T-Series 1953 MG TD Reassembly - CONTINUOUSLY UPDATED

[tony barnhill]

Well, here's today:

& the doors...from this:

Back to this:

& then this:

All to get 100-point door alignment along the front edge of the door to body....that slanted piece of metal put on the doors by the factory was supposed to do that; however, 54 years later its relaxed a bit.....

I can't take credit for the fix. One of outr members, zahnej, sent me a photo of his fix & I copied it:

Then, while I was reassembling the door panel, my new (less than 1 week old) air staple gun from HB burst shooting a staple through my leg...I had to take the gun back to HF for a replacement...oh well, grass needs cutting anyway!

 

[Steve_S]

The turnbuckle is an effective solution for adjusting the "straightness" of the door, providing you don't pull it "too" tight.

 

[tony barnhill]

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/iagree.gif We closed the door & slowly tightened the turnbuckle as we watched the bottom of the door pull inward....then we measured the gap until we had it the same from top to bottom.

 

[Steve_S]

The metal can take it, you just have to be careful about stressing the wood. Once the inner panels are nailed on, you can't see the wood start to crack over time.

 

[YankeeTR]

Great interior color....

Glad the Horrible Freight staple gun didn't kill you...

 

[vping]

That's a nice fix. I've got a door with a bent hinge. I ordered a replacement hinge but I know I'm in for it when I try to remove the crumbling door panel & try to take out the old screws. 55 year old slotted screws - shiver - can't be easy to take out & reuse.

 

[tony barnhill]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]55 year old slotted screws - shiver - can't be easy to take out & reuse. [/QUOTE]

They're not...& I learned that the slots aren't really deep enough for a screwdriver...so, the ones we had to reus today, we cut the slots a tad bit deeper....however, you can get all new hardware in kit form (hinge kit, door kit, windshield kit, etc.)...that's what I've done.

<u>NEW QUESTION:</u> How are the door sill strips adheered to the body? My new ones came in today with no holes, no hardware, nothing for attaching them!! Are they glued in place?

 

[Wray]

I would definitely make a small "L" bracket to go on the inside corner of those two lower pieces of wood frame to keep them from shifting or coming apart.

 

[vping]

This must be a favorite angle to photograph TD doors. This is mine from lat year. Your looking at some old stuff here.
Notice the little barrel shapes on the handle & side frame attachment. There was a small rope like handle here that was used to close the door. I think it was an after market item. I found some remnants of it in the door pocket along with a D&D die, a Ronald McDonald ring & some ancient food stamps.

 

[tony barnhill]

Good photo - I can see the little screws holding your door sill covers in place...the new ones don't have holes - or come with screws...can you give me some measurements?

 

[vping]

Why certainly. One moment please.....

 

[vping]

This should do it.

 

[tony barnhill]

No, no...sorry...maybe I wasn't clear...I'm talking about the sill plates - the pieces of metal along the body tub under the doors when they're closed....its just barely visible in the right edge of your photo.

 

[vping]

Ohh! Gotcha. Here is one while you wait. It's all in the details my friend. Side curtain screw.

By the way, the one thing that all TD owners should be able to take away from this is "This Entire Thread". I'd like to know how we can save this to CD as I'd like to keep it as a permanent photographic & written record of the rebuilding of a TD.

 

[tony barnhill]

That was gonna be my next request...a photo of how the rear side curtain bracket is attached to the body tub...think you can grab a better angle?

 

[vping]

Man the restoration of your car is becoming a part time job for me /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif d'b my pleasure Tony but this is a toughie. I had to pry it open with a toothbrush to prevent damage. I'll see if I can get it open a little more and maybe get a ruler in there.

 

[vping]

Here is the sill from back to front and the screw size. I doubt that screw has seen the light of day in awhile.

 

[Steve_S]

Unless I'm mistaken, no TDs came with those plates as standard. So the holes go wherever you think they should go. Use screws, not rivets.

 

[tony barnhill]

True, Steve...there are no holes anywhere on mine - think they were aftermarket or dealer adds...while the plates were not original, everybody has them so I'm thinking about adding a set to cover the seam...I had previously ordered a set from Moss & they arrived today...they say "M.G. Car Company LTD." in black....no holes anywhere...was thinking there had to be some rhyme of where to drill holes & what type little stainless screws to use (MGB's have real tiny ones).

Gotta think this through before I drill!

 

[zahnej]

Guys,

That door fix is fairly common with TD restorers. It is meant to tweak the doors - no heavy duty gap problems - you need to fit the doors properly and then use this to tweak. Mine has been on about 3 months and I have found that the wood has taken to the new "set" and there is now very little pressure on the turnbuckle - probably could remove it - but I won't. I originally had about a 1/16" problem.

Hey vping wanna sell those lockset covers?

Tony I have the small screws that hold that sill plate down - but cannot guarranty they are stock. They were holding down plates that have "MG Car Company" etched in them and we all know that originally they were plain plates with no markings. Looks like vping has an original set. I would be curious what the screws are also.

Ed