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MG TD TF 1500 - TD rad removal

I need to remove the radiator and shell from my car, there must be an easy way to remove the nuts from the bottom retaining bolts but it looks as if the steering rack is in the way. Any tips on how to proceed please? Everything else is clear. Thanks in anticipation, Peter.
P J Wilgoss

Peter - As far as I know, there is no easy to get those nuts off. On our TD, it is double nuted on each stud and the outer nut is self locking, resulting in getting it off one flat at a time. My one piece of advice is to take a deep breath and a whole bucket full of patience. My first attempt at getting the nuts off, I forgot the patience and wound up with my thumb between the frame and the spanner that had just slipped off the nut that I had put most of my weight behind, with the result being a trip to the emergency room at the local hospital to get a hole drilled into the nail. Cheers - Dave
DW DuBois

Yup,,, a spanner and one flat at a time!!!! Just remember the sequence of how everything comes off and what spacer washers might have been put on by the PO..

Steve
Steve Wincze

Thanks Dave and Steve, I have the picture in vivid Technicolour, no magic answer, I was ever hopeful. My next Saturday job!!! Regards, Peter.
P J Wilgoss

I make it easy, I don't put the damn things back on. I know of another builder in the area who does the same thing. The radiator is held on by the hood, the lights and the struts, it is not going anywhere. Mine has been like that for over 10 years now and no problems.
TRM Maine

Peter, I have an odd wrench in my toolbox for that very operation. There is an SAE wrench that is just about the same size as the nuts. Find it and buy a cheap double ended wrench that has it at one end. Cut/grind the other end of the wrench off. That gives you an open end wrench short enough to put around a nut and give it a good turn. I believe in the original double-nutted system. You can not remove the nuts with the radiator in its fully down position. You want to use some shims to raise the radiator a bit as you get the nuts off. That will allow you to remove the nuts. Good luck. Bud
Bud Krueger

Bud, thank you for your contribution, you have mirrored similar advice given to me by a TD owner in the last 12 hours. He made a wooden wedge which he swears by and reiterates your advice. I have a spanner to grind down so 'here goes'! This advice is like the Incas and Egyptians building pyramids at the same time without the Internet!
P J Wilgoss

I agree with not putting them back on. Also very hard to get them back on. As I remember, I also got a thin wrench to take them off the first time.
Bruce TD4139 Cunha

Above great advice. Many cars have had the radiator support bar put on backwards over the years which really limits access to the nuts. George
George Butz

This thread was discussed between 01/10/2015 and 03/10/2015

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