MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - TD - Floorboard Gasket Installation

Does anyone have any advice with respect to the installation of the "Floorboard Gaskets" under the floorboards around the base of the roll-bar between the frame and the floorboards. I didn't take my car apart - but it appears that they were "glued" to the frame because the old ones seem to have some sort a tarry-like substance slopped / brushed on them that is now hard and brittle. I think this substance was between the gasket and the frame because there doesn't appear to be any indication of it on the bottom of the floorboards.

I have searched the archives and have found nothing to this point - hence this posting.

Thank you for any light that anyone might be able to share on this issue.


Charlie King
'52 TD - 16504
C G King

I used "bitchathane" roofing tar material and it works fine!
efh Haskell

I assumed that mine “jelly-fyed” and rehardened with age. Had to chip them out. Installed new ones under the floorboards of a friend’s TF this week. Didn’t use any sealant. I’ll watch answers to your post to decide if I need to seal the ones in my TF restoration ... if I ever get to that stage of completion.

Lonnie
TF7211
LM Cook

On my TF, the rubber was simply crushed between the floor boards and the frame. No need for sealant.

Frank
TF1414
Frank Cronin

I did not find any residual material on the rubber on TD 4136 during the current restoration, bu I know the floors were replaced at some time in its past and it could be they replaced the rubber without any sealant.

I think that may be a Chris Cooper question.
Bruce Cunha

No sealant on mine either. They won't go anywhere.
Christopher Couper

Thank you for your insight / experience to everyone who responded. When the time comes to install the new ones permanently - I probably will put some kind of roofing repair / tar-like stuff between the gaskets and the frame to seal out moisture and help hold them in place while I wrestle with getting the floorboards in and the holes lined up!!!

Charlie King
'52 TD (16504)
C G King

Contrary to popular belief, you do not want to use any sealer with floorboard installation. The car is not a boat. At some point, water will get in the car, and it needs an easy exit. Gravity is your friend. The water that will find its way in to the car needs a clear path to exit. You do not want to create any water traps. The factory got this right. Any small amount of water that may find its way up and in to the car due to driving in rain or through puddles will easily drain back out.
Be well,
David
D. Sander

Mr. Sander:

Thank you very much. I doubt that a couple of dabs of tar / whatever on each of these "roll-bar gaskets" constitutes an attempt to seal the TD's body tub / floorboards should one want to go fishing / trolling for pickerel / walleye in the TD.


Everyone:

However, I have attached a photo of what I think to be the underside of the old "gaskets" (i.e.the side against the frame?) and one can see that something has been gobbed on - in two places on each "gasket" - using what would appear to be a quick dab with a tar-brush - of something resembling tar, glue, whatever (?)

What I originally was trying to determine was whether this was something that was meant to hold the "gaskets" in place while the floorboards were wrestled into position or whether it served some other purpose - and if so - what that purpose might be.

I have no reason to believe that the car was taken apart to the point where these "gaskets" were removed and replaced (with tarry-stuff added) between May of 1952 when the car was built and the summer of 1968 when I bought it.

Sometimes, during my re-assembly of this TD, I swear that that it was originally assembled by throwing all the pieces / parts and bits into the air and sewing, gluing, stitching, screwing, bolting, welding, or otherwise attaching them together wherever / however they they landed on the floor!!!

Stay well everyone.

Charlie King
'52 TD (16504)


C G King

This thread was discussed between 02/02/2021 and 06/02/2021

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG TD TF 1500 BBS now