MG T-ABC

Summer is just about over but thought I would post this article I wrote.
My TC has had no problems with vapour lock now and have now fitted all new radiator hoses .
I discovered my car had no thermostat either so now runs about 70 degrees constant although it always worries me at traffic lights but the highest it has reached was 80 degrees.
Since this article I have also fitted new king pins and overhauled the brakes.
I think I sent a post about that as discovered stub axles were back to front and had dramas when after reaming beam axle discovered that the 5 thou over size king pins were actuall 6 thou one end and 5 the othe [poor machining]r so that on drivers side what was a tight fit at 1st was looser after pushed right through but with hubs sleeved can only just feel the slightest movement and has made a huge difference on the road
The drivers side was the worst because someone had machined opposite side of cotter pin so that it literaly fell out.
Even the new cotter pins had to have the heads cut down to match tops of original ones as could not get the turning circle but better than having tyres hitting inner guards like before
Brakes are better but not as much as i would of hoped given the fact that hoses were all but clogged up but may be that new front linnings still need to bed in more but at least I know that cylinders ,hoses and pipes are all good now
Ian Theobald

heat shield

you dont think I would leave thermostat and other pipes unpainted.
have painted back of radiator and cross bracket as well as stay bar
Next will be painting steering column and other bits ,note how starter cable attaches
My car has no hand throttle linkage and is missing all brackets and was told may have TD carbies.
Who needs a hand throttle here anyway.
I have discovered that diff is a later model with TC ends welded on but not sure what ratio it has.

Nice looking engine compartment...and nice heat shield!

A thermostat wouldn't keep your car from overheating...they're put in the cooling system to let the engine reach operating temperature faster by not letting the water circulate through. Once opened they're just like a pipe.

Interesting about your differential - I'd love to see some photos. I was thinking about doing that myself but don't have a spare TC rear axle housing to destroy...but would love to find one if someone had an extra.

Hi Gene, My car never suffered from overheating,quite the opposite. When I fitted a temperature guage the best could reach was 60 degrees but leave it 5 minutes and would only start on 2 cylinders.Who would ever think it was running only on one carburettor.
The car starts instantly now with little or no choke as it never gets really cold by overseas standards although it would be nice to find a happy medium as sometimes to hot to take out.
My garage faces the western sun so by the time I get home from work dont feel like going into a sauna.
My next project is to replace a sagging drivers side rear spring but can wait as have so many small projects to keep me busy.
Have acquired a Honda 4 chopper with Californian Santi frame from a bloke at work who just retired to try and put all back together,My little 1928 BSA 2 stroke just cries for attention and to be ridden as well as a 1976 Yamaha 250 2 stroke that I have fully restored after being beside a shed for 25 yrs and lastly my old trailer sailer that needs a coat of paint inside.
I have plenty to keep me busy for when I retire.
Off course there is always the other usuall stuff like mowing the lawns around the house. Time for a beer I think.

A heat shield is definitely worth it on a driver. I just made some up out of aluminum for my XPAG and it has cured the hot restart problem. The fuel pump "clicks" a lot less which tells me the gasoline isn't boiling out of the carbs as fast. Should have installed one years ago!

Ian

Did you also add additional spacers ? If so did you have any clearance problems between the air intake and the bonnet ?

Geoff

Ian the heat shield looks very professional,did you make it or have it made by a sheet metal mob? Its gets very hot in Melbourne Vic and I get fuel vaporisation in TC 2268.I tried the one in the tech section but I am not convinced its OK for Aussie summers. Also could you gen us up on the thermostat, whats it out of et all? Are you happy if I make contact via the Vic T reg files for a chat re this? My email is ..jfcockrem@gmail.com

John Cockrem TC 2268

Have been away for a while interstate up in the northern territority.
The heat shield was purchased from the UK from the TTT2 site. I believe some people have had problems with carbis hitting side of bonnets after fitting but my car does not have this problem.
I think reason for vapour lock was the sized up piston on front SU.
The thermostat was obtained complete with housing from Sports Parts in Sydney Australia and car now runs at steady 70-75 degrees.I discovered that all hoses and pipes were all ready to fail so good that were replaced .The fact that not presurised possibly was why never leaked. Ian.
[scmc038@gmail.com ]

Hi Ian ,many thanks for your reply, I`ve taken it all on board and so a few more jobs on 2268. I never had issues in the "good old days" of leaded petrol, hate this muck we have to use in our beloved TCs now!

Beautiful looking engine, Ian.

Hi Ian:

A great idea and a stop to vapor lock. Can you e-mail me a drawing with dimensions of your heat shield?

reed714@sbcglobal.net