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MGA My MGA project w/Datsun engine?

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Billm

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I am about to commit sacrilege (a big sin). I have put MGB fromt and rear suspension on my MGA and have a 3 main MGB engine for it and a 5-speed Datsun 510 transmission to adapt in.
Last weekend I saw an ad for a dunebuggy (sandrail really) with a Datsun 5-speed in it. I bought it for the transmission (to put in my Sprite)but found that it was a "big" transmission hooked to a J-15 engine. This engine is a real close copy of the MGA/MGB engine and looks like it will fit perfectly (and also have a 5-speed with syncro first).
Has anyone else done this yet? The specs look interesting like I may finally have a non-leaking engine in a British car (didn't leak in the sandrail at all).

Bill
 
Ohhhhhhh, Bill. Pics, we gota have pics.
 
You're gonna kill the value of the car. Think about whether you plan to keep it forever or just play for a while and resell. If you want more power but to retain the value, go with the 3-main 1800. That's the only swap I know of that can actually increase the value of a 1500 MGA. It's actually the perfect engine for the car anyway. Just food for thought.
 
Steve:

I agree, been there done that, and it was a nice combo.

P
 
It sounds like you're just building a good driver, so I'd say go for it. From what you say the engines are almost identical, we know that Datsun did make a close copy of a couple of BMC engines that are virtual bolt ins for the A and B series. If it's that close then you won't be cutting up the car and the value won't be compromised that much as you can always revert to the B series. You'd have probably had to modify the transmission crossmember anyway to install the 5 speed, so you're no worse off.
 
You could always adapt the transmission to the MGB engine - or swap in an original MGB OD trans (requires minor mods that are reversible).

I am in favor of the 3 main MGB - I use that in my 62. Makes a nice car.

BTW, MGB and MGA rear suspension are the same, so I'm not sure what you meant when you said you swapped them out. Maybe you just swapped the diff ratio?

As for the front suspension, given that you already had diosc brakes (on a 1960), there really isn't much point going to the MGB shocks and uprights, but some people like to do that.
 
Pictures of the Datsun J15, an MGA 1600 and an MGB 1800 3-main:

I think that it is attached-
 

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And here is a picture of the Datsun tranny next to the MGA tranny.
You can see that the shifter comes out at the same location as an MGB but will be about 8" forward on the "A", I'll bend bach the shifter and live with it! (syncro first and overdrive 5th!)

Bill
 

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Here is one of the J15 dressed-up as an MG engine:
 

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Bill
I just swapped the rearend to one from an MGB since it had the 3.9 gears and the splines for the wire wheels were nearly new (from a rusted donor car) and the front suspension on the donor had a nearly new front suspension, my '60 MGA is missing some of the parts for the brakes so the swap was easier, and the MGB has a swaybar, the MGA didn't -- that's why.
Bill
 
Makes sense, Bill.
 
Did you make it to the ABFM swapmeet in Portland two years ago and see the Toyota engine in the A? That was a clean swap and not near as close as what yours will be.
 
Hey, Bill Young...wasn't there a Spridget at the Ozarks show that had a Toyota engine in it?
 
Surely was and he broke a cam shaft while there. But boy oh boy did it go.
 
Tony, I don't remember any with the Toyota engine. There was Bugzuki and I think it was the only Sprite with and engine swap and my V6 was the only Midget. There were a number of blowers and turbos that were really neat, but all were on A series motors if I'm not mistaken. Like the engine Billm is using in his MGA, there was a smaller version that was almost a dead ringer for the A series engine as well, so there might have been one of these in one of the cars and I just missed it.
 
That's is...Bugzuki...He had a Suzuki engine in it!
 
Miata is also a nice swap into an MGA.

edtwincam.jpg
 
Stu, I think you are correct upon reflection, however, it really did go like skat.
 
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