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Montie, I’d be interested to hear about your behind-the-seat wind blocker experiences. Thinking of making one after I saw an ebay seller unload his custom-made fold-down TF model for several hundred bucks. In the ad he said it worked well, and the bidding was spirited. Looked like something I could assemble for about $50 in parts–including enough clear plastic to do 2 or 3 of them.
So, could you post what you’ve learned–and maybe some pics of the devices you tried?
The Speedster guys–or maybe it was one of the TD guys on another thread who is talking about a coast-to-coast run next summer–say get a top maker to convert the rear “window” to a zip-out style. On long highway trips they run with the top up but the back window out. Gives shade but also good air flow for cooling.
Good luck with the seat mods. Don’t know what’s so terrible about the donut. I guess I’m lucky that way, for now at least.
Meanwhile:
Get new tires. First. Wheel guys will mount them on new wheels later. If those old ones pop (or when, I should say) you can die just as well at 40 mph as 60. New tires. I’m gettin’ ’em too for the same reason, and should have done so last summer when I first realized that mine’re pretty old.
When you get them, inflate them to low pressure. 20 lbs or so in front, maybe 18 in back, is my guess. But figure it out by matching the load capacity of each tire against the weight of your loaded car. One of the Speedster guys chimed in on this a month or two back, and it was a revelation to me. I used to think just go at or near the tire’s “max” pressure for “better handling.” I’m an idiot. Dude’s a tire professional. He broke it all down. Most modern tires are made to take modern car loads, and modern cars weigh twice what ours weigh. You inflate them to 32 on the Speedster or the TD and you get a choppy ride, understeer, and abnormal wear in the tire’s center, he said. Words to that effect.
So you have your car weighed, corner to corner. Then inflate the tires to carry the pounds that are on them. That’ll be like 500-600 in your case. The MFG will have a chart somewhere delineating the optimal pressure range for a given weight.
The beauty part? This might soften your ride enough to keep you from needing the donut!
My wife and I are considering coming from Ky. Might tow it at least part way with our semi-antique motorhome (1984). Does anyone know if their are campgrounds or camping facilities there?
You can camp right on the grounds at Carlisle, either in motor home, camper or tent.
There are great shower/restroom facilities for the campers.
I am not sure if there are RV hook-ups or not. I suspect no.
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’m never tried nor seen a wind-breaker on a TD.
I’m normally a top down guy! But…..
On a long highway run, I often put the roof up and keep the side curtains off. This makes a huge difference in the wind buffeting.
I also wear a pair of foam racers ear plugs. It’s amazing how much better you feel after a long run if you muffle the engine sound. This is primarily for the VW cars, with the engine a couple feet behind your head.
And I second Ed’s comments on the tires. Five years is about the limit, even if there is a ton of tread left. It’s the internal drying out that is the issue. And the tires will look fine from the outside.
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)
Wind deflector was a TF item. The bottom 6-8 inches was oak wood and locked in behind the seats somehow. Then there was afoot-high strip of 1/4-inch lexan, clear acrylic, or something like it hinged to the wood, so it could fold down when not in use. That ran the width of the car. Holding that in place were aluminum channels the latched in to both the wood base and the plastic. Had some foamy stuff in the upper part to keep the plastic from rattling. The guy has a half dozen photos of it; I made diagrams of the thing and laid them somewhere on my desk. I’m sure I’ll find them when I’m out of other projects.
Looked pretty trick, and it looked like it would work as well or better than the similar items you see on modern ‘verts.
Just registered for my wife and I (along with our camper). Hope to finally put a face with some names. Tell the others that if we can show up from Ky., some of those short distance types should be able to do it!
dbrock…are you trailering your TD?
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)
Right now the plans are to tow it behind our old motorhome. We’ve taken a couple of 250 mile trips in the v-dub powered TD, but as of right now I’m planning on bringing the Daytona MIGI 2, Ford powered model. I honestly don’t have any real knowlege of how it travels, so wouldn’t want to drive it that far yet. It does have regular automotive type seats, so butt issues aren’t a major problem. Legroom on the passenger side might be due to the heater taking up space normally used for feet. This is the car that I tried to ID for quite a while. (the one with the MG like windshield and hood) I hope to learn a lot from those in attendance!
Just curious as to how many we are going to have there? I’m really looking foreward to it. I have my new dashboard all but done, and am working on several other items. It’ll still be a work in progress. but I assume that that is the case for most of us—always something else that we want to do!
I’m still looking for a trailer. Not sure I would make it for a 7 to 8 hr drive. So I guess it’s still a maybe??
Chime in, folks. Karen and I plan to arrive Friday midday.
Dale Schumacher has expressed interest (pretty sure he’ll bring his gorgeous TD –but he has a Speedster under construction too…switch-hitter)
Paul Mossberg
Richard Wobby–with a camper
dbrock (?)
Really hoping you’ll jump, Montie. Remember, a swarm of Speedster guys should be rolling right through your neighborhood the day before Carlisle, and you’ll be encouraged to join them (trailer or otherwise). Bunches of these cars making knots on the open road is even better–rubber-necking, traffic disruption-wise–than one or two. Totally makes everybody’s day to see a parade. Or be a parade.
So that’s a probable four, possible five or six.
Six would be twice last year’s TD turnout. Schumacher says he’s never seen more than three in one place–he’ll think he was seeing double. Then we could pump him full of beer & Pims and Oban and he’ll see 12 TDs.
The Speedster contingent will be in the teens, at least. For real.
edsnova40590.7834375
That’s five then. Fingers crossed & everybody gets their engines buttoned up in time. This is gonna be cool.
Ed,
I hope everyone proves me wrong and shows up – 6 or more would be
great.
and yes I will be driving the TD – the speedster will not be done till the
end of this year.
Montie,
If you can hook up w/ a group you will have a blast driving in – if not just
try and find a tow bar and just flat tow it to the show – no big deal and
cheap as well.
I plan on going up on Thursday afternoon to start this right as long as my
job thing works out – hopefully all will be well by that time.
Looking at the map there’s a cluster of owners along my way I will leave weds or thurs whichever is most convient I have a motorhome and I’m pulling Ally. You can follow, lead or travel in the passing lane. I’m taking 89 87 287 78 81 If yours breaks along thge way I have plenty of tools and what we can’t fix we’ll to and you can drive mine.
schu,
Wish it was that easy, mine is a Ford auto. Would have to use a tow dolly backed up on it or a trailer.
On another note, are any of your wives going too and, I know mine gets, well kinda bored at the shows. Anything close that they can get away to do?
My normal route is straight out Interstate 78.
I believe that is the way I’ll be going in May…sometime Friday morning.
We can finalize as the show draws nearer.
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)
My wife will be coming. She is my boot, tonneau, and top maker for the yellow vdub TD, and the boot, car cover and console upholsterer on the Ford engined one that we’ll be bringing.
Karen has agreed to be my hostage for the weekend. More wives=better for more wives. And that=better for us knuckleheads.
Don’t think my wife will make it – if she does she will be coming up for just one day -Saturday. Still – there will be wives there and many of the speedster guys wives will be there as well – we seem to be an adopted part of their clan – at least until we can get a big group of our own. I think one of the guys said 6 year ago there were 2 speedsters at carlisle and now this year there maybe as many as 50 on Saturday – so we just need to push everyone to come.
Is anyone going to be there with club badges? I’d like to buy one with the mounting bracket. I’ve been too lazy to buy one the right way, and paypal doesn’t work.
Don’t think so dbrock – just contact Bill Collins on this site – I am sure you could send him a check and he would have one to you in a week or so
OK Guys,
If you have not booked w/ the hotel etc. you need to do that soon.
See the info above to register for the field as well.
You will also need to send a email to Bruce Stumpp if you want to be included in the dinners/lunches/drives etc. – he needs to make sure there is enough room for everyone. His email is bstumpp@comcast.net and his fax is 410 683 1514 if you want to fax the info. Tell him you are in the TD club and want to be included for whatever is going on for the days you will be there. It’s all fun – do everything.
Also – hopefully we can do our own TD cruise sometime on Saturday.
Montie – I did the seat fix on my car a few weekends ago and it helped a lot. Send me a email and I can email pic’s to you on my seat rebuild.
Dale
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