My ’54 TF developed a condition that would result in a dead battery after being parked for more than a month. Normal trouble shooting tests revealed a constant current drain of about .2 amps. The problem was traced to the horns. It seems that rain water had entered them and built up a conductive layer of corrosion…
From Moss Motoring 1986 by Norman Nock Stockton, CA Does your Austin Healey smoke? Burn oil? Have less than 15 pounds oil pressure at idle? Have less than 45 pounds oil pressure at 55 mph? If you have the smoking and oil pressure problem, here is a diagnostic procedure that could save you an engine rebuild…
Most of us think of car parts in terms of carburetors, engines, transmissions, brakes, and so on. The most common part in any car isn’t really noticed at all until you take one apart. Even then you don’t think much about it until it comes time to put the car back together again and, suddenly,…
Stretched Head Studs? Barney Jackson Northridge, CA During an engine rebuild, be sure and check the condition of the head studs. They should be straight, with the threads clean and tight in the block. They should not have damaged threads or be “stretched”—this occurs after being torqued and re-torqued, used and re-used (a common event…
Familiarity Breeds Blindness By Larry Dussack Friendswood, TX Have you ever had your TD or TF quit on you for no reason? A stupid question, I know, but after what I just discovered, a valid one…My TD would quit after about 3 days of normal driving. It appeared to be electrical, so I would check the…
Pilot Bushing Removal The crankshaft pilot bushing, or spigot bearing for you anglophiles, is the bush that is pressed into a recess in the rear of the crankshaft, and which locates the transmission’s mainshaft. Although the factory workshop manual for the TR4 calls for its removal by threading the bush with a tap, screwing in…
Winter Storage Cradle William Bremer Cape Elizabeth, ME As a resident of New England, I must store my 1951 MGTD for the winter. Last winter (my first with a TD), I wanted to “fit” the TD as a third car in my heated two car garage so that I could work on it from time…
Does the Light Go Off When the Door Closes? Michael Thomason Mobile, AL As a small child, one of the great mysteries of life was whether or not the light stayed on in the refrigerator after you closed the door. This is a big issue for most kids. Unfortunately, I could never figure out how…
“Pull Cable” Makes Life Easier Bob Muenchausen Boise, ID (“Why didn’t I think of that?”…might be your reaction to this common sense idea! —Ed) When replacing the choke cable or any loose hose or wire that is threaded through some maze of mechanical/electrical clutter, an easy way to rethread the new piece through is to…
Leaking Oil Seals If your differential/rear axle oil seals are leaking, the seals themselves may not be at fault. A plugged breather may be causing pressure build-up within the differential, forcing oil past the seals. Locate the breather, clean around it, and remove it from the differential case. Clean the breather thoroughly, ensuring that it…
