5 WAYS TO MAKE IT BETTER

1 FIT BETTER LIGHTING

There’s a good recreation of the original Lucas FT27 fog spotlight that’s very difficult to tell apart from an original item, but is far more effective. It’s available for both TAs and TBs. Brighter rear stop lights and indicators are also a popular modification, allowing motorists to see you better in the dark. These are usually simple, low-draw LED items, mounted to the bumper furniture.

2 SUPERCHARGE IT

Andy King can fit a supercharger that fits beneath most T-type bonnets to any XPAG engine – as long as your existing engine is sound. This isn’t as wild as you might think – it was a popular period mod, with MG converting a number of its own cars.

3 TRANSFORM THE CAR’S STEERING

A steering box conversion will drastically lighten the steering and reduce wandering. With the Datsun or VW Beetle boxes generally used, however, the steering ratio will be slower than that of the MG, which some owners don’t like. Depending on the donor box, modification may be necessary to the chassis on TAs.

4 SWAP THE GEARBOX

If you don’t want your TA or TB restricted to B-roads, a five-speed gearbox conversion kit will help you to keep up with modern traffic. As an extra bonus, it won’t alter the original looks, either. Ford Type 9 gearboxes are generally used, but these are getting rarer – and therefore more expensive – because they have been the go-to five-speed conversion gearbox for pretty much every British classic for years.

5 IMPROVE ITS BRAKING

Brake improvement kits use existing backplates and modify them to take twin leading shoes as fitted to the TD and TF. These components bolt directly on to the existing drums and include new wheel cylinders, shoes and return springs.