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MG TD TF 1500 - Girling to Armstrong Shock Conversion

Hello,

Currently I have a bare chassis and starting to test fit the Armstrong Shocks on TD9735. The TD originally came with Girling shocks. I came across the following scenario with the Armstrong shock on the right front.
In first picture you can clearly see the base of the Girling shock fits the engine stabilizer (Moss #: 411-060). When I fit the Armstrong Shock (second picture) there is a gap because the base of the Armstrong Shock is “Thinner”.
I know the obvious answer is to get a “Spacer”. My question is I have not found any discussion on this topic.
Someone has had to run across this before or am I missing something?

Best,
-Michael O’Brien






Michael O'Brien

The archives and Google work well.
https://mg-cars.org.uk/cgi-bin/or17?runprog=mgbbs&access=&mode=archiveth&subject=8&subjectar=8&thread=201904181114209236

Discussed many times over the years. The above thread gives dimensions. George
George Butz III

Hello Michael. First question Why? Second question do you have the later style front fenders? The fenders for the armstrong shocks have a bulge to clear the top of the shock. Also the curve on the front of the fender is different between the fenders for the girling and the armstrong.

Butch
R Taras

Thank you George! I never thought to search under TF.
Michael O'Brien

Hi Butch, Long story...but I got a package deal of two TD's - 1951 TD9735 & 1952 TD16744. The '52 not a numbers matching car but the '51 is.

I started to collect/rebuild parts for the '52 before I realized the '52 is not a numbers matching car. After realizing this, I decided to switch to the '51. I already had the Armstrong shocks rebuilt by World Wide Auto Parts. Not much else was rebuilt other than I collected the wood for the tub from Craig Seabrook (FYI - Craig is now retiring)

In retrospect, I already have rebuilt shocks and have '52 front fenders.

Being that I have all 4 front fenders, I will look at the curve. Thanks for pointing that out.

Best,
-Michael
Michael O'Brien

Michael. and others. When I imported my TD 4490
in 1999 to NORWAY the car had Armstrong shocks.
Rhey were installed left side to right side and vv.
they did not interfare whit the fenders. and they are working ok. I am not driwing my car as an
maniac. BTV the td is 70 years t dey (21) and I am
83 in a few weeks.
Thoralf. NORWAY TD4490
Thoralf Sorensen (TD4490)

Somewhere in the not so easy to search archives, there are discussions about the early/late fenders. The early fenders will work with the Armstrongs. I ran them for years on my Oct. 51 TD. You have to loosen the fender bolts, raise it up as much as possible, which isn't much. Then there is a strip of metal across the top of the shock opening that has to be bent in a little. Really not a big deal to do and it will work. George
George Butz III

Thoraf. We will have to start the 4000 club. I have TD 4139. Turned 70 on the first of Nov.

I am giving advice to Pat Leask, he has TD 4378 that he is restoring in British Colombia. Yours and his were probably on the line at the same time.

George. I am sure it was for more clearance, but its interesting that MG would have modified the fender as much as they did.
Bruce Cunha

This thread was discussed between 22/11/2020 and 24/11/2020

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