MG TC Dumb Iron/Eyelet Casting

[rstarkweather]

Below see a picture of the near-side dumb iron on my 1949 MG TC. Please ignore my horrible initial (and impatient) attempts today to remove the paint to try to see if there was a ID stamp. Turns out a wire brush in a cordless drill is a terrible idea, especially on POR-15 paint. All I did is scratch/gouge everything up.

I need to take another picture of the inside of the frame to better inform all of you regarding my question, but it seems that the eyelet castings on my car have two bolts attaching them to the side of the frame, in addition to the rivet from top to bottom. I looked underneath the car this afternoon to confirm, but forgot to take a second picture.

I was looking at a picture posted in another thread of TC 0273, and it seems to me that I have much less "room" along the frame rail between the closest eyelet bolt and the eyelet casting (which is why I was trying to see if there was a ID stamp below the closer bolt hole). However the eyelet bolt that is closest to the shock appears to be in approximately the same position as the single bolt on TC 0273. Thoughts?

The left front frame was repaired on this car in the UK over 25 years ago, and we believe there may not be a ID stamp at all (unfortunately). I am going to do some careful masking/disassembly of some of the nearby painted parts (i.e., the front apron, etc.) and then get some good paint remover and see what we can find.

But the eyelet castings seem different on my car?

[Duncan M]

[Tim Jackson]

This is my TC chasssis and ID if that helps

[rstarkweather]

Tim:

Looks like only one bolt through the side of the eyelet castings on your chassis?

Rick

[Steve Simmons]

One bolt per side is correct. Here's TC 9849.

[BCBryan]

I just finished mine and one bolt is correct. I had to ever so slightly push my frame open to get the cross pipe to slide in, then the pin bolts for the spring pulled it all together.
Bryan.

[rstarkweather]

Bryan, Steve:

I still need to get a picture of the inside of my frame to confirm the casting number on the eyelet casting versus those in the picture(s) above (to see if the casting itself may be different). However, I note that on page 119 of "TCs Forever", there is a photo of a T-type frame with two bolts through the eyelet casting...

Is there any chance this may have been a production change somewhere along the way?

Rick

[Steve Simmons]

I'm not really sure about that, but the casting number should say EX120.

[Duncan M]

While the TC chassis has areas of full box frame, the chassis (front) extensions, or dumb irons, are simply 3/4 box. The TC's Forever picture on 119 shows modified extensions that have been fully boxed, with no further explanation. If you look at the 2 drawings on page 97, it shows the original single bolt.

Could it be a remnant of a mounting bracket for a tube shock modification?

[rstarkweather]

Steve: Is the number under the "EX 120" a "93"? I am going to look at my own car again next week.

Duncan: I agree. Not enough information to go on on page 119 (versus 97).

Just speculating.

Rick

[Steve Simmons]

Steve: Is the number under the "EX 120" a "93"? I am going to look at my own car again next week.

Sure looks like it.

[rstarkweather]

To add to this discussion, attached is a picture of the offside eyelet casting on my TC. Casting number is the same ("EX 120"), but the subtext looks like "92" instead of "93"?

[Duncan M]

I have 92 on the driver side and 93 on the other side. Make sense to avoid confusion on the assembly line.

If you look at the last picture posted you can see a relief cast in to accommodate the one split lock washer and nut. The mystery bolt has no such relief cast in for it, so the holes were added later. Not sure why anyone would think that is a likely piece to break?

[Tom Lange, MGT Repair]

EX is the name of the EXperimental and prototype ledger, now at Gaydon, and EX120 was Capt. Eyston's C-type Monthlery Midget that was extensively damaged by fire, and cut up by the factory!

I wonder what is the connection? Could that TC structure be a re-cycled C-type chassis part?

Tom Lange
MGT Repair

[Steve Simmons]

I've been told in the past that the TC front spring castings were originally for EX120, and they just kept using them up until the TC.

Further reading: https://www.mg-tabc.org/forum/viewtopic ... 19&t=54164

[BCBryan]

My casting looks like EX 120.
Here's a pic; one bolt.
Bryan.