Wow!
I appreciate all the thoughtful responses my query generated. I should have
mentioned in my original post that a classmate of mine has a metal
fabrication shop and has successfully completed a couple of ambitious
powertrain conversions. He inspected the car, and based on measurements he
took as well as some research of his own thought it would be feasible to mate
a Rover V8/Buick Al 215 and a t-5 tranny to the mga. With his help it would
be possible for me to do a lot of the expensive welding, etc. for no cost. I
wanted to see if any of you had tried this and glean what I could from the
list's collective wisdom.
I understand the viewpoint of many listers who think that such a conversion
would bastardize the mg, and to some extent I agree. I recently finished a
ground up restoration on a 1972 BMW motorcycle with the express intent of
keeping the finished bike factory-spec. After nearly getting killed at an
intersection I recanted and dropped a front fork from a /6 w/ disc brakes to
improve the horrific stopping ability of the period drums. I didn't feel as
compelled to keep the bike bone-stock after that incident, and I'm glad I
didn't as I love the bike in its new configuration. Obviously my interest in
the mga has nothing to do with safety issues. At this earliest of stages,
I'm simply brainstorming my options. Admittedly I know little about the mga
and in fact haven't yet been able to drive/ride in a stock 1500 (any generous
souls in AZ?). Prior to laying out money for the car and committing myself to
this project I wanted to see what avenues exist for performance improvement.
I am attracted to the mga for its beautiful lines, simplistic engineering,
and reputation as a great handling car. I am less than awed by a quoted
0-60 time of 14s. Moreover, the fact that the 1500 was superceded by the
1600, and twin-cam models makes me wonder if the car's developers didn't
think the initial powerplant was too anemic to start.
After reading all the advice given I am now inclined to get the car AND keep
the integrity of the vehicle based on the concensus regarding cost and ease
of completion. Can anyone provide a relative cost-benefit list of
improvements I can make given the stock motor? My ideal endpoint is a
regular driver with a little more oomph than I anticipate from the 1500.
With this in mind should I begin with a 1600, or as one reader suggested an
mgb 1800? Cam, downdrafts, etc.?
To those few who have emailed me off list, bent out of shape by my idea I
would like to add a few things. IMHO any restoration effort will pose a
number of dilemas for the owner, especially when working w/ a 40 year old
car. As someone correctly pointed out I would not truly be undertaking a
restoration by shoehorning a V6/8 into the car - I would simply be getting it
back on the road. Each of us has an idea of what we want out of the
completed car - for some it is a beautiful concours, from factory ride. For
others it may be a nice '10 footer'. Some enjoy being steward to a car which
requires regular setting of points, others make concessions to modern
conveniences like electronic ignitions, and spin on oil filters. I see how
what I was considering is infinitely more egregious than installing a 5-spd
OD, but in the grand scheme does it matter as long as you're pleased with
what is sitting in the garage?
Regards,
Bill
///
/// mgs@autox.team.net mailing list
/// or try http://www.team.net/cgi-bin/majorcool
///
|