Re: 1948 MG TC #6744- Steering Conversion

LuckyFloridaLin@aol.com · Post by **LuckyFloridaLin@aol.com** » Sun Dec 23, 2001 5:49 pm

Dear Gene; great idea about the Kamakazie unit-Datsun Steering. After Scott drove yours he keeps reminding me about the Datsun conversion. Frankly my TC becomes most interesting(Scarrrrry) starting at 45mph. Tried Carl Fritz STP/Grease soup and it was some what better. Recently I shot pure grease into Bishop Box and it was a little steadier to the left and loose to the right. Was this vehicle like this from day one of MFG, or did time cause this. Every thing is new on the front end I have read that a properly aligned TC handles well. Mine handles like a Mack Truck. Can't believe these works of mechanical art became so popular with this cockamamy steering control problem. I tend strongly towards keeping it orignal with proper replacement parts from Mother Moss. I am confused that such a great historic sports car handles so erratically.Tally Ho! Thom Collins

Wiedemeyer · Post by **Wiedemeyer** » Sun Dec 23, 2001 6:48 pm

I used to feel the same way as you about the crappy steering on the TCs. Then I had the good fortune of buying a one-owner '48 TC that had been lovingly maintained by the original 92 year old owner until I bought it. The steering on that car was totally stock, and totally wonderful......no drifting to either side, and turned smooth as butter! I've since sold the car, but at least I know that a well-maintained original steering box really does work very well. Bob

>Dear Gene; great idea about the Kamakazie unit-Datsun Steering. After Scott >drove yours he keeps reminding me about the Datsun conversion. Frankly my

TC

>becomes most interesting(Scarrrrry) starting at 45mph. Tried Carl Fritz >STP/Grease soup and it was some what better. Recently I shot pure grease

into

>Bishop Box and it was a little steadier to the left and loose to the

right.

>Was this vehicle like this from day one of MFG, or did time cause this.

Every

>thing is new on the front end I have read that a properly aligned TC

handles

>well. Mine handles like a Mack Truck. Can't believe these works of

mechanical

>art became so popular with this cockamamy steering control problem. I tend >strongly towards keeping it orignal with proper replacement parts from

Mother

>Moss. I am confused that such a great historic sports car handles so >erratically.Tally Ho! Thom Collins

Gene Gillam · Post by **Gene Gillam** » Sun Dec 23, 2001 6:59 pm

Thom Collins wrote:

>I tend strongly towards keeping it original with proper replacement parts

from Mother Moss. I am confused that such a great historic sports car handles so erratically.Tally Ho!

Ray · Post by **Ray** » Sun Dec 23, 2001 8:24 pm

I have had Phil do a box for my TB. He does great work, is reasonable in cost, and prompt. The box is better than new! (It has a Thompkins kit) Best, Ray

> > Thom, > > I think I heard that Phil Marino can rebuild a stock box in such a manner > that it steers like new. Has anyone had experience with his work in this > regard? That might be the way to go if you want to keep it original.. > > Gene

Robert Grunau · Post by **Robert Grunau** » Sun Dec 23, 2001 9:25 pm

I have a batch of TA/TC Tompkins kits available for $55.00 US$ including mail cost in North America ( Kit alone is $50.00 US$ ). The kit consists of top cover with adjusting bolt and lock-nut, needle bearing, three BSF correct length bolts. I do not supply the top column needle bearing as I believe this to be a poor use of a needle bearing on a slow rotating column and subject to a lot of dirt. Email if interested. Regards, Bob Grunau I have had Phil do a box for my TB. He does great work, is reasonable in cost, and prompt. The box is better than new! (It has a Thompkins kit) Best, Ray

David and Joyce Edgar · Post by **David and Joyce Edgar** » Sun Dec 23, 2001 10:47 pm

I too have a Marino rebuilt box and agree that it is better than new and reasonable in cost. I have mentioned this before but will again. The box is only one part of the steering and in order to get good steering in a TA, B or C you need to make sure ALL the steering and suspension parts are in good shape and adjusted properly. You wouldn't put new pistons in an engine with worn bearings and a defective crank would you? David Edgar, TC 5108 El Cajon, California

>I have had Phil do a box for my TB. He does great work, is reasonable in >cost, and prompt. >The box is better than new! (It has a Thompkins kit) >Best, >Ray > > > > Thom, > >> I think I heard that Phil Marino can rebuild a stock box in such a manner > > that it steers like new. Has anyone had experience with his work in this > > regard? That might be the way to go if you want to keep it original.. > > > > Gene

Dave & Diana Dwyer · Post by **Dave & Diana Dwyer** » Mon Dec 24, 2001 8:09 pm

Thom A TA/TB/TC handles quite OK #if it's in good condition#: if it's not in good condition the steering is usually appalling!! If you car steers badly something's worn out or mis-adjusted. When I bought my first TC in the mid-60s, the steering was not very good. We went on a touring holiday from London through Belgium, Germany, etc to Italy: other than the autobahn, most roads we used were less good than those in England at the time and the TC steering was correspondingly worse. After that holiday, I bought a reconditioned box from a man wrecking a TC (very common in those days), and fitted it. The handling was transformed: that TC did another 80 000 miles and five more trips to Italy before I sold it during a tempestuous affair with a Lotus Elan (well, two of them actually, but that's another story). With the good steering box the car was comfortably controllable up to its maximum speed of some 90mph (with the assistance of raised compression, 1 1/2" carbs and a TA diff). Now I know all about rose-tinted specs, but 10 000 TCs were made, and the BC box was used in many other cars as well: there's no "steering control problem" in the design, only in the fifty-odd years of wear since! As others have pointed out, #everything# must be right, but I would think that the box is the component most likely to be worn or maladjusted. I would suggest that before fitting the mod kit you have the box bushed, check bearings, end-float, wear on the cam, peg, sector shaft and so on. Regards Dave Dwyer J2, TA, TC

LuckyFloridaLin@aol.com · Post by **LuckyFloridaLin@aol.com** » Tue Dec 25, 2001 5:58 pm

Would appreciate any feed back about the Pro and Con about the Datsun conversion. Tally Ho! Thom Collins

i.thomson@talk21.com · Post by **i.thomson@talk21.com** » Mon Jan 07, 2002 4:43 am

"there's no "steering control problem" in the design, only in the fifty-odd years of wear since! " No? I beg to differ. Having the sector shaft rub on the top plate can never be good design. Even if it were not being forced against it by the shape of the peg it would still be unacceptable. Otherwise I agree that a good condition box (and geometry, maintenace etc - and don't foget the front springs) gives acceptable steering in keeping with the standards of the age. It does not bear comparison with modern sttering but that would detract from the charm, wouldn't it? Ian T. -------------------- talk21 your FREE portable and private address on the net at http://www.talk21.com

DAI · Post by **DAI** » Mon Jan 07, 2002 6:53 am

It should 'nip' the top plate. Any forcing, and another shim is required. DAI --- i.thomson@talk21.com wrote: >

> "there's no "steering control problem" in the > design, only in the fifty-odd years of wear since! " > No? I beg to differ. Having the sector shaft rub > on the top plate can never be good design. Even if > it were not being forced against it by the shape of > the peg it would still be unacceptable. Otherwise I > agree that a good condition box (and geometry, > maintenace etc - and don't foget the front springs) > gives acceptable steering in keeping with the > standards of the age. It does not bear comparison > with modern sttering but that would detract from the > charm, wouldn't it? > > Ian T.

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