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MG MGA - V8 and gearbox best match

I have read the thread regarding the 1800/gearbox best combination with great interest. Does anyone have experience with a V8 in the "A", the gearbox best match, cooling, tacho and other related problems?
Regards
David Godwin
D Godwin

I haven't seen any V8 A's completed, but there is a gentleman in St. Louis who is building one. He has details on his web site http://www.themgdoc.com/
Bill Young

A good friend just down the coast a ways put a Chevy S-10 Six cylinder in his once junkyard MGA. Did a great job doing it, and also a great job on the car itself. Other than radial tires, single 12-volt battery, and a CB radio, I'm pretty much an originality freak, but I really admire the work he did. Marv
Marvin Stuart

I'm finished with the chassis work of a Buick(Rover)3.5 aluminum V8 conversion, GM T5 5 speed, MGB dual line brake system, axle, 5/8" sway bar, Griffin aluminum radiator. This really is a huge undertaking with all the fabricating. Looks dead stock on the outside. No tacky hood scoops or flares. Finished car will be 50lb less than stock, 200+ hp. Search for 'Lyle Jacobson', he posted all the picts of his conversion, great example.
Scott

I've seen a web site for v8 in MGs, I think it's "britishv8.org". Quite interesting. Bill
w.g cook

There was an MGA with a V8 at the ABFM in Vancouver this weekend. I didn't note the owner's name. It was in the "modified" area along with a couple MGA race cars.
David Breneman

Thanks for the compliment Scott. I've put over 11,000 miles on my MGAV8, with no problems. It is just the most fun ever to drive, and is well worth all the work to do the conversion. My car is in the book, Call it MGA, on page 52, and 69. stay in touch, Lyle
Lyle Jacobson

David, That was my car. Wasn't that a great British car show. I didn't hear the count, but there must of been over 500 cars. I also came home in the rain, but I didn't have as far to travel as you did. Lyle
Lyle Jacobson

I put a small block ford (260 cu. in. ) in my '61 MGA in around 1969-70. Sacrilege now, it was merely a used car then.

I used a narrowed Ford mustang axle and a Ford transmission. The driveshaft was very short. Had to use a remote oil filter to clear the steering, installed a large rad from probably a falcon. Everything worked out pretty good.
Art Dodge

Thanks Guys,
It's wierd how one doesn't see something until one needs it!!!I have read "Call It MGA" from cover to cover and did not remember the references to V8's. Either I'm getting old or I didn't have the interest back then. Won't guess which it may be!
Will contact some of you guys that have "done the deed" when the idea becomes closer to a reality.
Thanks again
David Godwin
D Godwin

David, good and bad news for you. Good news is it can be done and I am doing it (despite delay due to an non-understanding ex-wife and susequent divorce (one has to get ones priorities sorted out). Bad news is that the window to do it on the east coast of Australia ran out in mid 1990s. NSW, Qld and Victoria all now come under the new national modification scheme. Put simply, you can only put an engine that has a capacity of 3 times the GVM of the original car...IE: MGA weighs 1000kg so maximum engine capacity can be 3000cc! Crazy formula but its law! I got my approval back in 1991 and it cannot be revoked (got that in writing from Qld Transport Department). Email me direct if you want more info at markmathiesen@hotmail.com
mark mathiesen

This thread was discussed between 22/05/2005 and 24/05/2005

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