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MG TD TF 1500 - Use a different chassis for TD restoration?

Good day to all again,
AS some of you may recognize, I am in the beginning stages of a frame-off restoration of my TD. As it happens, I came across another rolling chassis which I bought for parts. However, on first inspection, this frame, especially the brake lever box and front dumbirons is in much better condition than mine. I haven't done any measurements yet. What is your advice on using a different chassis than the original. As you know, what that means is that the chassis number will no longer match the engine. How important is that? Also, is a chassis change likely to cause me problems with body fitting down the road? I am looking for advice from the many experts on this site.
Thanks for any help you can give.

Oh, by the way, if it matters, these two cars were produced about 18 days apart in 1952. (#17056 and #17744 original)

Jim
JV Smith

If the chassis are near to the same date I think you would be OK. Careful measurements could help you validate this.

Yes the chassis number will be different. You could technically cut the front dumb iron off and then reweld it on the other frame but that seems like a lot of work.

Seems like some work on the brake lever box and the front dumb iron would be easier. Then you would have less chance of fitment errors with the body etc.

If it's going to be a nice car it's better if the numbers match. If it never will be then not so much.

IMHO it's almost always better to repair than replace.
Christopher Couper

I would NOT recommend doing it, due to title and registration issues, as well as value down the road. I assume your car presently has matching numbers? Keep them, and repair the frame issues - they do not sound bad.

Non-matching numbers, in my opinion, deducts about a thousand dollars from the value of the car. You will have no problem with fit if you use the "new" frame, but the next buyer will look at the car askance.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

If it were me I would swop the LH dumb iron as described above.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Cutting the left dumbiron off and replacing it with the better one, would sound good, but the chassis number is on that dumbiron. It seems like even though the frame would be original, the new left dumbiron would confuse the issue since it would have the wrong chassis number on it. I just realized that i may have misinterpreted Christopher's post. One of the problems with my chassis is that the left dumbiron is a wreck. I can't seem to get it straight. Maybe this is a situation where I should take the chassis and let a professional straighten the left dumbiron and then re-weld the broken weld.

How hard would it be for me to cut off the brake pedal box and just weld the better one onto my frame? It looks pretty easy.

Thoughts?
Jim
JV Smith

Swopping the number to the good chassis and destroying the bad one would be a darn sight easier. Getting the pedal box in exactly the correct position, is not as easy as it sounds, I don't expect this suggestion to get universal accord though.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Whatever is easiest and least expensive would be my guide. If it were me I'd go with Dave . Just a few hours with my SS cutting blade, MIG and job done. Well there's also the prep, clean up and some painting involved. But you'd have to do that anyway. Whatever you do, ensure you end up with matching numbers. Don't forget to factor in the return that you'd get when you sell the chassis that you didn't use. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Not that hard to replace the dumb iron, my right front had to be replaced, but of course there was no number on it either. If you replace the chassis with a better one, put the dumb iron that came with the car on it. Their easy to straighten if damaged, especially if it's off the car. PJ
PJ Jennings

The brake lever box takes a bit of cutting to get the welds off, but it is doable.

But if you swap out the dumb irons, you end up with the same issue, a car with different registration numbers. If you need to go that route, using the other frame is probably an easier option.
Bruce Cunha

Fill the stamping with weld, grind flat and re stamp.
How many T's have had a front end smash and new dumb irons fitted ?. I am working one one now that had a bang in the early 60's, had a new one fitted and is not numbered.
My own car only has half its original chassis the rear is from a 53 TD, California car that had a front end smash.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

Exactly.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Thanks for all the great comments. I'm not sure exactly what route I will take, but when I get done, the correct stamp will be on the left dumbiron. There is someone in town who has restored several t-series cars. It seems like now is a good time to meet him.

Thanks again,

Jim
JV Smith

This thread was discussed between 10/07/2020 and 11/07/2020

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