was a M38A1 Willys which I had the engine rebuilt first and never got any further eventually selling to purchase the TD. This time I had all the body work and paint done first and now I am building back from the frame up and slowly but surely moving along.
Richard Taylor TD3983

Take the time for one last mock-up assembly before paint. Things shift, change, and move. As an example, I used a different radiator shell at final assembly and the painted and finished front apron would not fit at all. Yes, it takes time, but will be well worth it in the end. Leave more clearance at the bottom of the doors especially at the front and back ends- for the threshold plates and screws. Great advice above also. George
George Butz

This thread was discussed between 06/08/2013 and 15/08/2013

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.