Exchanging --(Ben)

[old forum]

Hi, is it possible to put TG rear light covers on a TD???

Whgat else on a TD can be exchanged from a TG???

Were there any mechanical problems with and model gemini between TX-TG? What were the best(mechanically)??

Cheers

[old forum]

A hell of a lot of stuffing around to get TG lights on a TD!
I own a TG coupe, and have transfered over the rear lights on several other coupes, and it involves cutting off the rear beaver panel off a TG, and then grafting onto the back of the TD shell. A lot of work! Just go and buy a TG to start with if you want a TG.

[old forum]

TG lights and bumpers have been grafted onto TX-TD coupes so many times that you would almost believe someone made a kit (they don't pity...) all three panelbeater owned gemini coupes I have seen had TG front and rear clips, practising their art apparently.

Mechanically, the TX is probably the best motor and the TX coupe for the exhaust, '75 TX stub axles on RTS wishbones allows easier brake upgrades AND better handling, for handling's sake get an RTS equipped gemini as a basis for your project car, the best seats are the TG SL/X velour seats (preferably in dark blue), best interior is a matter of taste but I like the idea of the very last TG SL/X geminis with the recoil rear seatbelts, I don't like non-recoil seatbelts, they are crap. Um, what else, best gearbox is a five speed, they come in 3 or 4 different sets of ratios(TD, TE onwards, Diesel, ???), as do diffs, but you don't want a gemini diff you want a piazza lsd and disk brakes fitted into a gemini diff. Front brakes a pretty lousy all the way through the model run so not much to do there except get some better ones made to fit your TX stub axles.

Weak points in geminis mechanically.... rust, but that isn't mechanical.... um, rust? no wait I said that already..... ok, gemini engines run forever, the gearboxes are reknowned for their stupifying strength even in turboed drag cars, the diffs, well, the diffs will take an amazing amount of abuse too but aren't quite as strong as the gearboxes, so if 'mechanical' to you means 'driveline' then really no, there isn't anything, if you mean the full monty then you will probably need new shocks, new balljoints, new rack ends, tie-rod ends and repack and adjust your outer wheel bearings, or better yet, buy new ones. Also you will find that the rear main seal tends to leak after only 2 or 3 hundred thousand kilometres (they don't make 'em like they used to) so replace it if you have the engine out of the car. The electric and mechanical fuel pumps both have their limitations so if you have the time and the money find an alternative solution (out of tank electric). Check the diff pinion seal for leaks, and while you are under their check the gearbox rear oil seal.

I have had two sets of stock front springs slowly develop cracks (admittedly after 20 years of hard use) in the top thin progressive section so have a squiz under there. Check the seat mounts for cracking, and check for play in the steering rack. Most geminis you find are still running the slave cylinders they left the factory with so they are usually fairly shot so unless losing your rear brakes appeals to you it is worthwhile buying replacements. That will mean you will need to bleed the brakes anyway, which is a good enough excuse to run half a litre of new brake fluid through anyway, something you should do at least once a year anyway (my gertrude had the most disgusting brake paste, not fluid, PASTE!!). Of course you will make sure the brake shoes and pads are all in good nick and that there isn't too much scoring of the drums and disks.

I am sure I could come up with more but it is 2am so I am going to sleep.