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MGA MGA/Jamaican Progress

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billspohn

billspohn

Jedi Knight
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Spent last weekend working on the Jamaican MG. I'm used to having to fiddle with new engines when trying to fire them for the first time. Is there enough gas, enough spark and are they at the right time? Choke the SUs/Webers and churn away until you get fire in the hole (my old Chrysler sixpack is notorious for flooding the first time I start it every year).

With the injected 3.4 GM engine, I turned the key, checked to see if there were any high pressure fuel leaks (I built my own external air separator/swirl pot), hit the starter button and it fired right up first turn.

Ah - the wonders of modern engine management - sets fuel and timing (no distributor on this one). I thought later that if it had NOT fired up, I would probably be sitting there scratching my head wondering what expensive diagnostic instruments I'd need to figure out why not.....only to find that it was one wire that hadn't been connected....

engineb.jpg


Coming together all though lots left to do.

enginea.jpg
 
Lookin good indeed.
 
I wish I was in the northern climates everytime I see you post. Just so I come come over and look at all the beautiful cars you own. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif and perchance to ride in or drive one of them. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I just love that body - who cares about the engine....hehehehe /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif
 
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I just love that body - who cares about the engine....hehehehe /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif

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The body, currently Rockford gold will soon be BMW Imola Red.

Imagine the nice body in deep red......
57Jamacian_17.jpg


Oh yes - the Dayton chrome wires (15 x 6" AC Cobra pattern) arrived and are now shod in 215 x 60 - 15 Yoko ES100 tires. Looks much better filled than they did when it had on 195 x 70 - 15 on 5" rims as in that picture.

newires.jpg
 
Bill,

That looks great! I hope my 3.4L MGB start-up effort will be as uneventful. I hope to be ready to turn the key for the first time in about 2 weeks from now - assuming my exhaust system gets back from Jet-Hot late next week.

150_5003_small_Small.jpg


-Dave
 
Sorry I drooled all over you guys' screens - I've gotta find one of those cars!
 
I really like the gold....Sets it apart from every other sporty looking car around.

I really love that car....If anyone is looking to sell one..... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
IN LINE....IN LINE...but, you're right - the gold does cause you to look a second time!
 
I like the gold too.... just please don't repaint the Lambo!!!!!!!!!!! It's perfect.
 
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I like the gold too.... just please don't repaint the Lambo!!!!!!!!!!! It's perfect.

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I am not all that keen on the brown. The car started life in silver and I was thinking it might end up that way again, or perhaps the same Imola Red as the Jamaican.

But don't worry, OI won't be able to afford to paint it for some time.....
iconjpg.jpg
Linsidesmall.jpg
renginejpeg.jpg
 
That may well be a '57 Jamaican but it is timeless. It looks better today than when it was build. I can not beleive there are so few of them when they were so strikeing.

Anyone would beleive if you told them it was a 2005 model, or any other year of your choice.

Is there a place to go with the history, how many were built, etc etc.
 
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Is there a place to go with the history, how many were built, etc etc.

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I don't know if this is related or not...

https://members.shaw.ca/thefiberfabcars/

It says that the Jamaican they sold went on a Austin Healey 3000 chassis.

<edit>

there is a manual for the early Jamaicans here:

https://www.fiberfab.us/manuals.html

You could order the body for MGA, TR2-3, TR-4, or AH3000.

Very interesting.

Looks like you can still buy a GT40 replica with a kit from these guys.

</edit>
 
Wow, look at the prices.
 
Yeah brown isn't the best color for a sportscar....But many people at shows seam to love my brown TR6, so I guess it's all in the eye of the beholder.
 
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MG on the intake, nice touch Bill!

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Yep - sanded off the original raised lettering and scanned an MGA Twincam cam cover, fed it into a CNC computer and cut it on the plenum, contour and all.

Although I doubt anyone will figure it is a Twincam engine. You never know.

BTW, they intend to produce the Jamaican body again, although not specifically for old sports car frames - for a specially built frame intended to take a V8.

Here's a couple more shots of the car - nothing awkward except the headlights.

57Jamacian_9.jpg


It needed more wheel and tire, though.

57Jamacian_16.jpg


It is very hard to tell the scale of the car unless you see it side by side with something known - I'll take a pic of it beside my Mk 2 Coupe once I get it out of the garage.

It is 6" lower than an MGA, as well as being significantly wider. My seating position is laid back/prone so that my head doesn't hit the roof!

It is also low enough that it will be a real pain in the back to work on unless it is on stands, but that's just my old back talking. Probably lifted too many MG engines in my youth.
 
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Yeah brown isn't the best color for a sportscar

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380SL.jpg


...turns heads everywhere it goes! Dealer says its a rarity to find the Coffee Brown color on an SL!
 
Love the exhaust on that jamaican

The wheels are a little set-in....Has the track been widen at all from base MGA?
 
Their GT40 never really looked like a real GT40 to me.
 
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