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MG MGA - Can it be done?:Datsun 210 5-speed with B motor?

Hello all,

I am considering using a Datsun 210 5-speed with an MGB motor in my 57 MGA. I normally support originality but the original engine suffered neglect in its prevous owner's care and would require extensive rebuilding so I am considering other options. Has anyone tried this combination? I am interested in knowing how it fits together and whether or not the gearlever lines up with the original opening (this is the main priority). I looked in the archives for MGB kits but didn't see the 210 mentioned often as a conversion option.

Thanks,
Craig
Craig Cootsona

Craig,
Check out http:/rivergate5speed.com
Dave

Craig,
Try again. http://www.rivergate5speed.com
Dave

Craig,
I think that the 210 is used on the A series only and never on the B series motors like your MGA has. You would be better off to sell it to a spridget owner and get the five speed conversion that has been designed for your car.

FWIW,
-BMC.
BMC Brian McCullough

For what it is worth my 1962 MGA was modified by the previous owner with a 5-speed Nissan/Datsun transmission transplanted from a 280z. In my opinion, although the lowered gearing at highway speeds is a welcome change, the harsh "feel" and harder shifting of the clutch is a big negative. It doesn't feel like a British car anymore...some sort of weird hybrid combination featuring nice british handling but noisy Japanese tranny.

When it comes time for transmission work I will dump the whole unit and replace it with an MGB 4-speed with overdrive, the ultimate combo in my opinion.
Jim Paul

MGB transmission, especially with OD, is not a drop-in conversion. Do-able, but modifications to tunnel and mountings necessary. I think a Sierra 5-speed conversion can be done more easily. I have never done either.
Marvin Deupree

Marvin, you are probably right about the Sierra 5-speed but after owning an MGB with stock 4-speed, an MGB with OD, and an MGA with the Nissan 5-speed, I can categorically say that the electric British overdrive is THE BEST. What a pleasure to be driving along twisty turns in 3rd gear and flick a lever to shift to a higher gear, then back again when slowing down. So cool and so very British! Plus OD in 4th gear is essentially the same as 5th, so highway cruising is quite comfortable.

Modifications or not, I think it's the way to go. All IMHO of course.
Jim Paul

Jap crap in an MGA, why don't you just buy a Kit car.
Sorry had to many pint's tonight.
Dave

Jim,

' Sounds to me like yours is not a Rivergate conversion. There is or was another kit made in California, and a previous owner did that on one of my ZB Magnettes. It has all the symptoms you mention. The heavy clutch is particularly irksome. On my other Magnette, I did a Rivergate conversion and the difference is like night and day. It's very quiet and smooth. Also, the Rivergate kit does not fit the MGA 1500.

Having said that, in an MGB (strangely the car for which the Rivergate kit was designed) I would much prefer to use the factory overdrive box. But in applications like the Magnette, it takes major modification of the transmission tunnel to accommodate the MGB overdrive box - so it turns out paradoxically that the best way to preserve the MG essence is to use the Japanese gearbox. The Rivergate installation is also easily reversible. I too am a bit apologetic about putting Datsun stuff on my MG, but there really isn't an attractive alternative.

I haven't tried this on an MGA, so I don't know what is easiest, but the way I use my cars, long-legged highway cruising is critical and a 1:1 fourth gear even into a 3.9 rear end doesn't do the job for me. An 1800 coupled to the Rivergate/280Z with a 3.9 in the Magnette makes for an easy 75+ mph highway cruiser.

I know Rivergate also makes a kit adapting the "A" series Spridget engines to the Datsun 210 transmissions, but they do not couple the "B" series MGA/MGB engines to a 210 box.

FWIW,
Allen
Allen Bachelder

I have a novel idea....

Why not try a BMC 'B' series 1500 with an early MGA gearbox. I bet it would work well in an MGA and would be a drop in fit.

Safety fast!

JMG
JM Greenlee

This thread was discussed between 21/01/2005 and 24/01/2005

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