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MG TD TF 1500 - Scuttle welded wrong

Found out why the left side firewall was gaped where bolted against the wood. The scuttle was welded 3/16ths of an inch forward of where it should be! This car had been apart before repairing it from an accident years ago. The scuttle was replaced and from what I see they didn't put it on right. The right side is perfect, but the left isn't. Then to top it off, they cut off material from the top of the inter wood strip to push the edge of the scuttle over enough to match it up to the side panel. In doing so, the wood was too narrow at the top for proper nailing. I have to cut the weld out over the door on the scuttle to re position in it's proper position and weld it back up. This car is going to drive me crazy. I could have spent 30 grand, had a nice car to drive and eliminated all of this. But of course, I wouldn't be having all this fun would I!

Sorry for the poor photo, but it'll give you an idea what I mean. PJ



Paul S Jennings

That Miata must be sounding better and better :)
Geoffrey M Baker

LOL, Your right Geoffery! Be awfully hard getting used to having something I only need to drive and not work on! Grin. PJ
Paul S Jennings

All these things are sent to try us Paul, I restored my very rare (in Australia) 1929 Chrysler it was a breeze, but the few things that I have found I need to do to my TF all seem complicated, I doubt if I could pull on a complete restoration of a TF.
I collect and restore Vintage timepieces I also find that a lot less challenging as well.
I hope I can follow your restoration all the way Paul it sounds very interesting.

Good luck

George

G Mills

Well George, I cut the weld on the back of the scuttle and slid it back to comply with the line on the front panel and all came out ok. What I did find was the cross brace underneath had a bent end plate forcing the wood outward and not letting the side of the scuttle move in where it was supposed to be. So what else is new! Straightened out cleaned primed and painted, ready to put back in tomorrow. Whoever put the car back together after the accident must have been in a hurry and made a lot of mistakes. I'll give them the benefit of doubt anyway. All I have to do then is weld it back up and finish it as if it never happened. Have to order a piece of wood tomorrow to replace the previously butchered piece. Ah, don't you just love these old British cars! LOL. PJ
Paul S Jennings

Scuttle misalignment fixed! Cut weld, repositioned, re welded, repaired cross brace then temp mounted firewall and wood to check for alignment and all came out on the money. I think the bolt holes are getting larger from putting this thing together and taking it apart repeatedly! I'm not a stranger to car restoration, but I have never had to put one together and pull it apart as many times as this one. Everything comes back off now to get cleaned up. PJ



Paul S Jennings

Another photo, Checking for alignment.

Paul S Jennings

Paul

A little word of advice for what its worth, ensure your dash fits into its cavity. The person who rebuilt my tub made it necessary to cut 6mm out of my dash to get it to fit.

Also not a bad move to check the windscreen fitment at this stage a little trick communicated to me by a professional rebuilder is to fill the cavity between the side panel and the frame with panel bog, this prevents any possibility of panel distortion when you fix the windscreen pillars.

Both the dash and windscreen width have an effect on the distance between the side panels.
G Evans

Ok, Thank you, I'll check those two measurements! Sure would be a little upsetting to find out the windscreen and or dash didn't fit after the doors are fitted. After mounting the rear quarters, I have to set the tub on the chassis and align the doors, then pull it back and ready it for the painter. No one could have ever convinced me that restoring on of these would be such a pain, but I'll survive it, I just hope the car does! LOL. PJ
Paul S Jennings

looking forward to more progress mate


regards

george
G Mills

Hmmm...how did the bonnet USED TO FIT?
Gene Gillam

This thread was discussed between 11/04/2014 and 14/04/2014

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