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MG TD TF 1500 - Spring XPAG tune-up

On the "whatever can be wrong, probably is" front, I was called recently about a TC that had "not been running this year and needed a tune-up". My first warning should have been when it was towed in on the hook, not on a flat-bed...

Battery was dead; charged.
spark plugs - VERY wrong heat range - installed new.
distributor cap - one wire terminal broken.
spark plug wires - only one or two wire strands left at the terminals. Replaced wires and cap.
points were new, but corroded from sitting, filed clean, re-installed.
Distributor was bone dry - lubed. Adjusted dwell.
Lubed choke and starter cables

Car would then crank merrily and cough every once in a while, but not run. Not ignition at that point, so check fuel.
Removed one carb bell, found brass piston would not move freely due to corrosion inside the bell. Removed both, removed 90wt and water in dashpots (!), cleaned thoroughly, turned bells so that the pistons moved easily. Filled with Marvel Mystery Oil.
Removed float bowl covers and found crusty floats, so I completely removed both float bowls. Both were at least 1/3 filled with crystalline gunk, and float needles were stuck in the seats. Cleaned everything, soda-blasted everything but the pistons and bells.
No filters in the float covers; installed.
No pipes in the overflow stubs; made up a set to route the overflow fuel away from the exhaust manifold.
Replaced the fuel filter by the tank, and cleaned the filter in the pump.
Changed the engine oil, did a complete lube. A pleasant Sunday's work!

THEN it started right up, I checked the timing - now it runs like a top. Made a (long) list of what I would do to the car if it were mine, to give to the owner. Steering is still scary, but I'll see what the owner wants me to do about that - if anything!

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Reminds me of an ad that says, "It ran when parked"! LOL
PJ Jennings

That was the theme for one of my valve cover racers.

L E D LaVerne

:-)

L E D LaVerne

Where is BoB?
TRM Maine

Tom, thankfully there are people like you out there that can put things right, at least up to the owner's budget. Me thinks this car might have sat for more than just one year.
John Quilter (TD8986)

I agree, John - I put the owner's statement in quotes for a reason!

I let the car sit and cool off for the rest of the day, and again it started right up this evening. It feels good to do constructive work. Parts needed were a distributor cap, wire set, plugs, 2 carb filters, pair of float needles and seats, lubricants and solvents. A decent Spring tune-up!

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Tom, wish you were near here!

I am going to have my carbs overhauled, just trying to be driveable right now, winter will be carb time.

Peter
P G Gilvarry

I reciently got this MGB running. It was parked, outside for 30 years. The distributer was full of water, the engine was seized, the carb pistons were frozen, all the rubber on the carbs was rock hard and cracked, the water pump was seized and the coolant was a green powder.
It now runs! https://youtu.be/oTZ_bnLQVUs
Be well,
David

D. Sander

This thread was discussed between 21/05/2017 and 24/05/2017

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