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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 - Early TD Under dash Panel with radio

I got the under dash panel built and installed. I ended up using Water resistant panel board. Material used for automobile door panels. It is available from automobile upholstery shops.

I had an old under dash panel that I used for a template. It is from a later TD. You can tell the difference by the speaker cut out. That was for the 4100 radiomobile radio used on the later TD. It had a seperate speaker.

For the 100 radiomobile, there is a modification to the panel that is listed in the 100 radiomobile installation pamphlet (listed on Chris Coopers's Original MG web page)

I covered the panel with bookbinders rexine(Buckram) to get close to the original covering.

The material goes on once the brackets have been installed.

Fitting the panel is actually the hard part of installation. You have to curve the board to fit in one side of the frame hoop.

You need to do a few test fittings to check the fit. Do this prior to installing the rexine.

The brackets should fit up against the dash trim.

I also found that you have to have the steering tube pushed up as far as you can get it so the chrome locking ring is far enough forward to clear the panel.

Also, if you have a heater, you need to remove it prior to installing the under dash panel.





Bruce Cunha

More pictures




Bruce Cunha

Bruce, what did you use for adhesive for the recline?
Regards, Tom
tm peterson

Spray gorilla glue adhesive. I have tried a few others, but gorilla glue seems to have the best holding ability (but it is messy to work with. Took me two days to get it off my hands.)
Bruce Cunha

LOL. Gorilla adhesive is difficult stuff to get off. Looks good Bruce. I know you’ve struggled with it but it turned out quite nicely. I’m embarrassed to say that I have yet to finish the HMV 100 installation into dad’s TD/c-8151. I’m glad I was able to help you with acquiring one of my spare restored radios. Where did you end up getting the panel board? I have both original early and late perforated under dash panels that are intact for patterns Also, i have the early and late glove boxes The late boxes have perforations to knock out for the 4100 series Smith & Sons HMV radios installations.

Note: The early TDs deleted the glove box entirely to fit the HMV 100 series radios using an additional front fascia panel to fill in the void area behind the glove box door opening. A cut out in the underdash panel was made to accommodate the integrated radio speaker.

While the later TD glove boxes were apparently left intact when using the 4100 series radios. The late TD glove boxes had additional knock out perforations for the wiring, coax cable and overhead slots for the tuner’s mounting brackets. The amplifier was then separated from the 4100 series radios and mounted remotely to the tool box. The later under dash panels had an additional perforated knock out for the 4100 series radio’s remote speaker. No additional cutout was necessary under the glove box area as there was no integrated speaker within the tuner.

Both radio series were quite heavy. These tube type combined tuner and amplifiers weighed in at a little more than 13 lbs.

I can facilitate for anyone seriously interested in acquiring original restored HMV radios for their TC, early or late TD’s and TF’s. Be prepared as these radios are NOT inexpensive options Radios for home/ European, South African and American Continent specifications. The various markets requiring differing wave band parameters. As this is a lengthy and time consuming process on my end to acquire these radios only serious inquiries please…. Contact me directly at Salsburyrocketman@yahoo.com
W A Chasser

Wow. What an undertaking. And talk about being novel.
Christopher Couper

I did something similar earlier this year using the new ultra thin ally/foam/ally car trimming panels and cut a hole for my heater fan under the dash. I used the same material to replace my crumbling kick panels. It can be glued or screwed and reshaped in situ if needed.
M Hyde

Can you post the name on the board you used. I am always interested in new/better products.
Bruce Cunha

Bruce - it is called 'composite panel' or board and there are many manufacturers. It is very thin aluminium sheet (around 0.2mm-0.8) each side with a very thin sheet of vinyl pressed in between the ally sheets. Sign writers also use it. Totally waterproof. Makes great panels for cars as it can be easily cut with strong scissors or a panel knife, screwed, shaped, bent glued and so on. There are matt finishes, gloss and various colours (if need). There are even ones with carbon fibre between the two thin panels.

My motor trimming friends swear by it and gave me several sheets that I have used. Vinyl or leather can be glued over it and even stitched/sewn as well.

One example is:

https://sassignage.com.au/aluminium-composite-panel/
M Hyde

Great information on the composite panel. Price is not bad for a 4 x 8 sheet.
Bruce Cunha

Anyone willing to draw up a Kraft paper pattern for an early LHD?
I don’t have an original to copy. I would also rather not copy measurements from a drawing if I can avoid it.
The pattern could be rolled up and put into a mailing tube?
Maybe some of you made up some spares?

Thanks for any info.

Brian W.
ZBMan

ZBMan, see http://www.ttalk.info/Tech/Under_dash.htm.
It shows dimensions and images of a panel sold by Abingdon Spares. With a bit of cleverness you could probably reproduce one. Bud
Bud Krueger

Thanks Bud. Yeah, I’ll likely have to go that route. It’s just that I’m lazy, I guess! Actually pretty easy and I do know how to read a tape measure/rule!

Brian Warmuth
(AKA- ZBMan)
ZBMan

From my experience, you will need to trim the panel. So if you are going to trim it, may as well make it yourself.
Bruce Cunha

This thread was discussed between 27/11/2023 and 06/12/2023

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