TC Steering box

[Tom Lange, MGT Repair]

The brass ? you show as #1 at the top of your first picture are trunion bushes for the TA/TB suspensions; one fits on either side of the spring in the trunion box. The rectangular plate at the left is the rear cylinder head plate, which often rusts through. #2, the 8 cylinders, are tappets or followers, and can be re-surfaced. #3, the 8 bolts at the right are connecting rod bolts, which frequently stretch, and are throw-aways. #4 may be a set of valve spring oil deflectors.

Brass bushing #1 in the second photo may well be a rear axle bush, which becomes un-necessary once you use the axle nuts with built-in seals. #2, are probably shock absorber mounting pins, #3 is an unknown piece of carb
linkage (perhaps only TA?), #4 is a brake bleeder.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair

[Franz Tenbrock]

thy
for the help every time
you are the best

what is with the special oil pump ready ?

[Tom Lange, MGT Repair]

Franz - always happy to help.

If you are referring to the oil piump I mention on my mgtrepair.net page, we are just about to inspect the pattern, in order to begin casting housings. This will be our first pump, and we will be doing extensive testing in a T-series car before we feel we can sell even a single pump - probably at least 6 months' worth. The outside of the pump will look just like an XPAG pump, but the internals will all be modern, trochoid, self-priming pumps.

With such an imnportant piece of the engine, it has to be 100% right - 99% is not acceptable.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair

[searunner]

Hi Andrea,
have you made some pictures ??.........
it is not so much videos to this problem in the internet ...

Hi Franz
Steering stop bolts --Finally I have find the time to sleep under my TC --and also make the photo on my LH
wheel- obvious RH are the same
Sorry test on the photo are in Italian BUT easy to understand
https://photos.app.goo.gl/VZLNxijdNoEQ6AKt5
https://photos.app.goo.gl/36GXacYUUHGzoHRv7
Ciao

[timberstone]

Owned TC0820 for more than 40 years with full intention to keep everything as original as possible.
However, having done everything possible to get the Bishop Cam steering box suitable for normal driving, but still not able to stay straight, turn within any reasonable radius and having to worry about breaking something while trying to muscle the wheel around, as well as the family concern about the steering and safety of driving the car -- which by now has become more than just an "old curmudgeon" in the family (like me), we finally decided to try something different.
Over the years of trial and error every part, piece, pin, bushing, end, ball, peg and shaft was replaced. All the postings, tech articles and shop manuals were researched. The BC Box was machined to modify defects in order to accept Tompkins kit properly, drop shaft machined and re-chromed, shaft hole bushed and sealed, new peg, worm gear, end play ball bearings replaced. All steering linkage replaced with new parts and new kingpins with roller bearing thrust plates. Aligned to 3/8" toe-in, caster shims in place to reduce caster angle, wheels trued and balanced with new rubber, tires inflated to proper pressure.
Still just not able to have confidence in the steering to go reliably where pointed, even though there are probably many other who apparently had few of the problems we encountered.
Discussed various steering box conversions with others who have performed them and found several. There was a conversion from an Anglia that made too many turns from lock to lock, the Datsun conversion which appeared bulky in the engine compartment. Heard about the TR conversion. Finally saw the mention in this posting about the VW conversion by Martin Willis of the MWmachineshop in Colorado Springs. Their website discussed some of the technical development of this conversion which seemed to make the least outward changes from original while improving much.
So, in the vein of desperation about trying something, we took the plunge and installed the MW conversion of the VW steering gear box. Now, the road feels firm, wheels track true, turns are very easy and we go where the steering wheel is pointed. Most importantly now, even other members of the family feel confident in the safety and handling of this “newly re-minted” member of the family.

[Steve Simmons]

The VW box works fine, but it has a very low ratio which means a lot of turns from lock to lock. Not very sporting, but quite stable. It also requires drilling out a frame rivet and enlarging the hole for the steering column, unless something has changed recently. The Datsun box has a better ratio and fits without drilling anything, but has unfortunately become very difficult to find. It's very slightly larger than the original but fits without issue.

[Duncan M]

By "better ratio" of a Datsun box, Steve means better than the VW box.

[Steve Simmons]

Yes, thanks for the clarification. It's still very truck-like compared to the BC box but not quite as bad as the VW. The VW is 3 turns compared to the original 1.5 turns, while Datsun is about 2.5 turns.

[timberstone]

Follow up report on the conversion to upgraded steering box:

There have been some developments since replacement of the original Bishop Cam steering box (which even had the Tompkins Kit properly machined) with a newly machined version of some other (perhaps VW?) steering box.
We have toured and have simulated a revival of a "road race" with the new steering box. There is no loss of "handling" and honestly cannot sense any lack of handling ability.
We proceed in far straighter lines and with more definite turns than ever previously thought possible.
The stress level about whether any maneuver will take place as hoped, is greatly decreased.
We can maneuver at slow speeds - such as parking and shopping - with far less "arm-strong" handling of the wheel.
We have removed the caster shims, that were in place for the BC box, so that now we proceed along the road in very definitely straighter line -- with little input at the wheel.
Can almost go down the road "hands off" a considerable distance.
There is imperceptible "slack" at the wheel before the tires start the turn.

Note that Mike Sherrell in his book "TCs Forever" cites the Bishop Cam steering box as the Achilles Heel of the TC, and this modification is made for safety and reliability as well as for better performance. "I will place the car where angels fear to tread these days...." (p. 104)

Would therefore like to know whether anyone has a list, and varieties, of the currently upgraded types of Steering Box for our MGTCs. (I am happy with one I got from Colorado Springs, but would like to know additional origins)

Octagonally yours, Boxley (Robert and MGTC 0820)

[Steve Simmons]

Sounds about right. It's a more relaxed drive all around, until you get into twisty stuff at which point you notice the loss of sportiness. Some people prefer the lower ratio in general, while some others can't stand it.

The only places I know of to get aftermarket steering are from Martin Willis, who manufactures the VW kits, and from Doug Pelton who I think (maybe someone can confirm or deny) gets them from Martin.

https://mwthemachineshop.com/mg-tc-steering-conversion
https://fromtheframeup.com/uploads/Cat_21_ST.pdf