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MG TD TF 1500 - XPEG in a TD?

Hey All,

Just curious - isn't that an XPEG motor in this TD on ebay (engine badge on the right (off) side of the block)?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2441022800&category=31858

Greg
TF 6846 XPEG 797
TC 6669 XPAG 7170
Greg Van Hook

Air cleaners and valve cover look to be TF (with 1 1/2 inch carbs) but I can't begin to read the ID tag.
Dennis
D F Sexton

Dennis,

The point is, did XPAG motors in TFs have the tags in the same place as the XPEG motors.

Greg
Greg Van Hook

Most XPAG engines in TD's had the tag in the same place as TF's. XPAG and XPEG engines in TF's had the tags in the same place.
Dennis
D F Sexton

If you can believe the spec sheet at the end of all those pictures, the car is supposed to be a Mark II. However, I don't see a second fuel pump (or even any mounting for one), nor do I see the attendant power bulge on the right bonnet side to accomodate the pancake filters. Additionally, there is no Mark II badge on the the bonnet sides. None of the pictures are such that one can see if the additional shocks are in place. I would suspect that either someone just put some 1.5" carbs on a standard XPAG engine, or perhaps a Mark II (or XPEG) head on a standard XPAG engine or transplanted a XPEG engine into the car. There is really not enough information in all the pictures or narrative to determine what is there.
Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Ugh, that color!
Mark B.

Mark - one of our local Register members had a TF that was far worse - a 70s something Dodge Jungle Lime Green. Looked as bas as it sounds. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

I dunno, David. I just can't imagine a more unattractive color than that TD. That looks like a color scheme that was used on AMC products in the 70s. I once borrowed and drove a Gremlin that was painted that color, and it made me want to wear a bag over my head so that noone would see me. I didn't wear the bag, because that would have interfered too much with visibility. It's a matter of taste, I guess. Somebody liked that color enough to pay someone to paint their TD that color.

MB (Black TF with GREEN interior)

Mark Barrington

Mark - I agree. That color has to be running a very close second to the JLG. Almost the same color green that the federal government had some of their GSA step vans painted just before I retired (that wasn't the deciding factor in my retirement, but it was a consideration). Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Mark,
Did you ever live in NE Ohio? "I once borrowed and drove a Gremlin" ....if it took 2 people to start (one to turn the key, one to kick the fender where the starter cylanoid was located)...you might have borrowed our car! You should have looked in the glovebox....that's were we kept the bags and we ALAWYS wore them! Fugliest car I ever owned ...er, ah, had...I was too embarsed to even transfer the title and can't remember if we left it stuck in the mud in a field or wedged between two trees in the woods!
Cheers,
David 55 TF1500 #7427
David Sheward

Yeah, a Gremlin is going to look strange, no matter what color it is. Although the design now has a 70ish nostalgic charm, which was completely absent when it was new.

I received an email with a picture of a TC painted the same color as that TD, and I have to say that that TC is a beautiful car. I received the email on my home computer, and I don't remember the name, so I'm sorry I can't give proper credit, but I'll post the owner's name later.

So I'm having to reconsider my initial reaction to the color. I've noticed that TCs and earlier seem to fare better with really bright colors. I saw a purple MG J2 at a GOF that was strikingly beautiful. I think part of my negative reaction to that TD was the perceived lack of originality, coupled with the fact that it was for sale on eBay.

I like to think I'd be kinder to a car at a show out of consideration for the owner, but to be truthful, sometimes I say rude things and regret them later. If anyone has been offended, come on by my house, and I'll pour you an Old Speckled Hen and take you for a ride in my TF 1500. Unfortunately, in its present state, the ride in the TF consists of sitting on the bare floorboards and being pushed around the driveway.

MB
Mark B.

I'll bet the TC is Greg Van Hook's. If you offended anyone then I will help you as I feel the same ...coloure looks good on Greg's car....but that TD made me want to hurl and the wife said it reminded her of our Gremlin. That was why I had to say something! With out a doubt the worst car I "never" owned...and I have had some real winners. The wife says she thinks we bought the Gremlin in a bar one night for $15.00 so we would not have to ride the Harley home in a freezing rain storm...I do recall she made me park in down the road because it clashed with the yellow trailer we were living in at the time, and she did not want anybody to see it! I should write a book before all these wonderful memories fade into a constant muttering of "eh, say what sonny".....what a long strange trip it's been. Anyhow if you offended anyone and TX. is too far away I am moving into a new garage and first thing in was 2 cases of OSH...haven't got much else in there yet....still in the "design & planning" stage!
Cheers,
David
David Sheward

<slaps forehead>

Of course it was Greg's TC! The thread originator. I can't believe I couldn't remember his name. I must have gotten into whatever was stored in those bags in the glovebox of the Gremlin, but I can't remember for sure.
Mark B.

test
test

You guys should have seen my friend Bill's TD. He was the 2nd owner of that car. It was 100% completely original.

Bill's friend owned a body shop. Bill and the shop owner liked MG's and Budweiser beer.

One night Bill was visiting his friend's shop and the friend told him about a new kind of paint he had just gotten in the shop.

A few days later Bill was the very-sober and (he said) very proud owner of (I am not kidding) a purple metal-flake MG TD with about 25 little cat paw decals scattered over the bonnet and wings.

As I recall, it was only a few months after the paint-job, Bill's wife divorced him...
Terry McArthur

Yep....Simply a horrid color, but back to the original question. I believe that's an XPEG engine in that car. Back when I was less knowledgheable about T series MGs, I bought a TD, unknowingly, with an XPEG engine. When I bought the car, nothing was on the chassis except the engine, drive train and the body tub, so nothing looked amiss. In the process of assembling the rest of the car, the ugly truth came out. There was not clearance for the pancake air cleaners so (please don't fault me too much) I ran the car without the air cleaners in place. Not the best policy, I suppose, but the car didn't really see much driving. Mostly to and from car meets and stuff.
John Northup

OOps.....Sorry. Didn't really intend to omit my email address
John Northup

<<<snip>>>
Mark II. However, I don't see a second fuel pump (or even any mounting for one),
<<<snip>>>
AFAIK, should have one.

<<<Snip>>>
nor do I see the attendant power bulge on the right bonnet side to accomodate the pancake filters.
<<<Snip>>>
No pancake filters on the MkII. Most had 1 1/2 inch carbs which were longer. The bulge was to clear the air cleaner manifold which was similar to the standard unit but larger.

<<<Snip>>>
Additionally, there is no Mark II badge on the the bonnet sides.
<<<snip>>>
There's debate on that in some of the very first ones may not have had one. The one piece of factory literature I've seen has the badges on the bonnet. The parts book seems to show that the early cars were without the badges. Additionaly MKII nose badges were black&white rather than cream and brown.

<<<Snip>>>
None of the pictures are such that one can see if the additional shocks are in place.
<<<snip>>>
Again there's some debate on that. But, I think most cars should have the Andrex friction shock on the lower A arm.

<<<Snip>>
I would suspect that either someone just put some 1.5" carbs on a standard XPAG engine, or perhaps a Mark II (or XPEG) head on a standard XPAG engine or transplanted a XPEG engine into the car. There is
really not enough information in all the pictures or narrative to determine what is there.
<<<snip>>>
Good hypothesis. The only way of knowing if it's a true MK II engine is the "TDC" NOT "TD2" as part of the engine number. And XPEG engines have XPEG as part of the engine number not XPAG.

My TD has a MKII or TF 1250 head. It's hard to know the difference.
Bullwinkle

The later XPAG engines have the engine # in the place shown in the photograph. My 53 has it there and the number matches the build tag on the tool box. The carb look like 1 1/2" which means the orginal air cleaner won't fit. I noticed there was no bid at 14.5K start.
Bullwinkle

This thread was discussed between 04/11/2003 and 04/12/2003

MG TD TF 1500 index

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