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MG TD TF 1500 - Maybe time to cut my losses

Maybe it is time for me to put my dream of having and driving an MG TF behind me , cut my losses and bail out, I am just an enthusiast not a purist, if I was younger and real keen I would have all guns blazing and completely restore my TF, not just try and get it reliably dependable and looking reasonable.
However the hurdles seem getting higher and I am not sure I have the Mental Capacity to conquer them.
I have done the Sump gasket and the new ring gear, fitted new starter motor flywheel faced and the pressure plate and clutch plate serviced, new clutch rods incl the adjustable type) new clutch pedal bushings and shaft, recon the Generator and installed a new (NOS) Genuine Smiths tachco drive I picked up when visiting a car boot sale here, cheap at $20.
I have cleaned most of the dirty black sticky sh*t off from the under body that some fool had sprayed on then I painted it black.
Removed and cold set the rear springs installing new bushes, pads etc. I have done a lot of small things as well.
But the Radiator and Grill fitment has done me in, I thought I had it under control, it looked ok but on closer inspection I found that the grille still sat crooked on the radiator, my first thought was the two small grille mounting brackets on the top tank, but I found that the two larger brackets that actually bolt onto the radiator frame to hold it in the car were distorted and really beyond repair, plus the fact that I do not know just what shape they are supposed to be, they have been butchered by the radiator guys I presume and then of course there are the two small brackets I mentioned on the top tank they were bent so bad they might as well not even been there, I went down to Rob Grantham's place and had a look at his but trying to bend mine into the same shape as his unmolested ones was a job beyond my capabilities.
So knowing that there is little or no chance of me getting the brackets and a top radiator tank with decent brackets attached I feel it is time for me to pull the pin on this project, sell the car and move on.
I do have a few more things that I need to finish so you will still see me here for awhile yet.

To all those that have gone out of their way to help me so far I say thank you very much.

Regards

George
G Mills

Hello George,
Car restoration can be a daunting and frustrating task.

If it is any help the brackets for grille mounting are available new from Kilmartin Sheetmetal in Ballarat. Each bracket is $73 incl GST. I have no affiliation with them but I know they do good work.

Good luck with whatever you final decision is.
Max Irvine

George, I don't know you but quitting after doing all you have done so far !, come on the car appreciates your efforts and you can only blame the PO's, not the car.

Someone here will come along soon with help on those brackets.

MG people are like that, you know.

Take a few days break, and muster your determination for a fresh attack.

Cheers
Tony

PS - I would help, but don't have any TF bits about.
A L SLATTERY

George. I'm with Tony. Hang in there mate. I've been waiting for 43 years to finish my car & I refuse to give up! Sit down. Have a beer (even if you don't drink) & think about what you've achieved. If you're not in the local MG Car Club maybe get along to the next meeting. There must be other sandgropers like Rob who can offer support & encouragement. :)
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

George,

Whatever you do, don't give up. These guys have given you some excellent advice. Rome wasn't built in a day.

I appreciate the fact that you're building a driver, as against a show car. Once you're behind the wheel and driving the car, you'll realize it was all worth it.

Here's the killer: if you lose interest and sell the car as a basket case or partially assembled, its the next guy that will get the benefit of all of your hard work.

I'm 81 and am into the middle of restoring a '34 PA and its daunting indeed, and I'm doing it on a retirement budget.

I might suggest you convince a buddy to help you. Maybe a night or two a week. Keep a case of beer cold at all times - increases production!

Wish I could be there to help you. Hang in there mate!

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A Clark

George, I'll add my two cents worth: I'm also just building a driver, for the day when I can rely on it for my regular transportation here in Tucson... and it's a long haul on a tight budget! I also believe that if you put the request out there, somebody will be able to help with the bracket problem; I know when I've talked about the problem I was facing at the moment, I generally got very kind and helpful offers!
Geoffrey M Baker

One needs to decide what is most important, restoring a car or driving one. If it's the restoration process that most interests you, then close the garage and wait until your enthusiasm comes back. Working on a car in frustration is counter-productive. Having others over to assist you or at least offer their own insights can help greatly.

If your real interest is to drive and enjoy a TF, then I would just buy one already running. It's cheaper, and you will spend the next decade driving instead of pulling your hair out and spending money.

Whichever path you choose, I wish you the best of luck!
Steve S

Everyone gets to the point of having to walk away for a while. I did and others have. You just need to get some air and maybe a beer and tackle it again. Once it is done you will be rewarded with one of the most fun to drive little cars that has ever been. They are a ball to wheel around and just drive them like they were meant to be driven. Hard and fast as your self will allow... hang in there..
Tom Maine

George,

I applaud the above comments in relation to your TF quests.

On your visit to me,apart from you measuring the currentrestored 1500s Radiator and chrome surround unit which isoff the car,I made an offer to you to actually take another complete TF unit which I have in the loft and extract more exacting copy of the correct location of the brackets. The proviso was that this spare unit was to be returned within two(2) weeks.You were not keen to take up this offer.

TFs are such a pretty looking,well balanced car.The trade off is that they are quite difficult to restore
because of its style and closeness of fits required throughout the body and chassis structures. My late father Bob who was steeped in Vintage and Veteran restoration for over forty years(plus steam model loco
manufacture, 3 and 1/2" gauge)used to say to me "you need knitting needle fingers to work on a TF plus a very determined constitution!").(lol)

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






R GRANTHAM

George, Allt he guys have given you some good advice. My outlook is, park it for a while, let the frustrations die off, do something else for a while. When I get frustrated working on these cars, I go do some wood work, my real love, and when I forget the frustrations, I go back to work on the cars.
Remember this old Chinese saying,
"The Oxen Are Slow, But The Earth Is Patient". Please don't give up. PJ
Paul S Jennings

Thanks Fella's, your input appreciated.
Rob, yes you did make that kind offer to me but I have a real aversion to borrowing things, stems from a borrowing disaster many years ago.


Regards


George
G Mills

Have to agree. Take a break, work on something else, but don't bury the car where you don't see it. It will keep tugging at you until you start up again on it.

The joy of finishing it well worth the many hours of work.
Bruce Cunha

George, I am 76 and in the middle of restoring a Varitone. I started with a PA in 1954 and now have a small collection of MG's. Like the others, I would keep going, there's nothing like a restored MG to drive around! The Varitone will be my everyday car!
Barry Bahnisch

George.
Don't give in now as your great pleasure is in the near future. Just do it now and get it on the road. I am turning 83 this October and am just starting an MG-TA-Tickford.
Doing that is the best thing you or I can do to keep out of mischief.
Sandy
ss sanders

This thread was discussed between 21/05/2014 and 25/05/2014

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