Re: L5973D IC info for Magnavox 32MD231D

johnboy1313, I admire your industrious replacement.
The lead lengths do matter. I suggest a modified approach. Solder pins 1-4 to the PCB like they are supposed to be soldered. Then pull the IC back away from the PCB 90 degrees, bending the soldered leads. When bending the IC, twist the IC up pushing the pins down. You want to avoid a peeling action that might rip the pads off the PCB. Bending in such a way that you are pushing the pins into the PCB should prevent this. Pins 1-4 will be soldered and pins 5-8 sticking up in the air....

Re: 37mf321d/37 magnavox no sound or pic

I also have a 37mf321d/37. My TV broke again. I already replaced the diodes and caps as well.
I cannot read my IC at location 7003. According to the schematics it is L5973D. I do have a spot on the IC near pin 7. I am not convinced that the IC is bad. There are brown spots all over the board. According to the schematic, pin 6; Vref, is floating. With some testing, I have found that pins 6 and 8 are shorted.