Does anybody know TC0777?

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TBrad
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Does anybody know TC0777?

Post by TBrad » Sat Jul 15, 2017 10:15 am

About a month ago I purchased TC0777 from a gentleman in Pennsylvania. He owned the car for about eight years. The car's owner prior to that was a gentleman from Greer, South Carolina who had the car for about 5 years. He in-turn purchased the car locally from a British car speciality repair shop in the Greenville/Spartanburg/Greer area, which is no longer in business (apparently that is another story in itself). According to the prior owners the car was restored in the UK sometime in the '80s. I would say it was restored to a very high standard and has held up very well, if that is in-fact the case. The car was originally black, but is currently painted Cream/Ivory.

I do know, thanks to the efforts of John James, that the car was originally registered in Warwickshire, UK in June of 1946 as EWD 36. Its build date, according to the T-Register, is 14 May 1946. The car now resides with me in Virginia along with TD/C21325, which is undergoing an extensive restoration.
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TD/C21325
TC0777

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XPAGnut
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Re: Does anybody know TC0777?

Post by XPAGnut » Sat Jul 15, 2017 12:47 pm

Brad, a few snaps of an era 1980's British TC restoration (interior & engine bay) would be a curiosity for me, it not other's.

If I am not mistaken there are more than a couple of TD/C experts around here. Don't be shy about asking if a question comes up on your TD restoration.

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Douglas James Taylor
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Re: Does anybody know TC0777?

Post by Douglas James Taylor » Tue Jul 18, 2017 12:28 pm

Nice car and it was registered on my birthday. Good luck with your search.

Douglas

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TBrad
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Re: Does anybody know TC0777?

Post by TBrad » Wed Jul 26, 2017 9:21 am

XPAGnut wrote:Brad, a few snaps of an era 1980's British TC restoration (interior & engine bay) would be a curiosity for me, it not other's.
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If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there!
- Brad P.

TD/C21325
TC0777

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TBrad
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Re: Does anybody know TC0777?

Post by TBrad » Wed Jul 26, 2017 9:30 am

XPAGnut wrote:Brad, a few snaps of an era 1980's British TC restoration (interior & engine bay) would be a curiosity for me, it not other's.
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If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there!
- Brad P.

TD/C21325
TC0777

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frenchblatter
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Re: Does anybody know TC0777?

Post by frenchblatter » Wed Jul 26, 2017 11:12 pm

Brad, my rebuild blog may help. http://www.lotus7news.co.uk/MG-TC-HOME.htm
Lynne & Norman Verona.

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TBrad
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Re: Does anybody know TC0777?

Post by TBrad » Fri Jul 28, 2017 6:47 am

Boy, wouldn't it be nice to find the original log book for #0777. Thanks Norman. I've been reading your Blatting Co. Blog fairly regularly. Are you all settled in now?
If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there!
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TD/C21325
TC0777

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TBrad
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Re: Does anybody know TC0777?

Post by TBrad » Fri Jul 28, 2017 7:02 am

So far I've seen red, green and grey for engines and green, grey or body color for scuttles. Depending on who's book you read seems to determine which color is the most correct at any given time, or it becomes simply a matter of choice. I would like to find the paint code for this avocado (green) scuttle color that TC0777 currently sports. It is possibly on of the correct colors for the timeframe the car was built, which is why I suspect the restorer in the '80s used it. Why the wooden top to the battery case is anybody's guess. I think TAs had wooden tops. What is confusing is the engine is painted red when it most likely would have been the same color of as the scuttle back in the day. I can only assume the restoration shop believed red was the proper color. FTFU uses a distinctly grey paint, although I've seen it listed variably as green, green/grey, grey/green or simply grey.
If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there!
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TD/C21325
TC0777

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Steve Simmons
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Re: Does anybody know TC0777?

Post by Steve Simmons » Fri Jul 28, 2017 8:34 am

Colors are a widely debated topic, but generally speaking early firewalls were painted with surplus military green-ish grey paint, while later cars used body color.
1949 TC8975 / XPAG 9609
1948 TC6011 / XPEG1182 (XPAG6472)
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Re: Does anybody know TC0777?

Post by frenchblatter » Fri Jul 28, 2017 12:26 pm

Brad, yes, nearly finished the house. Glazier should be here tomorrow to finish all the broken glass then we await the new furniture, end of August. I will start sorting out all my garage stuff next week.... then out with the Caterham engine to fit new clutch plates.

Never a dull moment.
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TBrad
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Re: Does anybody know TC0777?

Post by TBrad » Sat Jul 29, 2017 8:48 am

frenchblatter wrote:Brad, yes, nearly finished the house. Glazier should be here tomorrow to finish all the broken glass then we await the new furniture, end of August. I will start sorting out all my garage stuff next week.... then out with the Caterham engine to fit new clutch plates.

Never a dull moment.
Ah, yes. The joys of relocating. Fortunately, Avril & I have not had to do that recently, but there was a time when it was every three years or so.
If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there!
- Brad P.

TD/C21325
TC0777

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TBrad
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Re: Does anybody know TC0777?

Post by TBrad » Sat Jul 29, 2017 9:08 am

I am constantly amazed by the things I find absent, incorrect or simply shoddily done, despite the overall high quality of the car. Today, while I was topping up the gearbox, I pulled back the carpet for the first time to discover the rubber gearbox cover is missing all of its fasteners. Why I did not notice this the first time I drained and refilled the gearbox oil is a mystery to me, but there you have it, so I just ordered a fastener set from FTFU. And yes, I already cleaned the dust and grit from the aforementioned cover.

I also resolved today that I really need a lift for my garage. If anybody has a suggestion for one that is cheap and cheerful, while still being sturdy and safe, feel free to chime in.
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If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there!
- Brad P.

TD/C21325
TC0777

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TBrad
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Re: Does anybody know TC0777?

Post by TBrad » Sat Jul 29, 2017 11:43 am

Rain all day, which is not bad since it brought cooler air allowing me to finally work in the garage for a bit. It's been in the mid to upper nineties (35ºC+) with ghastly humidity to match.
Other discoveries today include the pedal fume excluder retaining plate is secured with (OMG!) Phillips head screws. The rather flimsy carpet, which must be a rather recent addition, is not very well installed. Most of the edges overlap the gearbox cover, except for the rear where is is tucked underneath. I changed that, moving the carpet to overlap the rear of the cover, thinking it might make it easier to move the gearshift lever "snug" circlip into the retaining slot on the gearshift shaft, but no luck. I just can't seem to compress the rubber cover or underlying spring enough to get the circlip seated so the "snug" will continue to rattle around for now until I can get another set of hands to assist. I'm sure there is a "correct way" to layer the carpet, but I'm not really too concerned about it at the moment.
One last thing. The gearbox dipstick seems to jut flop into the case. Is there supposed to be a small rubber seal of some kind?
If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there!
- Brad P.

TD/C21325
TC0777

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stephen stierman
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Re: Does anybody know TC0777?

Post by stephen stierman » Sat Jul 29, 2017 12:05 pm

It is well documented that TC's south of sn# 5000 had light gray firewalls and an engine of similar color. Your car is early and would have been done in that fashion. Tints may very a bit depending upon age, exposure to heat , oil fumes, and what was in the mix. My firewall was never removed from the body timbers although painted the color of the body. Upon removal for a full tub rebuild I found the mounting flanges to be painted a light gray with very slight gloss. This area was not repainted and not exposed to much engine heat or oil fumes. This car would have had an engine of similar color and does now. "Restorers" paint these things all sorts of colors and say they are "correct". The books that I have read pretty well go along with the above colors combinations not something else.

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Tim Jackson
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Re: Does anybody know TC0777?

Post by Tim Jackson » Sat Jul 29, 2017 1:42 pm

If you are in UK, this manual car lift might suit.
http://hamercarlift.com
I saw this at a car show and it seemed like a simple, safe and well made product.
946 TC0999 / XPAG 1638
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TBrad
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Re: Does anybody know TC0777?

Post by TBrad » Sat Jul 29, 2017 1:45 pm

Second question of the day: Are all of the front valance (a.k.a., splash apron) bolts the same?

The front two button head bolts on each side that fasten the badge bar, horn and fog lamp mounts look to be smaller than the third one from the front, which is also a button head. The aft, at least on my car, are simply hex head bolts. I suspect those are wrong and should be button head bolts as well.
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TD/C21325
TC0777

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Tim Jackson
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Re: Does anybody know TC0777?

Post by Tim Jackson » Sun Jul 30, 2017 7:55 am

There are no button head bolts on a TC.
4 apron bolts are hex head 5/16" BSF x 3/4" long with 4 large plain washers 5/16" x 1" x 0.72"
4 badge bar bolts are the same but 1" long, with standard plain washers
Malcolm Green's T series guide has a useful list of most bolts and their application
946 TC0999 / XPAG 1638
restore note

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TBrad
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Re: Does anybody know TC0777?

Post by TBrad » Sun Jul 30, 2017 8:04 am

Tim Jackson wrote:There are no button head bolts on a TC.
4 apron bolts are hex head 5/16" BSF x 3/4" long with 4 large plain washers 5/16" x 1" x 0.72"
4 badge bar bolts are the same but 1" long, with standard plain washers
Malcolm Green's T series guide has a useful list of most bolts and their application
Thanks Tim. I have a copy of Malcolm's book, so I'll have a look. I ordered a "new" set from FTFU yesterday.
If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there!
- Brad P.

TD/C21325
TC0777

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TBrad
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Re: Does anybody know TC0777?

Post by TBrad » Sun Jul 30, 2017 8:10 am

stephen stierman wrote:It is well documented that TC's south of sn# 5000 had light gray firewalls and an engine of similar color. Your car is early and would have been done in that fashion. Tints may very a bit depending upon age, exposure to heat , oil fumes, and what was in the mix. My firewall was never removed from the body timbers although painted the color of the body. Upon removal for a full tub rebuild I found the mounting flanges to be painted a light gray with very slight gloss. This area was not repainted and not exposed to much engine heat or oil fumes. This car would have had an engine of similar color and does now. "Restorers" paint these things all sorts of colors and say they are "correct". The books that I have read pretty well go along with the above colors combinations not something else.
True, Stephen. I've seen the color listed as gray, green, greenish-gray or grayish-green depending on who's book you read. I suspect what you say, which has been repeated by others, is the factory used leftover paint from the war work they were doing. Proper tank and aeroplane colours.
If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there!
- Brad P.

TD/C21325
TC0777

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stephen stierman
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Re: Does anybody know TC0777?

Post by stephen stierman » Sun Jul 30, 2017 2:07 pm

TBrad wrote:
stephen stierman wrote:It is well documented that TC's south of sn# 5000 had light gray firewalls and an engine of similar color. Your car is early and would have been done in that fashion. Tints may very a bit depending upon age, exposure to heat , oil fumes, and what was in the mix. My firewall was never removed from the body timbers although painted the color of the body. Upon removal for a full tub rebuild I found the mounting flanges to be painted a light gray with very slight gloss. This area was not repainted and not exposed to much engine heat or oil fumes. This car would have had an engine of similar color and does now. "Restorers" paint these things all sorts of colors and say they are "correct". The books that I have read pretty well go along with the above colors combinations not something else.
True, Stephen. I've seen the color listed as gray, green, greenish-gray or grayish-green depending on who's book you read. I suspect what you say, which has been repeated by others, is the factory used leftover paint from the war work they were doing. Proper tank and aeroplane colours.
You want to keep in mind that engine heat and oil fumes and such will have an affect on the paints that were used. I repainted my rocker cover with silver lacquer when I restored the car, and now some years later it really has taken on sort of a greenish tint. It would not be odd for the engine to do the same. One thing is sure that given your sn# it was not done from the works in red! :)

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