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MG MGA - 5 speed conversion

Hi guys I have Now purchased a very good type 9 gearbox, ready to do five speed conversion on my MGA can you tell me what propshaft I need to get, and if I buy the conversion kit, do I require anything else over and above the kit ?

Cheers Jack.
Jack New Forest

Jack

I would give Peter Gamble a call at HiGear. He will take you through it all: http://hi-gearengineering.co.uk/ His kit comes with everything including propshaft.

What engine will you be using?

Steve
Steve Gyles


Hi Steve,
I was thinking of taking Colyn's wisdom words and getting my 1500 bored out to 1622 I think it is ! I think he said he did that and it was a good combination, or do I just overhaul my 1500 engine, this is my winter project, engine out spruce it up and fit five speed conversion.

Cheers Jack.
Jack New Forest

Jack,
just to set the record straight, I had a 3-bearing mgb engine in my car (1850cc) which went pretty well with the 5 speed.

Barney has tuned his 1600cc engine to get approx 100 bhp. He says that it pulls a 3.9 diff really well and so it should be also fine with the 5 speed.
I don't have any personal experience of boring out a 1500 engine but Im not sure that you can bore it out as big as 1600cc.

Barney's site covers this subject really well.

Colyn

Colyn Firth

Sorry Colyn must have read that on someone else's thread, but I'll have a look at Barny's site.
Cheers Jack.
Jack New Forest

Jack: your five speed box probably hasn't got a drain point. Worth while adding one while the box is out of the car. There are threads about where one should be fitted - if not here then try the midget and sprite section.
Graeme Williams

Jack,

It was me who had the 1500 bored to 1588. I had a spare engine and a brand new 1500/1600 crankshaft and Dominic suggested boring it out instead of fitting +60 pistons. The engineers - down near you - did the job and acquired 1600 pistons. Whether you can do it depends on the state of your cylinder walls.
Shane
Shanerj

Jack

I have details on my website for doing the drainhole: http://www.mgaroadster.co.uk/Ford%20Type%209%20Sump%20Plug.htm

If that does not work try this and scroll down to the mods I have installed: http://www.mgaroadster.co.uk/index.htm

Steve
Steve Gyles

Thanks for adding that Steve. I knew there were links somewhere here. My T9 has no drain, which is a real pain. I need to get it to reasonable height and get it drilled out because I understand there are better oils nowadays but at the moment I can't change it.
Graeme Williams

Jack,
You can happily bore a 1500 block out and fit 1600 standard pistons, or you can do as I have done just bore the 1500 out to the next size and fit modified MGB 1800 cylinder head with the block pocketed to allow the inlet valves to go down the bores. I have 88bhp at the rear wheels approx 105 bhp,at the flywheel and is great fun to drive with a 5 speed box conversion.

Regards

David
D M SPEAK

Hi Jack
I have had a quick look at the prices of MGA engine bits in the Moss catalogue.
Assuming you need new pistons, rings, main and big end bearings, gasket sets, new clutch kit and possibly new cylinder liners if there is too much wear to rebore your black.

This brings it close to £1000 worth of parts before you even add any labour charges for the rebore or any costs for cylinder head re-working.

I have seen that you can buy a complete 1850cc MGB engine which has been rebuilt as new to fast road spec for a little less than £2000.

May be worth considering.

Colyn

Colyn Firth

This thread was discussed between 07/09/2016 and 09/09/2016

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