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I found the forum this morning and I think you guys helped me id my kit already lol. I just got this car and have to get it up and running and stopping after a long time in storage. Hopefully it will be done before the big VW show this Saturday. After reading thru some of the descriptions here I think the car may be a Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess. It has the bench seat, gas fill in radiator cap to a fuel cell, ect. I will keep looking just in case. Well here are a couple pics with side curtains off. Wheel covers were not with car at purchase so all I have is the one on the spare.
Hello Dave,
She is definitely a Classic Roadsters Duchess!Welcome aboard!Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
Welcome Dave. I’m a former Wisconsinite and I know there are a couple of members up there. Check the TD registry and you’ll see who’s closest to you. And you have found the best car site on the web IMHO. Looking forward to seeing how the TD comes along.
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackPMOSSBERG wrote:Hello Dave,She is definitely a Classic Roadsters Duchess!Welcome aboard!Thanks, I was hoping to get model figured out right away. I saw your old post about the fuel issues, mine is having similar problems, how do you get at the bottom of fuel cell to get at lines? Mine has great stuff foam all around the cell and I cant see anything from top or bottom. I will get it home and in my garage tonight and then I will get a better look. There is a sand bag for weight next to fuel cell, is it necessary for handling or should I remove it? I also have to tighten and adjust door hinges/latches otherwise car seems pretty complete. Also there is a red light above the gauges, what is it for? Mine is on all the time even running (pouring gas into carb). Sorry for the ?’s but I am at work without my manuals and some of these things are driving me nuts and I cant stand waiting lol.WI_Dave2013-05-28 12:46:21
Dave: Unless the PO installed the VW brake warning light in that position, it’s probably the charging (generator or alternator) warning light. Usually the high beam light is blue. Never can tell for sure until you trace out the wire.
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackWelcome! As you’ve already determined, this place is a valuable resource for the TDr owner…:-)
Early FF TDr on 69 VW pan
Slowly coming back from the ashes...Dave,
You mention your manuals, so I assume you have Classic Roadsters original build manual. If you don’t, they are available in the Download Manuals section (click over there on the left). They are at the bottom of the target page.If the builder of your car followed the assembly manual, the red light is the generator light. It should come on when you turn the key to the accessory position and should go off when the engine is running. If it is on all the time, you either have a blown fuse in the charging circuit, or your generator is not charging. If the builder did not follow the manual, well then, I think you may be on your own my new friend! 😉Classic Roadsters assembly manual did not call for softening the suspension. They provided a fiberglass box that sits at the front of the “trunk,” and is filled with about 150 pounds of sand. I still recall lifting that damn thing up and over the fenders and dropping it into the car. Alone!Classic Roadsters also recommended filling burlap bags with sand and placing them on the pan, on the driver’s side. I did not do this. But I believe these are the bags you are referring too.With proper tire pressures, my car rides fine with the stock VW front torsion bars in place and with the 150 lb weight box over the front end. If you have the weight box in place, I think you can pull the bags to the left of the gas tank.I have no idea how to remove all the great stuff foam. Sounds like someone did this on their own to hold the tank in place. Bad move! The assembly manual calls for the tank to sit on the VW floor pan, and it’s held in place by one strap which is riveted to the pan on the outer side, runs over the tank, and is riveted to the center tunnel on the inboard side.PMOSSBERG2013-05-28 16:25:09
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
I know this is presumptuous, but I see a couple details to add to your to-do list. The first two are safety related, they’ll get rid of those wiper arms sticking up in your line of sight, and will provide a real view backwards!
Windshield wipers: Go to my photo gallery ( https://tdreplica.com/forum2/gallery/browse.asp?dir=40 ) and scroll down to find the driver and passenger side windshield wiper pictures. You can heat and bend the wiper arms so the blades will lay flat along the bottom of the windshield.Interior rear view mirror: The original TD style mirror stinks. I can see it sitting at an odd angle. In its normal position, all you can see is the rear bulkhead. I highly recommend you buy item MR-600 from Finish Line (scroll down a bit): http://www.finishlineaccessories.com/catalog/default.php?cPath=42
Running Board Treads: Purely a matter of taste. But if you want to add them, Classic Roadsters used body side moldings like this (first one on the page, 5/8ths inches): http://www.cowlesproducts.com/styleguard_bodymolding.htmlPMOSSBERG2013-05-28 16:41:35
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
Welcome aboard. I’m not a VW person, but these other guys are good.
Bill Ascheman
Fiberfab Ford
Modified 5.0, 5sp., 4:11
Autocross & Hillclimb
"Drive Happy"If your TD hasn’t been running for a while you might need to flash the generator. Google flashing the generator. Its a pretty simple thing to do. 🙂
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackHave a look at the brakes. The soft lines are probably NG. My car was running and I still had bad lines, a crumbly shoe on one side, etc. Drain the fluid, replace the soft hoses, at least. Probably do the shoes and wheel cylinders too, at least in front. You’ll get a look at the bearings while you’re at it, and that won’t hurt. Re-grease them and put them back, not too tight.
Great stuff cuts with a blade. Basically styrofoam, I think, so avoid splashing gas on it (makes a napalm-like stuff–not good).
And welcome aboard! Great to see another one getting saved and enjoyed.
I finally got it home yesterday after work. Got it running and stopping by 10:30pm. Rides like a box of rocks lol. Front rubber fuel line from fuel cell to metal line that runs thru tunnel was collapsed internally. Took awhile to find the problem, Blew it out with air compressor and would work for about 5 min. then run out of gas again, replaced and no more problems. Brakes adjusted and bled. Tightened the door hinges also. Got a few burnt out lights to replace, (do they sell the bulbs for fogs? never seen them b4) rewire gas gauge, (wires chewed up near steering shaft) wash and detail, trace out why turn signals don’t work, figure out the red dash light problem and then I will be happy until I take on more projects. Genny seems to be putting out 11.6v which seems low to me but not sure if that would cause light, gauge doesn’t work so I will trace out wires and maybe its part of it.
Paul: It was a burlap bag on drivers side. I have it out right now, we shall see. Thanks, I will look into some of your suggested improvements after I get the main stuff working. Also the grill assy seems slightly crooked, is this adjustable? It is kinda bothering me now that I noticed it. The tank is strapped down, just seems like they used foam in all the areas around stuff not just the tank, maybe sound or vibration dampening I guess.WI_Dave2013-05-29 09:42:53
The most common bulb for fog lamps, if the bulb is indeed replacable, would be the H3.
There are others, but this is the most popular.Bill Ascheman
Fiberfab Ford
Modified 5.0, 5sp., 4:11
Autocross & Hillclimb
"Drive Happy"Dave,
Is the weight box in the front of the trunk? There are pics of my trunk space in my photo gallery (linked to in a prior post).
I rode with 25 to 30 pounds front and rear for years. Very stiff ride. Then I learned here that tire pressures should be 18 front, 26 rear for radials (17 front, 24 rear for bias ply tires). Made a WORLD of difference.
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
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