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MG TD TF 1500 - Body side frame

Found a RHD MG TF I just couldnt let kid butcher up in these days of Rat Rodding. I need to know what is the difference between TD and TF body sideframes, The angle iron, I want to build a new tub but dont want to take my old one apart so I can use it for reference. I have found some out there but no one remembers whether they were TD or TF and they,I, need what to look for in differences between the two. if any. Also some say the tiebar and rear wheel houses. is this true. I have a TD in storage 600 miles away but need to find out because I cant make the trip before these parts may be gone. Thank you.
DCD Durlin

I ain't tearing mine apart either

MG LaVerne

And the TD...not much help I know.

MG LaVerne

As shown on LaVerne's picture of the TF tub the top of the inner fenders are flat. I'm almost positive the ones on a TD do not have these flat sections and are round.
Cheers, Hugh
H.D. Pite

Here's a picture of a TD rear quarter showing the inner fender without the flat section on the top that is found on a TF.
I think the angle iron body frames and the tie bar are the same for a TF and TD.
Cheers, Hugh

H.D. Pite

The tie bar and body irons have different part numbers in the Moss catalogue so I doubt they are the same.
Max Irvine

DCD, can I ask for the chassis number please? I will be able to check if it is an ex-Aussie car.

Matthew.
M Magilton

I know for a fact (cost me $700 to learn it) that the Main Side Rails (body irons) and Rear Cross Brace Assembly (tie bar) are different between TDs and TFs. Bud
Bud Krueger

Thanks everyone so far. I know my wheelhouses are flat on top, but Ive seen at least one supplier sell them as interchangable. It makes you wonder if they know the difference and hope you will make the modifications to make them fit. Thats why sites like this are soo great you guys really know your cars. Matthew I would like to know this also since my chassis plate went missing and Im applying for a title. I can tell you that my frame is TF5556. Bud can you remember any differences I can look for that would tell me which is which. Like shape of a certain area or measurement of mounting holes that are different.
DCD Durlin

I would think that the front mounting plates on the side rails would have differing angles for the TD and TF. The front bracket has a mounting for the front wood pieces that hold the firewall sheetmetal. The angle for the hood on the TF would be less than the angle for the more upright TD wood pieces. Those wood pieces set the line for the rear hood panels and the TF is much less perpendicular than that TD.

Hope this makes some sense!
DLD

DCD, I'll look for some more info, but here's one image that shows differences in both components. It's an image of the TF 'tublet' that I had shipped from Texas to Massachusetts, thinking that is for a TD.
Notice that the top of the inner fender is decidedly flat. On a TD it is noticeably curved. Look at the driveshaft cutout in the center of the tie bar. Notice the two notches at 2 o'clock and 10 o'clock. On a TD those are fittings welded to the tie bar. The handbrake cables go through them on a TD. I'm not sure hoe the TF handbrake cables ate routed. Bud

BTW, those parts responded very nicely to media blasting and power coating. They are now residing in other TFs.

Bud Krueger

Not yet Bud, I still have those side frames which were in great shape and could be made available but are probably a bear to ship to NC.
R Brown

Thanks Bud and DLD that makes perfect sense and will definately help. R Brown yeah shipping on anything that size automatically gets expensive because they charge fo weight your not getting, but if you have more parts to pack in the box its reasonable.
Dexter
DCD Durlin

Go to the "Hutsons" web site and you Wii see a superb video of a new TD body being made and clad.

Jan T
J Targosz

Thanks Jan I watched that on You Tube it is very interesting.
DCD Durlin

After reading DLD from Georgias comment. I started thinking that may be an easy way to tell on the body irons. So I bought a cheap angle finder from lowes and set both sides at zero on the bottom rail then measured the angle on the front of both mounts. One was 71.5 degrees and the other was 68 degrees. I figure withe what they were woring with 60yrs ago and 60 yrs of age on mine that they were going for 70 degrees of slope on the TF. Now if I had the same for a TD it would be easy to cut out a template to send to sellers to double check which side iron they have. Could even easily email them a drawing and have them check. does anyone have access to a TD body iron to measure.

DCD Durlin

This thread was discussed between 01/06/2014 and 03/06/2014

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