T-Series & Prewar Forum

Thanks Archie and Tim. Archie, the previous owner of this car had your surname. Looking forward to tomorrow now with some fresh idea and skinned knuckles.

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Merv Hyde
Queensland Australia
MG TF 1500
Porsche 356B (S) 1962
Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 1987

Yes many thanks Tony. That was my plan late yesterday but something is still holding things up. I will give it another crack this morning with the Leaning Radiator.

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Merv Hyde
Queensland Australia
MG TF 1500
Porsche 356B (S) 1962
Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 1987



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022-05-25 03:54 PM by Mervo.

Well still not the result I was hoping for yet. I managed - by removing the adjustable cross beam, releasing the radiator connections at the top and the 2 (?) in the fender well, the two large nuts from the threaded support bushing at the base and the hoses. The bumper bar is also off. I could then tilt the rad forward just over an inch.This gave a bit more room and I managed to get one of the fan bolts on but the others would not align, even using the crank handle to get the best positions.

EDIT: I eventually managed to get enough tilt but still struggling with bolt alignment with the threads in the water pump. It is a fine and unusual thread in these bolts and matching ones are hard to find. These are the ones that came with the Hi-Gear kit I believe. I can get two in without problem but the other two seem to have been treated to Loctite at some stage and their threads are poor.

May I ask what is the standard thread for these bolts?

I might have to re-tap the holes in the water pump and use some M5 or M6.

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Merv Hyde
Queensland Australia
MG TF 1500
Porsche 356B (S) 1962
Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 1987



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2022-05-26 06:07 AM by Mervo.

Merv, the gasket (small piece of rubber hose) that you put on your hook, is it for vibrations?
It's weird, since there is a compression spring underneath.
Thierry

The PO put it there , not me Thierry. It seems to protect the paint on the latch also. I have adjusted the catches and they work fine, at this stage.

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Merv Hyde
Queensland Australia
MG TF 1500
Porsche 356B (S) 1962
Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 1987



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022-05-26 01:57 AM by Mervo.

Merv, you should be able to carefully lift the radiator assembly completely out at this point. It might be your best (and least knuckle-busting) option at this point.

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Archie (Scott) McAllister
1955 MG TF1500
1968 Austin Healey Sprite
1963 Austin Healey 3000

II was wondering the same thing, never seen this done before. As long as it works.

Hi Merv,

I have not been following this thread that closely but it does not seem right that you can get two bolts in but not the other two -- for misalignment. Just curious, have you removed the spacer and checked it for hole alignment with the new fan? I know my spacer did not match up exactly with the new MGB fan. I even tried just getting two of the bolts started so I can wiggle the fan to fit the other bolts in. That did not work. So, I had to enlarge a couple holes and then install tubing in all the holes to make sure the bolts were perfectly snug while the fan was turning. But then again I was installing an older version of the MGB fan so maybe that was just my issue.

I forgot about it, but I had exactly the same problem as Merv with misalignment of holes in the spacer.

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Archie (Scott) McAllister
1955 MG TF1500
1968 Austin Healey Sprite
1963 Austin Healey 3000

I think it's more for comfort when we put the hood down. There should not be any more there this noise of clacking.
I will nevertheless make the test to see.
What I don't understand is that the seal must go under the hook of the hood and thus tear off? Well, that's how the hood is hooked, and when we unlock it, the striker (the one fixed on the engine panel) swings open.
Thierry

Tony and Archie have got it.

This has been the main problem, as you have three elements in play (MG water pump hub, the fan and the spacer) and misalignment is almost inevitable. I took the fan off several times and checked alignment flat on the bench using some thin longer plain rods (longer than the bolts) and worked on getting that part right. The thin, fragile-threaded bolts from the Hi-Gear kit don't help as they bruise easily. I will need to get a few more similar ones to finish this job. I would love to confirm what the original size and pitch of those bolts is? In one MG description they are "SIZE: 5-0.75mm and LENGTH 1 9/16ths". So like these https://www.ukmgparts.com/product/tbtc-midcat-6-subtbtc5-water-pump-thermostats-elbows/bolt-fan-blade-mgtd-tf-m5-x-0-75-aaa5213

Buying them locally is impossible. The closest in hi-tensile steel is M5 x 0.8 (not 0.75).

EDIT: I managed to clean up the threads (they are hi-tensile it seems) and then removed the whole radiator and grille assembly. Then I sat there for an hour getting the bolts in absolutely vertical. All bolted down now. Re-assembly of car now started. I hope the new fan fits properly behind the radiator. It should based on my measurements and the advice of others who have done this. Thank you everyone who has helped with this!

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Merv Hyde
Queensland Australia
MG TF 1500
Porsche 356B (S) 1962
Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 1987



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2022-05-26 09:36 PM by Mervo.

Thierry the former owner for well over 50 years was an aircraft engineer and he tells me this was an anti-rattle 'thing' he used.

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Merv Hyde
Queensland Australia
MG TF 1500
Porsche 356B (S) 1962
Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 1987

Merv, that's what I thought, the bindings don't need that rubber, just adjust them. The spring prevents this rattling.
Sincerely, Thierry from Ardèche, South of France

Makes sense thanks Thierry. I will get around to it at some stage. I have to finish re-assembling this car after the fan installation and then there is a new steering rack waiting for me.

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Merv Hyde
Queensland Australia
MG TF 1500
Porsche 356B (S) 1962
Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 1987

Merv, there are several points to improve and myself, I realized it as I went along.
Sincerely, Thierry from Ardèche, South of France