MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - J Bries Dana 27

The Dana 27 is from a Scout, 1962 I think. I am running one in my race car.
ASH Andrew

There is one in the front of my 1970 CJ-5. But I'm not sure of its possible application to the MGA... Please elaborate on your race car, and its axle installation. 8^)
Del Rawlins

I've go the parts and just picked up the ring gear from the machinist today. .125 needs to be taken off of the base of the gear. From there the powerloc needs to be machined to accept the metric bearings used on a banjo diff rather than that of the original application which is measured in inches. I should have the whole lot back together along with other winter updates to the car before spring.

Andrew, how often do you have to replace the clutch packs in the powerloc if at all?

Thanks
J Bries

I just rebuilt the diff a month ago. I googled International Scout Parts, and they had a clutch pack for rebuilding it. The coating on the clutch disks will eventually wear out, and it will be metal on metal. If you google Dana LSD rebuilding or Dana LSD pictures, you will find good info.
ASH Andrew

So am I correct in understanding that you have modified the Dana differential parts to work with an MG banjo axle housing? Neat!

You know, it is possible that this would open up lots of other options for LSD type differentials. IIRC, the dana 27 uses the same size (although maybe not the same part #) ring gear as the more modern dana 30 in the front of my '01 Jeep Wrangler. The major difference is that as a front axle, the older model 27 is a closed knuckle unit, while the model 30 has open knuckles (i.e., the axle shaft u-joints are exposed).

I have a "Detroit Trutrac" differential installed in it, which was manufactured by Tractec, but Google reveals that it now appears to be an Eaton product. This is a totally gear driven limited slip unit that doesn't use clutch packs, so you don't have to worry about them wearing out. Mine has been trouble free for about 70,000 miles, and while only about 1/3 of its life has been spent in 4wd, on the post '95 Wranglers, there are no unlocking hubs or axle disconnect mechanism, so it has been at least spinning all that time.

http://www.quadratec.com/products/16100_602.htm
Del Rawlins

Sorry to bug you again, but I thought I'd ping for more information on the axle conversion. Again, I take it that you've managed to fit the Dana 27 LSD unit into an MG banjo housing. I'm also assuming that you had to adapt the MG ring and pinion to the dana carrier, is that correct? What are you using for axle shafts? Do the MG shafts fit the dana LSD unit by some miracle, or did you have to have the shafts modified? If so, did you use MG or Dana shafts, and what had to be done to make them work?

Sorry to be a pain, but being an enthusiast of both Jeeps and MGs, this is really interesting to me.
Del Rawlins

Hi Del, the axles are ten spline coarse. I guess that is why the Dana 27 will work. the holes for the ring rear are elongated by the machine shop.I use the stock axle shafts.
ASH Andrew

Thanks for the info, I wondered if that might not be the case with the shafts. The later dana 30 axle had fine splines (which are stronger), so using the later axle as a donor to take advantage of different differential units would mean having custom shafts made (probably shortened and re-splined model 30 shafts).

I'm amazed sometimes at the weird combinations that can be made to work together because of using standard sizes. I still have the "clutch alignment tool" that my dad used for the MGA. It is the input shaft from a Studebaker transmission, of all things. His first car was a Studebaker, and I am pretty sure it was just something convenient that happened to fit, that he still had in a box of parts or something after he got the MGA. And damned if it isn't an exact fit!
Del Rawlins

This thread was discussed between 04/12/2008 and 12/12/2008

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.