MGA body questions (fender attachment? custom conv. top?)

panalfa1 · April 29, 2012, 06:55:06 PM

Hi, new to this site and new to british cars,looking at buying a 59 MGA thats been customized with nissan 4 banger/auto trans. The piping between the fenders and hood has been removed welded filled and smoothed. Since the car has been moded I'd like to fit it with the V8 swap, ? does the body and fenders have to come off for the swap or can it slide in from the narrow engine compartment? I don't know how they did the front fenders. The other is this MGA started out as a coupe but was converted to a open Roadster, so NO top but I can szy it was finished off well, Is there any way a convert top could be added. Like I said the car looks great! Thanks Joe

(thread split... re-titled)

Bill Young · April 30, 2012, 08:26:12 PM

Joe, depends on what engine you use, but from what I can tell a Ford or Rover should slide in through the stock opening with the headers removed. You'll probably want to lift the body off anyway though in order to make modifications to the goal post assemlby which will be necessary with most V8 swaps. The MGA body will come off easly with the fenders still attached, they were built by dropping a completed body on to the chassis at the factory, everything clears very well. Wiring is about the only issue and you'll most likely be modifying that as well so extra clearance will come in handy there as well. John Mangles did what I consider the cleanest conversion with a Rover, check out his How It Was Done article on how he modified the goal post assembly to clear and what mods he made to the inner fender panels for maintenance access. Very nice.

jblanchard@hcpg.net · May 01, 2012, 04:59:16 PM

Joe,

A Chevy 4.3LV6 fits snuggly as does a Chevy 350; same width, the 350 a little longer. No need to remove fenders.

panalfa1 · May 03, 2012, 03:17:58 AM

Thanks for the input, like a said i'm new to british cars always loved the lines of the mga's. I'm sure I'll be picking your brains about stuff on my venture, as I've went ahead and bought the one I was describing! I went ahead and attached a photo of my recent purchase, again thanks and it appears you guys have a great network! Joe.............
59 mga.jpg

BlownMGB-V8 · May 03, 2012, 08:27:08 AM

That's a beauty.

Jim

Moderator · May 03, 2012, 10:30:07 AM

gorgeous!

crashbash · May 03, 2012, 12:18:15 PM

two tone paint and speedster type windshield really make it look more than an MGA! Are you doing power plant transplant?

Bill Young · May 03, 2012, 06:34:28 PM

Before you yank that four cylinder out, why not drive it down to Texas later this month? We'd all love meet you and see your new car.

rficalora · May 03, 2012, 10:22:17 PM

That's what I was thinking -- come to the meet in Palestine (May 21-23) & decide what you want to do while there.

pspeaks · May 03, 2012, 11:02:43 PM

That's a good idea Joe, pictures are great but after doing a V8 conversion without staring one in the eye first, I would rather meet the real thing; and some really great owners too.

Paul

panalfa1 · May 03, 2012, 11:48:29 PM

That sounds great, but I just pulled the trigger on this car Tuesday nite and will be picking the car up about that time from the Utah border in a couple weeks. I was planing to just drive it for the summer before doing any swap, would like to hook up and meet you folkes sometime soon, I would love to see one in person cause you can really get the feel of it better. But for now it found a new home in Omaha Nebraska, thanks for the open arm welcome into your group . Joe.....

rficalora · May 04, 2012, 08:05:07 AM

if you can't make the Palestine meet, another opportunity would be to hook up on the Hot Rod Power tour. Don't think anyone with a modified A has mentioned joining, but we have entered the Roadmaster (Buick 455 MGB GT done as a project by the group; see sticky thread). It's June 2-8 with the 5th thru 7th being in southern IL to Stillwater OK thru Missouri. You could plan to register to participate on one or two legs or just meet up at one of the stops.

Bill Young · May 04, 2012, 08:32:25 AM

Joe, are you in Omaha? I need to talk to you I think. Omaha is the planned location for the British V8 2013 meet in June of next year. Could use any "insider" information on the area to help make ouir plans.

Bill Young · May 04, 2012, 12:49:58 PM

I forgot to mention the top issue. Since you have a coupe that has been converted and the windshield frame is different you will probalby have to have a new top made just for your car. You may be able to modify stock top bows, but I can't tell if you'll have enough room behind the seats for it to fold as normal. Here's a MGA from Wichita, KS with a "chopped " folding top and a cut down roadster windshield. It can be done and very neatly if you engineer the framework carefully. The original top attached to two posts on the top of the windshield posts, you'd have to add something like that to attach a header to.

panalfa1 · May 05, 2012, 10:36:17 PM

Thanks for the shot of the mga soft top looks sweet, that looks doable. If I can be any help with that Omaha show I'd be glad to, I've got alot of ties in this town so need to know what your looking for. Need to know exact dates cause June gets hairy around here with that little thing called College World Series, Its a pretty decent town gots its good and bad like most other places so ask and I'll see what I can do. Joe........