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MG MGA - Ignore the video title

There's a new video on YouTube that shows a widened MGA as a V8 roadster with power windows in roadster doors. Unfortunately there's nt lot of detail, but it interested me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooBqOBAftdY

Dominic Clancy

There's a guy around here who did that, but he put a V12 in it. The car is not something I'd want to own, but he put a lot of work into it and loves showing it off. How it handles may be another story...
Steve Simmons

Thanks for posting this Dominic,
I have to admit that it looks to be a really professionally finished job.

To me, the car doesn't really look very much different from a standard car, which is pretty amazing when you consider that it has been cut in half and then had a 5 or 6 inch piece welded in to widen the body to make it wide enough to fit the V8 motor.

So, I think it is a fantastic job with some beautifully crafted bodywork.

But, would I do it?

No.

I can think of quite a few very powerful engines engines that would fit into the MGA without having to make such drastic bodywork modifications. They wouldn't be V8s, but they would still give plenty of power.

My first choices would be either the Ford 4 cyl Ze-Tech or the Mazda MX3 twin-cam engines. The Mazda unit gives over 130 bhp and the ZeTec can give over 170 bhp, which is more than enough power to put into an MGA!

My MGA has a tuned 1950cc MGB installed which has close to 140 bhp, the acceleration and top speed can be scary, but great fun!
I have only once given the engine its head (on a long straight private road) and the steering began to get very light when the car approached 120 mph! So I am not likely to repeat the experience. :^(

Like Barney says in his MGA Guru website, the MGA is a 1950s design car based on 1940s technology, so the standard MGA suspension doesn't really lend itself to having a super high power engine, unless you similarly modify the front and rear suspensions to cope better with the power.

And imho, once you have done all that, there wouldn't be much left of the charming little car that we all love.

So I will stick with the B-series motor, the power is just fine and, with the added bonus that I can retain the MGAs heater, which apparently had to be deleted on the widened V8 version.

Cheers
Colyn




Colyn Firth

Just to correct my last post, Barney actually said that the MGA design was based on 1920s technology.

Which makes it even more surprising that it is such a great car.
Cheers
Colyn
Colyn Firth

I disagree with that statement. You can say anything is based on 1920's technology. So what is 1920's about the MGA? That the engine has pistons that go up and down? That it uses leaf springs in the rear? That it's body on frame? Solid axle? Water cooled? New technology is always similar to old technology, just improved. And the MGA is light years ahead of anything made in the 20's in every regard.
Steve Simmons

I am just quoting Barney here Steve (or possibly mis-quoting! :^)

Here are his exact words on the subject of improving the MGAs performance, "You are starting with a 1950's vintage car built with 1920's technology."

I assume Barney meant that the MGA is chassis built, and has a solid rear axle with "cart" (leaf) springs.
But perhaps Barney can tell us himself.

I suppose we are fortunate that MG were using independent front suspension with rack and pinion steering, which certainly makes the car great to drive.

When I bought my present car, it had been over 40 years since I drove an MGA and I must admit to being surprised at just how "vintage" it felt to drive compared to a modern car. But driving it brought an instant smile to my face and I love driving it.

Cheers
Colyn
Colyn Firth

Thanks for tip on the video link Dominic.
It was very interesting and beautifully done, but one has to ask ..... why???

E Maher

I hear what you're saying Colyn (or Barney actually), but most pickup trucks today are still using solid axles and leaf springs. So on one hand the technology was developed in the late 1800s to early 1900s, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are built on technology of that day!

When I go from one of my really old cars to my MGA, I'm always surprised how incredibly modern and easy to drive it is. :) It's all perspective I suppose.
Steve Simmons

Dominic, E Mahar and Steve,

although I think this V8 MGA conversion has turned out to be a beautiful car, I am just beginning to wonder about something?

Projecting forwards a few years, when it becomes time to remove the engine and transmission to carry out some R & R work on them, will the car have to be cut in half again to get them out? ;^)

Cheers
Colyn
Colyn Firth

Before I sold my MGA and retired to Thailand, I enjoyed modifying it.

I too had a (Judson supercharged) 1950cc engine with a five speed gearbox and electric power steering. I REALLY enjoyed driving it in the Alpine passes and didn't care what decade the various technologies first appeared, but was more interested how the (already good) standard MGA experience could be improved while still retaining the original core.

My original MGA 1500 car had 1600 MGA disc brakes up front, but otherwise was as far as the suspension went, completely standard 1500 apart from Peter Caldwell shock absorbers and urethane bushings all round. It went round corners like a go cart!

Dominic Clancy

Widening the windscreen glass by 5 inches must have been a challenge.
Malcolm Asquith

This thread was discussed between 28/01/2023 and 31/01/2023

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