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Charlie Baldwin's 1952 MG TD with Volvo B20 Engine

Charlie Baldwin · 1952 MG TD

MG T-Type (TA to TF)

BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

Read the full write-up at BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars ↗

Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

A 1952 MG TD rebuilt around a Volvo B20 engine and gearbox

Charlie Baldwin, who has owned this MG TD since 1970, replaced its weak original XPAG engine with a Volvo B20 four-cylinder and matching Volvo M41 overdrive gearbox, aiming mainly to improve safety through better power and stopping ability. He also fitted MGA front suspension and brakes and an MGB rear axle and anti-roll bar. The write-up gives detailed how-to notes on the engine mount, radiator modification, transmission fitment and clutch hydraulics.

Specs

As stated in the original write-up.

Engine
Volvo B20 2-litre four-cylinder with Volvo B20F cylinder head and 'D' camshaft, dual SU HS6 carburetors, fuel injector holes plugged, stock Volvo (Bosch) distributor
Exhaust
Late Volvo B20 manifold, 1.5 inch head pipes into a 2 inch glass-pack, Volvo 1800E muffler with twin 1.5 inch tailpipes
Cooling
Original MG TD radiator with inlet and outlet connections modified and relocated by a radiator shop
Gearbox
1965 Volvo 1800S M41 four-speed manual with Laycock D'Normanville D-type overdrive
Clutch
Volvo hydraulic clutch slave fed from the clutch side of an MGA dual master cylinder, sleeved to 3/4 inch bore
Driveshaft
Shortened stock propeller shaft
Rear axle
1972 MGB tube-type axle, 3.91:1 ratio
Front suspension
MGA 1600 front suspension including hubs, coil springs and shock absorbers, plus MGB 3/4 inch anti-roll bar
Rear suspension
Stock MG TD leaf springs
Brakes
MGA dual brake/clutch master cylinder (7/8 inch bore on brake side), MGA 1600 front discs, 1972 MGB rear drums
Wheels and tyres
15 inch Dunlop painted wire wheels with 165/15 tyres
Instruments
Stock instruments, tachometer converted to electronic, speedometer still needs recalibration
Electrical
Stock group-27 battery, Lucas C40 generator in a Volvo bracket, stock Lucas voltage regulator
Body/lighting
Halogen 7 inch sealed-beam headlights, LED taillights, brake lights and turn signals, high-mount brake/turn signals using Lucas 1130 parking light bodies, Lucas reversing light

Parts used

Parts named as used in the original write-up, grouped the way the Parts page groups them. Where one of the shops we index lists the same thing for this car, it is shown underneath with a link to the shop.

Engine 3

Fuel & Ignition 3

Cooling 1

  • Original MG TD radiator, modifiedRadiator shop (unnamed)

    Inlet and outlet connections cut and re-soldered to fit Volvo-sized hoses

    In the shops
    Radiator Shell Medallion, Original Flat Type ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $23.95 USD

Gearbox & Drivetrain 5

Suspension & Steering 2

Brakes 3

Wheels & Tyres 1

Body & Trim 4

Interior 1

Electrical 3

Other 1

  • Volvo 1800E muffler

    Used in the custom dual-outlet exhaust system

Photos

30 pictures collected from the write-up, in the order they were posted, shown from BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars. A picture opens larger here, with the way through to the page it is on.

Charlie Baldwin's 1952 MG TD with Volvo B20 2 Liter EnginePhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Volvo B20 2-liter engine, with B18 features to make it look more vintage.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Dual SU HS6 carburetors.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Engine mount, viewed from above.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Engine mount, viewed from below.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Custom fabricated engine mount, welded up.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Stock MG TD radiator.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Modestly modified MG TD radiator.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Lower radiator hose connection.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Volvo bellhousing.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Volvo M41 transmission with Laycock D-type overdrive.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Internally a Volvo M41 gearbox is similar to a Volvo M40 gearbox.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Propeller shaft installed.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Transmission insulation and rubber excluder.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Top: MG TD/TF master cylinder. Bottom: MGA master cylinder.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
The master cylinders, laying on the side you'd mount to the frame.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Since the hose is an MGA one, use an MGA fitting and a bubble flare at that end also.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Here is what it looks like at the pedal box.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
MGA 1600 front suspension (including hubs, coil springs, and shock absorbers.)Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
MGA 1600 disc brakes.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
MGA brake rotor.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
MGA brake caliper.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
MGA dual brake/clutch cylinder, with 7/8 inch bore.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Charlie autocrossing his MG TD in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Charlie fitted an MGB pattern 3/4 inch anti-roll bar.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
British Invade Gettysburg, 2017Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
High-mounted LED brake lights.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Complete rear lighting package.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
At the Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals Show, 2017.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Donate Now!Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

How it was done

Background

The MG TD was Charlie Baldwin's first car, bought in the spring of 1970. The stock 1250cc XPAG engine left it underpowered, and improving safety through better performance and braking became the main goal of the project, carried out by the owner himself.

Engine swap

A Volvo B20 2-litre four-cylinder was installed, built up with some B18 features for a more vintage look. It uses the lower-compression, big-valve B20F cylinder head with its injector holes plugged, a B20F camshaft, dual SU HS6 carburetors and the stock Volvo distributor. A custom engine mount was fabricated and welded to locate the engine.

Cooling system changes

Because the Volvo engine's thermostat housing outlet is smaller than the TD's original radiator connection, the radiator was taken to a shop and had its upper and lower hose connections cut down and re-soldered to suit Volvo-sized hoses, picked by trial fitting at a parts store. The non-pressurized TD cooling system worked fine with the larger-capacity engine.

Transmission and clutch

A 1965 Volvo 1800S M41 four-speed gearbox with Laycock D-type overdrive was fitted, keeping the Volvo bellhousing and a shortened driveshaft. Clutch activation uses the Volvo's hydraulic slave cylinder, driven from the clutch side of an MGA dual brake/clutch master cylinder resleeved to 3/4 inch, chosen because its mounting matches the stock TD master cylinder.

Suspension, brakes and axle

Front suspension, hubs, springs, shocks and disc brakes were taken from an MGA 1600, along with an MGB 3/4 inch anti-roll bar. The rear axle is a 1972 MGB tube-type unit with 3.91:1 gearing and MGB drum brakes, while the original MG TD leaf springs were retained at the rear.

Electrical and lighting

Stock gauges were kept, apart from converting the tachometer to electronic operation; the speedometer still needs recalibrating. Lighting was updated with halogen sealed-beam headlights and LED tail, brake and turn signal lamps, including a high-mounted brake/turn signal setup using Lucas 1130 light bodies and a Lucas reversing lamp.

Completion and driving impressions

The car was back on the road in June 2016, with the overdrive rebuilt in winter 2018. Baldwin reports it now cruises comfortably at highway speed and stops much better than stock, describing the car as enjoyable over long distances despite remaining unsure how safe the wood-framed body would be in a crash even with lap belts fitted.

A summary in our own words. The full account, with all its detail, is in the original write-up: read it at BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars ↗

Worth knowing

  • Volvo B16, B18 or B20 engines fit a T-series MG without cutting because the SU carbs sit on the same side as the stock XPAG
  • The MGA/Bugeye combination brake-clutch master cylinder shares the TD/TF mounting bolt pattern, easing clutch hydraulics conversion
  • The Volvo hydraulic clutch setup works better than the original MG mechanical rod or cable clutch
  • Using the Volvo 1800S remote shift linkage puts the gear lever at the stock TD position, so a standard MG carpet and shift boot still fit
  • The radiator's hose connections need re-sizing by a radiator shop to suit the larger Volvo thermostat housing
  • The bottom radiator hose and fan clearance need care since the Volvo engine sits lower, risking contact with the stock drain petcock and fan

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