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MG TD TF 1500 - TD Grill Shell Alignment

On a current thread there is a discussion on resetting the grill slat studs after plating. While my cars grill slats fit, I am convinced that the studs are not properly aligned and this is causing a tweaking of the shell when it is mounted (see picture below) that makes the shell gap different on each side.

I have done a loose fit without the slats and it seems to align OK. Add the slats and the grill becomes more rigid and I believe torqued.

So my questions are:

* Is there a way to reset the studs after plating that won't discolor the chrome?

* Is it likely that the wrong placement of the studs is causing the grill slats to alter the shell alignment?

* Has anyone else experienced this and found a good way to cure the problem?

Note: I have seen this same problem on other cars too. My car has never been in an accident so it's not caused by the frame being bent or some other structural issue.

So not sure if I introduced this in my first restoration when I found a few studs had broken loose or if it came this way from the factory.


Christopher Couper

I had a broken stud and I successfully used JB Weld to secure it. I wasn't confident it would work but it seems to have held. Yet to fit it to the radiator though, so my success may be misplaced. Cheers
Peter TD 501
P Hehir

Taking them off would be tricky without damaging the chrome. You might be able to get a dremmel grinding wheel between the shell and the stud, but you have to be very careful to not heat it too much or the chrome will turn blue.

Glues such as JB weld probably would hold them in place reasonably well. As long as you do not torque the nut down too much.

I think your observation could be on track. As the slats have a solid steel top and bottom, if the studs are off, that could pull the shell over to the side.
Bruce Cunha

Chris. I don’t know if you were referring to my recent post regarding my restoration. I’ve spent two days tearing apart my garage, house and storage unit trying to find my huge soldering iron used for lead body work but couldn’t find it. I’m still not convinced it got thrown out during one of my junk runs but it hasn’t surfaced. I tried a standard soldering iron but it barely begins to melt what is immediately under the tip. There is just to much surface area acting as a heat sink. I have a really bad shell that I will try a propane tor ch with a soldering tip tomorrow evening to see if I can get a stud to release without turning the chrome blue. If I have success then I will carefully attempt it on one of my rechromed shells. At this point it is the only thing that is keeping me from installing my bonnets.

Bill Chasser
TD/c-8161
W A Chasser

Didn’t see your post on my thread. You should consider uourself to be lucky to have an air gap between the shell and apron. To many shells I’ve seen have had. chafed holes from them running together. I use furniture leg pads with the sticky backing and apply them on the aprons (front and back) and the top top rolled edge of the fuel tank to prevent paint contact.

To answer your other question re AC decals. My ACs are the MK II units which are larger. The decal is larger and will not fit the standard AC. Timothy Burchfield made some recently to fit the smaller cleaners. You can easily make them yourself using a laser printer with vinyl or decalcomania sheets from your local hobby store. I have done this in the past. After allowing the ink to dry lightly spray several coats of clear over the transfer to prevent water damage
W A Chasser

Chris,
When I replaced my slats with some form Abingdon Spares I also found I had one stud that was loose.
It came off just undoing the nut. SO I reattached it with JB Weld. So far it has held OK.
This is a picture of the stud location and the fit.If it helps.

Rod Jones

There was a thread about the shell to splash apron gap on this or the other board a few years ago. The position of the mounting tabs/wings on the core, as well as the core position on the mounting bracket can be changed if the rad was re-cored. Gap on the right side of my TD wider as well. Car still looks beautiful and no on would have noticed if you hadn't pointed it out! George
George Butz III

This thread was discussed between 16/02/2020 and 17/02/2020

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