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MG MGF Technical - Can TF revisions be applied to an F?

Apart from the reversion to coil springs what revisions were made to the TF?

Surfing the Net, I've come across the following:

New front crossbrace within the front subframe space;
A brace from crossbeam to floor on the passenger compartment side of the front bulkhead;
A rear bulkhead mounted brace;
An engine access bay brace;
Solid subframe mounts(?); and
a quicker steering rack

The braces, I guess, are to improve the car's rigidity. The solid mounts to improve handling (a popular mod for Minis, I believe, at the expense of a little more harshness.) And the rack to improve response.

Has anyone retro-fitted any, or all of the above to an F? If so, how has it changed the car's road behaviour?

Also:
MG TF carries over the front double wishbone layout of the MG-F...MG TF has new front wishbone geometry and bush rates to complement the more radical changes at the back.

I presume that, at the pointy end of the car, the F's suspension wishbones were retained, but rejigged and h stiffer bushes fitted? That being the case, could these developments be applied to a Hydragas F as well?
Ted Stevens

Ted

I have the crossbracing on the front subframe, solid subframe mounts all round and the quicker rack all fitted by MGF Centre and it is simply fantastic.

However, it also had the hydragas units disconnected and poly-bushes fitted all round at the same time so it's difficult to judge which mod makes the most difference.

Not only is the handling much improved but virtually all the scuttle shake has been elimated.

Neil
Neil Sothert

>had the hydragas units disconnected

Disconnected as in independant from each other, not disconnected as in non-functional.

Tech-speed are the people to sort out the F handling (bushes, setup, lowering, four nipple job).

Techspeed prep F racing cars, so their loading is somewhat seasonal.

Rob as fitted the TF rack as a standalone mod and is very complementary of it.
Will Munns

'elimated' or even eliminated.

The setup means you get great handling without the bouncy castle ride of a TF.

Neil
Neil Stothert

Do you have details or pictures of the crossbracing on the front subframe?
Steve Ratledge

I'm interested in the front subframe bracing too Steve. Spoke to Neil about it - who I am sure will fill us in on more details shortly, but from what I can gather, the TF brace bars simply bolt on to the MGF subframe, with little or no modification. Probably worth also talking to Bill @ the MGF Centre about it :o)

This strikes me as a much cheaper option than seam welding the front subframe - as B&G sell - but I wonder how the two approaches will compare?

The other 'interesting' thing is that whenever you chat to Roy @ Techspeed about reinforcement, he'll tell you that a brace bar across the front of the car is pointless - at least from the perspective of the MGF Cup cars.

How does one square that circle?
Rob Bell

Unfortunately I haven't any photos of the crossbracing and it's so low to the ground now it needs to go on a ramp to take a photo. As far as I know the bars bolt directly to the front of the subframe and to the subframe mounts.

Forgot to say it also has the larger TF anti-roll bar at the front.

I know Roy's opinion on the bracing but something has made a significant difference to the rigidity and handling of the car and I'm not about to start removing parts to see which part is responsible for the improvements:-)

I'll see what I can do about photos.

Neil
Neil Stothert

This thread was discussed between 22/05/2005 and 23/05/2005

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