Master Cylinder - Heat Shield

[Ron Zeraldo]

I am in the process of rebuilding the master cylinder for a 1948 MGTC #5911, could someone tell me if there is a ridged piece of asbestos on one side of the heat shield (external side)that surrounds the master cylinder...I want to make sure that it is replaced if one should in fact be there. At the top of the shield there are two fold over tabs with what seems to be the remaining bits of an asbestos shield. Your help would be greatly appreciated! Ron j. Zeraldo [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[JohnHWSteedman@aol.com]

Yes. it should be there, although in my restoration I replaced it with with a section of ceramic kitchen tile. Having just lost a friend from asbestosis, I wasnt too keen on sawing the stuff up. Best wishes, John Steedman TC 0301 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Diecuts@aol.com]

John, I understand your reason for not wanting to use asbestos , but keep in mind that it is the unique filiment structure that makes asbestos deadly when fibers are airborne and attach to lungs , such as in insulation around pipes and such. For many years I have manufactured asbestos gaskets for the big three, of course I'll deny it in court as everyone is looking for a free lunch, but while the manufacture and making of asbestos gasket material is deadly, the use and handling of it is practically harmless( I say practically because some people may like licking it with their tongues - who knows?) as the asbestos is encapsulated in the binders of the gasket sheet and can't become airborne. Years of diecutting gaskets with old presses without air exhausts causes problems(my system is automated). Cutting an asbestos sheet with a scissors is not dangerous. The trick is to find asbestos sheet anywhere for sale as everyone is leery of it. However, there are many excellent substitutes. Plumbing supply shops should have it. McMaster -Carr catalog has it. Another excellent substitute is graphite encapsulated tanged steel sheet sandwiched in aluminum foil. It can be cut with a tin snips. I have it in 6" wide roll form .062" (1.6mm) thick. It is the stuff you often see used in exhaust manifold gaskets. Contact off list and I'll send some if it sounds like what you want. Thanks for reminding me to add a heat shield to the TA. I'll diecut a few extra for those interested. Cheers, Lee Jacobsen, Dearborn, MI TA2969 Tickford - sewing the hood!!!