At 03:40 PM 2/1/2001 -0500, Leckstein wrote:
>....
>Now the problem is what to sanction at meets if we are to take a stand at
all. ....
Here's one approach. NAMGAR has recently sanctioned, as a class, the MGA
1800. This came about as a result of so many transplants of MGB 1800
engines into MGAs. This mod is getting more popular every year, and NAMGAR
does not want to alienate the owners of these cars from the national club.
Along with the acceptance of the 1800 engine there were other stipulations,
and other mods also allowed. In general, it would be allowed to use most
any parts from another MG model, such as early MGB OD gearbox (or parts
thereof), the MGB flywheel and clutch parts, an MGB final drive gear set,
maybe MGB disk brake parts, etc. Two primary stipulations are to be
enforced, that the parts used should be parts from other MG models, and
that any modification should be easily reversible, meaning bolt-in with no
cutting or welding done.
Cars modified in this manner will be judged in a class separate from the
normal show judging classes, and will not be allowed to compete in any
concourse judging class. This may sound like am entry inroad towards
allowing street rods, but in fact the decision was an acknowledgement of
real life, and intended to encourage us to maintain the breed rather than
scrapping a car exiling a club member.
In the end a Volvo engine or Datsun gearbox would still not be allowed, so
that still leaves out the 5-speed conversions. Also, as no cut & weld is
allowed, that rather excludes the use of the MGB overdrive units, except
possibly an early 3-sync OD unit, but I haven't personally seen it done
(yet). And considering how many conversions there have already been to
install MGB 4-sync gearboxes in MGAs, with and without OD, that require
cutting and welding for a removeable cross member for the gearbox rear
mount, I suspect we have not heard the last of this discussion.
Barney Gaylord
1958 MGA with an attitude
http://www.ntsource.com/~barneymg
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