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MG TD TF 1500 - Glyptol

I finished painting the transmission with Glyptol.

The color is similar to red primer.

Here is how it came out.

Bruce Cunha

I really think that only the inside was painted with Glyptol. Authentic, unrestored transmissions I have seen appeared to have been painted when the engine was, with bell-housing, timing cover and sump all painted engine red.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

I don't think so Tom. I went to a transmission rebuild class that John Twist put on in his shop many years back. There was a couple dozen TD transmissions and all were a dull red. Not the same as was on the engine. Twist said they were glyptol inside and out.

It would make sense that they were most likely dipped to seal the pores in the casting. If dipped, the outside would be the dull red.

I also have one sitting in my shop. It has a lot of grime on it, but when cleaned, the color is a darker red.

Same with the transmissions that Bill Chasser has.

Was the transmission assembled at the MG plant, or did it come in from another facility? I would agree that it would most likely make more sense to install the transmission and then paint the entire assembly. Also, I know when I took my transmission off the bell housing the first time, there was no paint on the end where the transmission was attached. If painted separately I would think there would be paint on the end.

So I will chalk this one up to May have been. Without specific information from the factory, it is another of those "How did they do that" questions.
Bruce Cunha

Back in the day, we took all the casting spurs off the inside then coated the inside of our engines with Glyptol before sending them off to the machine shop for whatever work they needed to do, but I remember it was more orange than red. I painted my TF tranny the same as the engine. The fluorescent lights make it look lighter than it is. PJ




PJ Jennings

After rereading Tom's comment, I decided to put the transmission back to engine red. The transmission can only be bolted on with the bell housing off. As the bell housing was painted engine red, it would seem that the transmission would have been painted along with the bell housing and the engine.

In looking at Bill Chassers barn find from the 60's, the transmission color does not look the same as the glyptol.

Bruce Cunha

Realizing that every camera/phone/monitor is different, I have worked on a couple cars (mine included) that the original engine/tranny paint was the exact color in your last photo- a slight tint toward mauve or purple from red. No way to tell if this is the original as painted color, or changed from heat, age, etc. I found a picture taken straight down of a low mileage TF tranny I went through years ago. The paint on the castle nut for the reverse link pivot was this same color, markedly different from the new likely Moss engine red on the top cover much brighter. Have never seen glyptol on the outside. George
George Butz III

Thanks George.

My decisions on how to restore my TD are based on a number of factors. Some are factory pictures, some are from the printed restoration books, some are based on Chris's web page and other original TD's I have come across.

A lot is based on input from folks on the web. I also try to figure out how the factory would have done it.

Some things are still conjecture. Given we know the factory made multiple changes as the production continued, it becomes harder to truly build my car exactly as the factory did.
Bruce Cunha

I purchased a gearbox that the rebuilder sprayed with Moss engine paint, I then bought a can of Moss engine paint to spray the bell housing.

It was a different color, so I put it under the car.

If Moss can’t make 2 cans of paint match what is correct? Bill Hirsch, Moss or ASL? Or Glyptol?

I don’t think the color makes it shift better so I am not going to worry about it.

Peter
P G Gilvarry



Many years ago, I helped Al Moss move some MG parts from his barn to his garage. One crate contained a NOS TD-TF transmission. We opened this crate as Al was going to install it into a TF he was restoring. You could see quite clearly the glossy red “engine” finish on the out side and the dull orange-red of the Glyptol on the inside as this tranny did not have the remote casting fitted for the shift lever. Al said he bought this tranny new from the importer in 1955, the crate was clearly marked with Nuffield script. Just my $0.02 worth.
T A Peddicord

Your $.02 is worth many bucks! I suspect it settles the matter.

Tom Lange
t lange

Al Moss bought it new in 55, still in the original crate! I don't see where one could get any better confirmation than that! PJ
PJ Jennings

I would agree. The red is effected by the oil from the transmission and makes it look a different color.
Bruce Cunha

This thread was discussed between 12/11/2021 and 23/11/2021

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