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MG TD TF 1500 - License plate lamp

Maybe old news for some but I thought I would post pictures of the original seal for the lamp compared to the replacement from Moss. The original is simply a solid piece of rubber with a slot to insert the body of the plate. The two openings in the plate are filled with a conical outside slotted rubber piece with one cut open for wire insertion. I would assume that on RHD cars the opening on the right would have been cut open for the wire and the left side fitted with the solid plug.




L E D LaVerne

This is the single lamp assembly. I removed a coating of black paint from the back and a combination of with and black from the inside. I'm not sure what was original but I went with black on the outside and silver on the inside. I reinstalled the old solid plug. the open one is on the plate just for the photo.




L E D LaVerne

With the new rubber installed you can see that it has the interior slot but has rubber covering one stud and a nipple that I had to cut to open up for the wire to enter the housing. Because the opposite side does not have anything to cover the other opening I am glad that the old plug was still just useable.




L E D LaVerne

The flat face of the mount is the original paint that came on the car preserved for posterity but as before will be hidden and somewhat protected by the lamp housing.




L E D LaVerne

The original glass was broken and the chrome cover was mia. The owner had purchased an NOS Lucas replacement many years ago which came with the coned rubber washer for the fixing screw. I can see no difference between the chrome cover here and the replacements sold by Moss. Of note, the new seal has a flange in which the cover inserts instead of relying on the compression of the seal on the original. I suspect it will do a better job of protecting the workings as compared to the original...should the rubber last.





L E D LaVerne

Lastly is the plate that was on the car when it was disassembled.

L E D LaVerne

Nice to see some progress. Did the chrome plating come back yet ?
W A Chasser

Most of the chrome is done. he says he has a few other things to send off. I don't care for the reproduction pieces for the wiper motor (nuts and front plate) so those will be sent off but won't hold anything up. What will is the right front fender doesn't fit for damn so the whole thing will go to the body shop....in 45 days. Still waiting on the gearbox so I can get the engine in it. This is painfully slow.




L E D LaVerne

LaVerne,

I have no doubt you are aware of this, but care is needed when you connect your wiring harness lines to the Lucas License Plate lamp. On TFs at least,the red wire goes to the bulb holder and the black wire to earth. I have seen a few mistakes made here with a resultant burnt out harness!

BTW, very nice paint work.

Cheers
Rob Grantham
TF3719("Aramis"),TF9177("Athos").
Rob Grantham

Interesting variations. I had never seen the plug/bumpers on the back, or the rubber washer under the nut. This is a NOS Lucas gasket that I would guess is 20 years old. Note the complicated moulding on the inside. Looks like the new repros would seal a lot better, but looks fatter when installed. Of course no one would ever notice but some of us. Car looking great! George




George Butz III

This thread was discussed between 17/06/2021 and 19/06/2021

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