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MG TD TF 1500 - Almost wrecked TD4834 today

I moved my TD under its own power today a total of 40' to load in my trailer for a trip to Lawrie's on Thursday. As I got into the trailer I realized my big feet wouldn't allow me to operate the clutch and brake pedals independently. Luckily the E brake works properly as I almost took a ride through the front wall of the trailer. No damage but definately a panic situation. Now to figure out if the peddles can be separated from their current spacing. I so want to drive this car...

Seats at the upholsterers and the car will be there in a week to finish the rest of the upholstery , hood and tonneau installation. .

Maybe Lawrie and I will have a better idea what the problem is with the engine. Acts like the cam timing has become retarded. We dialed it in exactly via a dial indicator and the aid of the vernier timing gear set but the engine is running rather flat when the throttle is blipped and no amount of ignition timing cures the issue. Not looking forward to pulling it all down again if that is the problem. I'm certain at this point it is not a carburation issue

Cheers

Bill Chasser Jr
TD4833
W. A. Chasser Jr

Bill I remember the same thing happened when I first tried to drive my TD! You need tiny little ballerina feet to drive it. Somehow, you get used to moving your feet around each other to operate the car, but it isn't easy :)
Geoffrey M Baker

I took a grinder to the sides of my sneakers.

I wear 12W.

....
MAndrus

I bought a pair of driving shoes for colder weather and peel my regular shoes off and drive in stocking feet in the summer...

Trust me, you'll find a way!
John Mitchell

Glad the car is ok. Sounds like an advance problem or carbs.
Steve Simmons

The pedals are mounted with short spacers. Pretty simple to weld a "Z" into one or both the move the pads further apart.
MAndrus

Gosh, that was a fright Bill, at least its running.

re feet room, I saw some surfer/diving wet suit shoes at a garage sale recently, looked thin flexible and easy to put on and off in the car?, spacer adjustment helps.

good luck.
mog

I found that I just got used to it. Can now drive with my work boots on no problem. I don't have the biggest feet in the world - American size 9.5/10 but the work boots are bulky and wide,

Persevere for a while.

Dave
D Moore

Geez I'd never get away with my heavy work boots. Lol. I will look at the peddle placement and see if I can change their mounting. I don't have the extenders as they were missing and I have been looking at a pair on eBay. I am 6'1" with a 13 shoe so it is certainly cramped in the drivers side. Dad was a similar size and he manage to drive his without incident. I must have their placement wrong on the levers. All I know at this point is that it was a scary experience I don't want to relive

Cheers

Bill Chasser Jr
TD4834
W. A. Chasser Jr

Search the archives about the pedals, they can fit on either side of the pedal arm. Volumes in archives somewhere. Driving shoes highly recommended. Make sure varmints have not plugged up exhaust. George
George Butz

Are you certain that you have the firing order correct?.
I did a repair on an xpag that was totally flat. He had built the engine upside down- he used photo in book and missplaced the shiny marker links of the timing chain. He was two links off.
Sandy
Sandy

Bill, I'm the same size shoe and 6'2 and I've just gotten used to it. On the other hand, I still have yet to do any long distance driving in my TD... but I can drive it around town comfortably. At least, I mean I COULD drive it around comfortably, if the engine wasn't out of the car right now :)
Geoffrey M Baker

My 10.5 wide feet are a challenge. I found a pair of lightweight Under Armor running shoes with very narrow soles that are the only shoes I can drive the TF in safely.
Jack Long

Know the feeling. I am a 11.5 or 12. Soles on running or tennis shoes are just too wide. I keep a pair of Sperry Topsiders in car as driving shoes.
R W Hinton

One word. Moccasins.

Actually bedroom slippers. Anyone who went to GoF West and drove with us got a treat of me swapping from my slippers to my shoes at extended stops. If you really have issues there are leather driving shoes that basically have no sole at all.

I have size 15 shoes. Lets see someone beat that! :-)
Christopher Couper

This thread was discussed between 02/09/2015 and 03/09/2015

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