MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - Battery Cover by Bell Need Advice

I am finishing up my restoration of my 54 TF. I have many period accessories including a Bell Battery Cover. They were rare, because as far as I can tell, I cant remove a 27 battery without taking the bonnet off. Back in the day these did not have a cut out on top and to add water to the battery you had to remove the bonnet! Here is my quandary. I have finally found 6 Lucas caps. My car is Negative ground with the Neg post on the Driver LHD US side. So would a solution be to get an Optima (what size?) cover it up with a Tartopper fake so the caps peek through and do they make the right size? Any comments welcome!
Keith
K E MURPHY

Here are pictures of the Bell Battery Cover

K E MURPHY

Guess I can only upload one pic at a time so here is another

K E MURPHY

Looks nice, definitely goes with the car style!
Others can post their experience with the tartopper covers, I've looked at their site but haven't bought one. From what I recall, they have two sizes, one for an optima, and one for a standard 24? Not sure, but it sounds like you could go either way and fit it in the Bell cover...
Geoffrey M Baker

I think you should abandon the Bell cover altogether, and send it to me.

Seriously, Tractor Supply makes a large battery that just fits in the battery box, looks vintage. I use Lucas filler caps, peeled the TSC label off, and the battery looks really good in there. Yes, one does have to remove the bonnet to fit the large battery, but you are talking about 2 screws once every five years or so. This is the third TSC battery I have used.
Larry Brown

Thanks Larry. Do you mean they still make batteries you have to top up with water? I might be too lazy for that these days! Plus the acid vapor escaping may not be a good thing. ?? Your opinion.
K E MURPHY

Keith, I like the optimas myself. Have one in all 3 MG's. Can't get you a size at the moment. I like the covers but that is the first I've seen with a slot cutout in it.
MG LaVerne

Keith, like I said, I have been using these batteries for years, no problems. Since the battery is in the engine compartment, I have not had any problems with fumes or odors. I did put a sealed battery as an aux in the inside rear of my Sprinter, and had to take it out becaues of the fumes. I never drive the TF with the top up, anyway
Larry Brown

I also have Optimas in most my cars, except that I had one go bad recently, even though I have others much older that are still good.

Turns out the bad one was made in Mexico while the older ones were made in the US. After doing some research it seems that Johnson Controls bought the company and production moved to Mexico some years ago. If you read some of the old car forums you'll find that the newer ones are pretty consistently unloved.

YM, as always, MV.
David Littlefield

This thread was discussed between 10/05/2014 and 12/05/2014

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archives. Join this live forum now