MGA MGA 1500 to 1800/5 speed/3.9 transformation [pics]

[burgundyben]

We have an MGA, we bought it about a year ago to replace an Austin Healey that had proved to be too much of a worry, it was mint, valuable and was all aluminium bodied, so we spent a lot less money and bought the MGA.

When I went to take it for a blast the dealer said that second gear syncro was tired, what he meant was it was completely shot, we negoatiated the price accordingly and bought the car.

I got reading up about MGA's on the very comprehensive www.mgaguru.com site and found that if I was replacing the gearbox that I could fit a 5 speed ford conversion and that at the same time I could fit an 1800 from an MGB...and a taller diff...and modify the head a bit....

So I bought a tired 1800 lump and started a comprehensive rebuild of it, had to make some special tools to swap the cam bearings. I also took the opportunity to polish the ports and combustion chambers using the MGB tuning book as a guide, along with bulleted valve guides (thanks to a chap in the tool room at work)

I bought a 5 speed sierra box and fitted the new 5 speed conversion bell housing.

I also bought a 3.9 diff and rebuilt it with new bearings and seals, never rebuilt a diff before but its a peice of [censored] really.

So eventually about six weeks ago we got to the point that I could pull out the engine/box/diff and set about putting all the new stuff in.

Getting started on the strip down

Lifting the old 1500 out

Nearly out

Out

Sierra gearbox and MGA conversion bell housing

The rebuilt and lighty modified 1800 motor

My mate John and his son James who gave me a hand

Empty MGA engine bay

5 speed box in place

1800 engine ready to drop in

She's in!

My better half wondering what all this car junk is

All bits and bobs fitted

Homemade cornfalkes packet diff gasket

New 3.9 diff fitted, the 4.3 diff was just too low for todays motoring

So it took a couple of weekends and quite a few evenings, I've had a nightmare with electrical gremlins and I had to buy some new parts I was not expecting.

It goes like the clappers!!!

List of new parts fitted

Engine
rev counter
big ends
main bearings
thrust washers
oil pump
cam bearings
oil pressure relief valve
oil pressure relief spring
piston rings
bottom end gaskets
core plugs
oil seal back of crank
oil strainer
postage charges
differential
rev counter
cam followers
valve springs
inlet valve guides
more cam bearings
timing chain
chain tensioner
head gasket set
inlet valve
gearbox
cam shaft
exhaust valves
core plugs
Ring Gear
diff bearings pair
pinion oil seals - got 2, one spare
pinion bearing front
pinion bearing rear
five speed conversion
5brg backplate
clutch lever
radiator top hose
clutch release bearing
clutch bearing clips
front crank seal - got one spare
manifold stud
oil filter
points
condensor
plugs
bottom rad hose
clutch release bearing (ended up with 2)
diff gasket
top hose (ended up with 2)
engine mount RH
engine mount LH
sealed beam
clutch slave
second hand starter motor
oil
fibre washers
sump plug washer
thermostat housing
water pump
gear box oil
axle oil
thermostat
ht lead
12volt battery and leads.
ignition switch
carriage
gear oil
dizzy cap
rotor arm

Have spent £2062 but I have some mooney to come back from the old engine and box I have sold.

Its transformed the car from doing its nut at 60 to cruising at 75!

From 30 hp to 50 odd at 3000rpm.

I might just take it easy this weekend. Have a beer.

 

[martx-5]

Nice job you did there. However, I was a bit stunned when I saw the engine coming out supported by a ROPE! Not only that, but slung around the crankshaft pulley. I got nervous just looking at those pics! :eeek:

 

[burgundyben]

Thats an old gib sheet from a sailing dinghy, its fine!!!