Re: Aluminum block?

[mrbadger]

Aluminum block? Roller bearings up front? Double ball bearings at the
rear? Nissan steering box? Aluminum plated headlamp reflectors? At
what point does your "vintage" MG become a replica of itself?
I have driven my TC over 250,000 miles during 40 years of ownership, all
replacement parts have always been identical to or very similar to those
that it left the factory with and it still works just fine! A well
set-up original TC will drive remarkably well. All you guys quit being
anal retentive babies about your cars and get the hell out and DRIVE the
God damned things like they were meant to be.
You want a "perfect" God damned car? go out and buy yourself a Porsche.
Derek Durst, Newport RI. TC-10009 in daily use for 40 years.

[PMS GB Ltd]

Message text written by mrbadger

>Aluminum block? Roller bearings up front? Double ball bearings at the

rear? Nissan steering box? Aluminum plated headlamp reflectors? At
what point does your "vintage" MG become a replica of itself?
..................................
You want a "perfect" God damned car? go out and buy yourself a Porsche.<


Derek,

A Porche??--- Perfect!!!! Now there's no need to be
contentious..........

Clive
(Who always preferred Ferraris with all their faults)

==========
Clive Sherriff

[David Edgar]

Have read the go around on Derek's (Mr. Badger) comments and thought I
would throw my two cents in.

I read with great admiration the note from Derek about his 40 year
enjoyment of his TC. Yes they are great fun to drive and will go on and
on with proper care and maintance. However, I see nothing wrong with hot
rodding it up. The early TC owners had at them right away. Pull off that
restricting air cleaner and put in a hotter coil. A 3/4 race cam helped
and so did boring it out. The Tomkins Steering Kit was a popular addition
for a reason as were Alfin drums. Tricking them out was as much an
enjoyment as was driving them.

Now a purist may not enjoy doing that and that is OK also. I think
everyone enjoys their TC in a different way. To some (and I dont
understand them) their enjoyment is to fondle the parts in the garage for
umteem years just thinking of what it will look like once it is put
together. I personally enjoy the driving and while I dont use it as much
as Derek, I dont mind jumping in the TC and taking it out for several
hundred miles on a weekend or just taking it to the grocery store once in
a while. I also don't mind putting in roller bearings or even an aluminum
block. Would I put in a Datsun steering box? I thought about it, but
opted for fixing up the original although I see nothing wrong with putting
in the Datsun box if it increases you enjoyment. Everyone has their
limits as to what they will do to enjoy the car and as long as they enjoy
it that is great. It may not make sense to the rest of us but if we are
having so much fun with our own TCs then who cares.

As to the being the temporary caretakers of the car (part of history) that
is fine if someone wants to do that. Modified cars are also part of
history, "32 Ford hot rods for instance. Would a caretaker of history
want to take a cherry hot rod (that may or may not drive well) and bring
it back to original manufacter specks? I hope not. I love that part of
history.

On Fri, 3 Mar 2000, mrbadger wrote:

> Aluminum block? Roller bearings up front? Double ball bearings at the
> rear? Nissan steering box? Aluminum plated headlamp reflectors? At
> what point does your "vintage" MG become a replica of itself?
> I have driven my TC over 250,000 miles during 40 years of ownership, all
> replacement parts have always been identical to or very similar to those
> that it left the factory with and it still works just fine! A well
> set-up original TC will drive remarkably well. All you guys quit being
> anal retentive babies about your cars and get the hell out and DRIVE the
> God damned things like they were meant to be.
> You want a "perfect" God damned car? go out and buy yourself a Porsche.
> Derek Durst, Newport RI. TC-10009 in daily use for 40 years.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> eGroups.com Home: http://www.egroups.com/group/mg-tabc/
> http://www.egroups.com - Simplifying group communications
>
>
>

[mrbadger]

I have received this message from one of our more neanderthal members.
In response to queries as to exactly what "kind" he thought I was, I
have, so far, received no reply.
Derek Durst

MG1948@aol.com wrote:

>
> we could do without your kind!

[CFritz7001@aol.com]

OK, gentlemen,
I've had a few chuckles out of this thread, and a few bursts of
indignation as well, but I think it's about time to bury the hatchet (or
should I say half-shaft?), and get on with the real business of the TABC
list. In case some of you have forgotten, THE LIST'S PURPOSE IS THAT OF
SHARING INFORMATION, AND MUTUAL SUPPORT.
In case you haven't noticed, there have been quite a few new members
joining the list in recent weeks. What will they think, if all that appears
in their mail from the list is a stream of increasingly
unpleasantly-expressed opinions? I'm sure that our new members joined the
list for information and support--let's give them what they came to find!!!
Regards,
Carl Fritz