Switching out the standard transmission to automatic should be illegal, unless there is a compelling health reason.

So if I were to consider a more robust donor frame where would I start to look for one.So far my search has only uncovered full cars at full price.

Thanks for advise. I purchased the kit, the spacer, and stand ,and oil filler.

 
While you are evaluating your frame options, don’t forget the TDReplica.com grill badge. It’s a beauty. Available in the “Our Store” link on the left side of the screen.

It’s not that bad.My only consern is the rusted out area on the main center tunel in the pick.If thats the worst of it you should be ok.Be sure to price out all your replacement sheet metal,I went with 14 gauge sheet steel myself.turned out to be a cheeper route,a little more work but stronger than vw floor pans.check my photo album.
The frame for…[Read more]

I have mirrors on both doors, and manage to see just fine. (Note: Ill-fitting top has since been replaced.)

Will an IRS, disk brake chassis fit under a TD replica? That would be a sweet ride. Add sway bars and you’d be giving the Porsche replica guys fits in the twisty bits.
The VW automatic is another issue. It didn’t sell well, probably because it turned an adequate engine into a marginal one. The uneven gear selection in the manual gearbox makes 50…[Read more]

BDriver, cmon.  I’m trying to stay positive about this.  Especially considering what I paid for the “car”.  I figure if my son the welder says he can repair what I have then I’m in.  Besides, it’s a VW…I can find parts anywhere.Anyway, I haven’t had a good challenge in a long time and this will be a good distraction from desk job.

 I agree with BDriver. You might want to consider a different VW donor. It will be a ton of work to rebuild this one as so much of the structural parts are rusted away. I’m also concerned with the Fully Automatic trans. My understanding is they were  only made a couple of years. If you get every thing restored and the trans messes up you are fa…[Read more]

Aah. That’s the lightweight competition option. Once thought very rare, it has become more common with time. 
The VW slushbox is rare.  
This isn’t a frameoff restoration. This is a frameless restoration.
Is that a swing axle suspension? That’s lot of rust. This would be a really good time to make some big decisions about what you want to ride on…[Read more]

Dude, I thought you said this car was rusty. 

Mark
It sounds like a error was made back in Arkansas.  Possibaly even when the car was first titled.   I’d bet when the first agent made the title they saw the replica MG TD or MGT on the paperwork and then looked in the book for 1981 no TD showed up and they assumed it should be a “B” and made the correction/mistake.  I guessing though…[Read more]

Um…where in the world are you floor pans?  And in the first photo, which one is Rocky?       You have your work cut out for you. But I’m betting that you will have tons of enjoyment working the TD and making her right with the world again. Have you picked a name for her yet? I named mine “Moneypenny” after the curvey red head in the James Bond flicks.

Thanks for the info. on the history.   My question on the title is of some concern as I said the previous title listed the car from Arkansas  as a MGB Replica which it isn’t, but when I transfered the title from Arkansas to Flordia the state issued a new title only as a 1981 MGB.  I am thinking I’d better go to them and see what I need to do to c…[Read more]

 Mark, Check out the TD History in the aqua section to the left. There is a summary of the TD years as well as a short history on replicas as well.
 About your title, Many builders simply use the title to the donor car as their replica title. This works untill you get envolved in an accident and the investigating officer says ”This is not a VW o…[Read more]

Rain.
Isn’t that what overpasses, parking decks and lunch are for?

Your car is a replica of a MG TD. It was preceded by the MG TC and followed by the MG TF, the MGA and the MGB. There were a number of models after that. Your car is a TD replica, not a B replica.
There are several good books on the history of MG on Amazon. 

I agree Bill, wipers?   I actually feel about the same way about the top, it’s there for emergency use only.. 

thanks for the help on which candy to go with, guys!I’ll try the pliers trick.  I want to pull off the arms and cover the post with a red cover…have the covers, and I think it’ll look good.  Besides, if I EVER needed the wipers, I’d need my head examined on why I had the car out in the first place.

Anyone herd the candy bar poem by” john valby 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WegOem2FX1Qray1040790.475787037