1953 MG TD Engine Tuning

[@graymodeler]

My uncle gave me a book called The Red Car back in about 1963. It was about an MG TC that couldn’t keep up with the US Fords but shined when the town had a tight road race. Always had a spot for the British sports cars since.

[@BritIronRebel]

That book is still sold too! I have it around my house somewhere... Lol

[@stonylawncottagepipe4429]

Yes.. i have read that book several times over the years...wish had one ....e loved to drive it

[@can-cruiser]

Thanks Steve.. That is probably the BEST SU carb tuning video I have seen. Well filmed, well executed and well detailed.. Cheers!!

[@dwightcarlson7136]

I agree. I will need to watch it several times because at my age I absorb things more slowly than when I was young and really want to try to get my head around what is really happening. Very much appreciate seeing the actual wrench turning.👍👍

[@ralphnoback6923]

Mgtd owner for 50 years. Superb video on tuning the carbs So well thought out and presented

[@lloydgreen4091]

One of the best Explanations & *How To* MG KZbinrs on the TUBE, especially for us Noobs. Thanks So Much for Doing these for us Steve.

[@MrKenny777]

It’s amazing to see that junked engine brought back to life and eating up the miles once again. I’m sure that car and engine will give many more years of motoring fun.

[@deep6thisdeep6this92]

how appropriate!! i'm currently in the process of tuning the carbs on my 1953 TD and am clueless. :)

[@pminoregon9072]

I did not have the benefit of the internet, anybody who knew what they were doing, or access to any literature other than a Chilton when I owned a car with dual SU carbs. I drove that car for years before I became truly proficient at tuning it. The main lesson I learned is that you can't ignore any aspect of the engine because it doesn't have enough displacement to compensate for problems. You need all the potential, all the time.

[@johndavey72]

Brilliant work Steve. The way you tune those SU's takes me back nearly 60 years watching Maurice doing exactly this . He was in his '60 's and always had a cigarette on the go ! I was a young school boy of 12 ! Thanks Steve .

[@mundanestuff]

Good info, Steve, thanks for the carb / tuning video. Did you do a video on the engine rebuild for this car? Glad you were able to save it with all that corrosion!

[@JBLewis]

My grandfather was a T-series fan, too! So there's a special place in my heart for them.

[@garyhawthorne4599]

Thank you for the MG-TD videos, We have a 1952 TD I bought for my wife, she was born in 1952 and loves the MG-TD

[@jmcalpine3661]

Nicely done. Educational, a real car guy laying it out for other car guys (or gals). Thank you.

[@Loyer333]

Good explanation of tuning. I would suggest you make a small metal clip to keep the windscreen wipers up out of the line of vision. Just remember to remove clip if wipers are needed.

[@ticktown2783]

Thanks Steve. You just inspired me to tune up my TD. I was shocked to discover I've been running lean for a while. Car is much smoother now. Thanks so much. This video really helped me out. All the effort you put into these videos will help fellow car guys (and gals) for a long time.

[@stephenricketts7764]

That was a really instructive lesson on how to set up carbs. I think some pople get into all sorts of trouble doing that but a little thought and reading could save so much time. I love those old cars, just right for a stress free drive. Thanks Steve for another interesting video.

[@parrotraiser6541]

Long ago and far away, I had an Old English White 1953. Unfortunately, all the threads on the carburettors were badly worn. The brass nuts on the top of the domes would unscrew themselves. If I ignored the odour of gas, the visual signal was oily streaks emerging from the louvres. The screws holding down the domes would also shake undone. (I used to keep a stock of replacements in the glove-locker.) Once, a dome fell off completely and jammed the steering (RHD). Fortunately, at a stop, so no harm done. Great to see nicely restored specimens being cared for by more competent people. Thanks for the memories.

[@paulhall170]

You must be the most patient mechanic on KZbin, I could NEVER get the Stromberg carbs on my Triumphs right LOL

[@like2view]

uummm I think if you ask Steve.. he'll tell you b/c they're Stronberrgs.. get SUs instead... see kzbin.info/www/bejne/a36anmWNpLJ-f6c ...That said my brother managed his TR4 Strombergs after some fiddlin' sticky pistons etc.

[@paulhall170]

@@like2view of course, but they're the same design. My previous comment notwithstanding, i found once i got them right they held tune for a long time..

[@dmalcolm24]

I grew up during the 50's. I too love the old T series MG. Never had the pleasure of owning one. I would like to see more T series MG's

[@jimbarr6262]

I have a 53 TD! It's absolutely original and I love it! It's such fun to drive

[@johngeekieart]

You know your way round an engine and are a great communicator, thanks for posting, found it very helpful.

[@michaelmadsen4741]

Thank you Steve for this video. Having a 52 TD myself I can really use this video. Love to see more videos like this.

[@bobdadruma]

I made great money back in the 1970's and 80's converting British cars to electronic ignition and downdraft carburetors. I would also convert the 6 volt cars to 12 volts and generators to alternators. My clients loved me because they could daily drive their cars. I would get contacted years after I converted the cars by happy customers who said that they had driven the cars for over 30K miles with no ignition and fuel system issues.

[@strokenumber3]

Many, many years ago starting as a workshop apprentice, one of my first jobs was to make myself a SU carb spanner out of a solid bar of steel - and not just me but all apprentices had to.. Nice car Steve, next time you want a pair of SU's tuned, call me...

[@gvxclassics]

Thanks for taking care of these old girls properly. thanks for the drive.

[@ianmcgee9945]

Very nice! I'm into Minis and a neighbor of mine is currently restoring an MG TA so a very enjoyable video for both of us.

[@regsparkes6507]

I really enjoyed my 'English' cars when my family had them. I's owned a few Austins and back then my Brother bought a new 1962 Austin Healy Sprite Mark II,...man that was a fun car. I can remember being taught how to "sync" the SU carbs on that one. Those were cars we could drive and tinker with on weekends. what enjoyable times indeed!

[@frglee]

What a lovely old car. I like that this is not in concourse condition, but something with patina asking to be driven and enjoyed. It must have had an interesting life to have survived nearly 70 years, still giving pleasure to a caring owner/enthusiast. Nice that you saved the engine, too.

[@johnmckenna8989]

I'm a bit surprised to see 5 lug nuts on the wheels......I learned to drive in an MGTD many (many) years ago.....For the last 52 years I've been driving and maintaining a Triumph TR3A as I cannot fit into and MG (6ft 6in).....I'll be re-tuning the SU carbs soon and this was a nice tutorial to refresh my memory.....I sent them for a rebuild and throttle shaft bushings and have had several issues since re-installing them (there's always room for improvement, eh) .....Thanks again, John (west coast, Can.)

[@jorgefernandez-mv8hu]

Thanks for showing us how to set up the carbs. That is a very nice car. Lots of Luck with it.

[@craigmonteforte6111]

I’ve had several MG T series cars of this era and back in the 50s when these cars dominated the Dirt Track Racing circuits the guys did a cool “Trick” / Cheat. They would replace the Stock Pistons with a 1950s Mercedes Benz Piston that is the same Diameter but actually has a small domed top It gives the engine a very small boost in H.P. But. Keeps the stock look I did this on my 53 TD matmatically. It was a very small increase of like close to 1.8 Horsepower but it was enough back in the day to give a Team or Driver. A slight Advantage over the Stock configuration my Car is long gone. From my ownership but to my last known knowledge she was still running on my rebuild with those Pistons BTW my Dad was a big MG Enthusiast and he remembered that Trick from his Childhood years hanging at the Race Tracks so that’s how I found out about it I might have had the only 53 TD that was a Hemi LOL in modern times IMO if I do ever wind up with any more T Series Cars. I will wind up installing a Pre Emission MGB engine with a 5 speed to make the car a more Practical Driver on todays Highways I also like the B motors Supercharged with a Moss Motors Kit and Wilwood does have a front Disc Conversion off the shelf these days designed for the T Series Cars I’ve also owned a 55TF 1500 that needed. Brake upgrades IMO it stopped but it took. A lot of effort to do so

[@alastairchestnutt6416]

Great video thanks. Informative educational and entertaining. Brings back memories of my seeing a blue pre war MG driving along a city road with more smoke than speed.

[@lanceuppercut2483]

I'd like to see more TD content in my driveway. Great videos, do informative and, for some reason, relaxing. Thanks and keep them coming.

[@markfisher8206]

Yes Steve for sure more content, lots of memories of hanging over the fender tuning my 66 MGB.

[@TahoeRealm]

Greetings from Northern Nevada. Thank you so much. I have to do this exact procedure on my bugeye sprite because it seems to be running rich and your explanation is the clearest one I’ve ever seen. Thank you again 👍

[@PaulinesPastimes]

Thank you for clarifying the piston lifting procedure. I will now be tuning the single SU on my car as soon as I can. Cheers.

[@craigmorton1944]

Hi Pauline Make sure you only lift the piston max 3 mm (0.12 inch) when you check mixture. Also keep 20/50 engine oil topped up in the dashpots for good condition carbs . This is often overlooked When adjusting the mixture nut only small adjustments are usually needed. Basically sneak up on the correct setting. Look at John Twist at university motors because he is a long time professional fixing british cars. His explanations are correct and precise. SU Tune up link---- kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqW1dqdtn9-nnq8 This is twin carbs setup but the concepts apply regardless. best wishes craig I own an MGB and E type jag. and looking for a nice MGTD

[@PaulinesPastimes]

@@craigmorton1944 Thank you for the advice. I have watched John Twist.

[@paullagerquist4964]

My favorite mg

[@pminoregon9072]

It is always a pleasure to watch you make one of these classics purr!

[@jmcalpine3661]

About the best KZbin videos on cars. Thank you! !

[@lleblarry]

My first car was a black/green 1953 MG TD. I bought it in 1964 at the age of 16 for $750. I saw it in the wants ads on a Saturday morning and drove it home that afternoon. It was in very good original condition. I loved it, but sold it after a year or two to buy a new 1967 Bultaco Metrella for $620.

[@johnshrader1655]

You teach so well. Keep 'em comin'.

[@tomk4199]

Always happy to see your work on pretty much any of the British cars!

[@like2view]

Great Stuff Steve.. I love these kinds of videos that show how you approach the situation and then follow through with a great ride in a classic TD.. Would love to see more TD older British cars etc .. I liked what one wrote beloe ..Carb whisperer

[@brendanbuster]

That was a great SU carb tuning video!

[@paulbuckles5353]

Fantastic! This is exactly what I need to do on my '65 Volvo. Thanks for sharing this.

[@QBRX]

Very cool, thanks Steve!

[@FantaLaStrada]

great video like always! You literally have just about every tool they make! I always learn of something new like the accelerator pedal pusher tool.

[@AndrewHCann]

Well Done Steve :) also that motor was most certainly in rebuilt and got all fix also tune up nicely too!

[@CedarAshCanvas]

Remember setting and syncing twin SU's on my 1970's Volvo 144. Engine was a 2 litre with manual gearbox, had lots of get up and go.

[@paullagerquist4964]

These are my favorite cars

[@donaldhalls2189]

Excellent little car, looks very well looked after, hope you enjoyed the ride, all the best to you and your loved ones

[@keystonekid7451]

Great video Steve! Love when you do videos on the old British iron!

[@barryphillips7327]

Nice car, i seen an MG TD in BRG a day or ago, NICE!! SU = Skinners Union founded in early 1930's good reliable simple carburetors!! ( BRG = British Racing Green. ) That engine looked REAL BAD before the rebuild!!!!

[@shannonwittman950]

I hope you do more of these "prewar design" sports cars. Their old mechanicals seem today practically unknown -- but marvelous. My Triumph TR-3 had those lovely low doors (seemed to be standard issue for many sports cars of that era). Why did they have them? To reach out and touch the ground at speed? British "sports car" was defined by 1)small size, 2)two seats and 3) mass-produced. I mean around the same time as behemoth roadsters with many-litre engines (that the average Brit could not afford) and well before the exotics. Thanks, Steve!

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

I assume the low doors is because it was comfortable to rest your arms on and easy to get in and out.

[@markguitarlfk]

Love the scruffy patina on that one!

[@douglasmills6276]

Love the TD!

[@kawdennis]

Excellent thank you so much

[@tomtugboat]

Very cool really enjoyed your work on the MG !

[@jberg8159]

Nice work Steve!

[@snowyren5135]

Excellent

[@graemelliott3942]

Nice work Steve! What is the latest year of a T series?

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

1953 is the last year for the TD and then TF was built into 1955.

[@AlonEllis]

Super useful video, thank you!

[@BMC1100]

I was wondering what happened with this engine. Glad to see its return.

[@bobmanzi7712]

Steve you have some cool stuff ilove seeing them all

[@joelsalmons5627]

Really liked the TD video.

[@dennisbranam3847]

Another great video. Keep educating us.

[@hatrickmusicnz]

Excellent video Steve ...keep them coming :)

[@julianwinn4502]

Another enjoyable video - thank you.

[@craighutcheon6991]

I had a similar experience with a book called Fast Green Car. Same idea as the one described below, not fast in a straight line but great on a road course. The car was a Morgan. That TD looks like a hoot to drive.

[@timnell207]

I read that book in 8th grade I think. Around 1976.

[@jjtaylor6380]

More MG TD please!

[@chriscullison7833]

Great video, one question though. Wouldn't the carbs be running lean with out the air cleaners?

[@SierraJohn]

Just discovered your channel. I like the videos.

[@adrianhope4796]

I have a TD who’s timing is out. Everyone inc MG Octagon (the major UK MG club) thinks 30 Degree is way too much. 5-12 max range inc. use of modern fuel. Please explain your 30?

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

You are talking about static timing and I am doing dynamic timing. When you set your engine with static timing you are just guessing at how the engine will perform when it is actually driving. With an advanced timing light like I have you can set the timing of the engine when it is running at 2000+ rpm and set it exactly where you want it to be while driving.

[@shredted]

Love the mga and tc! I want your red mga 😊

[@redbank542]

Love it

[@bisonuberti]

Excellent work and great pass on knowledge.

[@robertdavidson3090]

Geez you had A j2. They were the first MG's that had that classic shape with the flat gas tank that was the hallmark until the MG TF. Nice job on getting that messy engine back in running order. Are there any MG meets in your area of Iowa. I own a 1977 MGB, since 1989.

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

Iowa British Car Club is in my area.

[@windmill1965]

Interesting. Why do you tune the ignition timing at an advance setting of approx 30 degrees (thus at higher revs) and not at idle? Usually you see instructions to set the timing at idle rpm, where the vacuum advance has no/little influence. By the way: I would love to see a longer and more detailed video on the engine rebuild of this car.

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

That was because advanced timing lights like mine did not exist back then. Why would you want your car to run good at idle and not when driving it should be the other way around.

[@windmill1965]

@@ThisWeekWithCars I agree with you: tuning the car should be optimised for driving conditions, not idle conditions. Having said that, I would like to see a video on the procedure you do for using a modern timing light: what criteria to use, what settings to use, and so on.

[@themza912]

Where can I find that airflow gauge for the carbs??

[@pilbeam1uk]

Great old school tuning. Did you guys have the Gunsons Colortune in the US?

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

Yes I have three of them but don’t use them now that I have a dyno.

[@dirthawk2669]

Steve , Keep Up the Great Vids , Love E'm !!!

[@borneobudi3431]

Your tuning the carburetors didn't show checking the dash pots on top of the carburetors otherwise spot on

[@toddchambers3820]

Ditto on the rebuild video of that engine! The "patina" tells you the story. I'm surprised that you can still find parts, and still have your arms and legs!

[@millardsmith888]

What do you do if one carb does pop...Ive do eveything I can think of

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

Pop usually means the carb is lean, richen that carb.

[@georgerrust4087]

I loved my 53 TD just like you. I would have kept it if I could get it over 75 mph without pegging the tach.

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

I put a five speed in this one, it is so nice. kzbin.info/www/bejne/foumY3Rqj9uqi6M

[@BritIronRebel]

I always found on my dual carb Brit cars and bikes that if they were tuned on a day with high or low humidity/temperature, they'd only run the best on those similar type of days. That's not just my imagination is it? PS: My Father had a '35 MG-PA which is where I got the "fever", and never outgrew it.

[@blackvulcan100]

I don't think I ever got my 1939 TA to get the carbs balanced or the timing absolutely correct, well I was only 19 back in 1963 and at the time I had no money to pay someone else to do it so sold it for £100.00 ( yes 100 )

[@davidnelson6893]

A cool car

[@drphelps9017]

Are you sure that engine is from the'53? It looks more like it came out of a '52.

[@johngoodman9297]

My first car was a 53 mgtd. Nothing sounds like a mgtd.

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

Except also the MG TB, TC, TF, and Y

[@georgerrust4087]

If you collect and fix old Brit sports cars from the 40's 50's and 60's you'll never be out of work.....

[@johnclayden1670]

1,000th Like - but can only give one!

[@generoll4027]

my dream was always a TD

[@jkyontz]

That engine was a mell of a hess😊

[@Thewatcherinthering336]

Instead of tooling on the carbs, adjust the valves first…they are way too noisy…meaning excess clearance.

[@Turbochargedtwelve]

A little fiddly but straightforward enough!

[@MikeAarset]

An affordable cruise control for my Healey!!!!

[@stefanbadass5357]

More carbs, less volts mate 😀😀

[@davidjones332]

The MG purists were in an uproar when these came out: an MG without wire wheels? What's the world coming to?

[@donwest5387]

get something modern; like a 1970 Toyota Corolla

[@jonathansmythe6273]

carb wisperer

[@windronner1]

That was single-handedly the ugliest engine I’ve ever seen rebuilt that was not seized. Now I’m dying to know. What the hell happened. Where did all the grease? oil? And sludge come from? Rest of car looks well above average condition.

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

The car was stored in a barn for 40 years there is no way to know at this point who put the stuff in the engine.

[@windronner1]

@@ThisWeekWithCars are you sure it wasn’t near an off shore oil spill? LoL. Car looks really good which contradicts engine condition etc. Nice work. Terrific video. did you rebuild to run on current ethanol unleaded? 👍