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MG MGA - Lowering?

Im about to send my A off to the strippers to be blasted. While its out, I am going to start collecting bits for the suspension. I lowered my 72 BGT and the handling change was great, can I lower the A with chrome bumper B components? I would like to run MGB kingpins, shocks, etc.

Does anyone run with a lowered MGA? I am going to autocross this one so I am going to have the front frame extension modified for a swaybar but lowering would help Im sure.
Jarrod Hills

I put 72B suspension parts on my 58A for the disc brakes and somewhat stronger kingpin design. I also added a 5/8" BGT sway bar after swapping the front extension for a later unit, and I used the stock A sway bar bushings that were bored out. You can get a 3/4" front bar if needed plus negative camber lower A arms too. With some racing pads and poly bushes you should do well. I have not heard of any A owners lowering the car but lower profile tires should be a good start for the track.
Check the BV8 conversion guys too. They have had discussions with four pot, vented disc conversions, limited slip diffs...
Scott



Jarrod,

I run the mgbgt springs and the metal sleeved bushings from Moss on my A. They drop it about an inch total and the laden spring numbers are 550 (if my memory is working ok) compared to the stock 480 (?). So it's lower and stiffer. It's a no hassle, nice way to do it. I also run the sway bar and am really impressed with how it handles when pushed to the limit (well, my fright limit anyway). It simply lays down and carves the turn.

A lot of fun on the track and nice still on the street.

Good luck,

Tom
Tom M

I was under the impression that the BGT front spring was the same as the A Twin cam thus you would expect it to slightly raise a normal 1600. That said if you were to buy lowered B roadster springs these should do the job you are wanting.
Bob (robert) I get up real early somedays

Try Dave Headly at Fab-TEK (http://www.fast-mg.com/Pricelist.htm). About 3/4 scroll down the price list, he has a service that lowers the front MGB spindles 1" and also can provide lowering blocks for the rear. Doug Jackson at British Automotive (http://www.mgbmga.com/) also sells lowering blocks for the rear springs that will work on an MGA.
Steve Brandt

I lowered my mk2 for vintage racing. I used poly bushings everywhere, used the lowered B competition springs from moss which are stiffer and spacers for the rear leaf springs. Also a 7/8th" sway bar from Adco. This was all very easy to do. See details of the sway bar on Barney's site mgaguru.com. The overall result lowered the car an inch. Still not quite enough for me so I'm going to have the rear springs de-arched and the front coils cut down until I'm at 2" overall.

Let us know what you end up with.

John
John B

To lower you A is fairly simple... beyond the usual B bits and pieces (good idea by the way). Us racing MGA folks on the west coast deepen the spring pearch. We also run much stiffer springs.... 650 for the street and 950 for the track.
SkippyMGA

Skippy-

Deepen the spring perch- lower it in the lower A arm? Not sure what you are refering to? Please exoand you explaination.
greg fast

The lower control arm is the spring pearch. We cut the base of where the springs sits, weld in the desired lowering amount. Very common process.
SkippyMGA

Guys, don't forget that lowering by cutting springs (or lowering spring pans etc.) will result in added bump steer as well as reduced travel before you hit the buffers.

The correct way to lower would be to change the height of the spindle on the upright.
Bill Spohn

... which carries it's own bump steer condition
greg fast

aaaahhh... you need to talk to Bob Yarwood and Keith Sears. They have all the secrets on suspension setups... Vintage correct of course.
SkippyMGA

Any chance that the MGB rear leaf springs will fit the MGA? Moss sells nice MGB rear springs that lower the rear of the car. Early MGB and MGA share the same rear end. Seems this might work. Any thoughts?
ASH Andrew

Thought Yarwood retired back to the UK. Read his stuff a couple years ago, haen't seen any of his work, so really can't comment. My memory says that it wasn't strictly vintage legal in SoCal.

Don't know anything about Keith Sears.
greg fast

Yup, Mr Yarwood is heading back over the pond as of next month. Keith Sears is taking the business over for Bob. As far as being legal... we have race motors preped by Yarwood and are exactly 40 over 1622 motors built in accordance to SCCA rules of the time. In fact, we could do more but choose not to. Cars get pumped around here all the time so its important that they are correct. We were called cheaters for a couple of years until our backgound and previous seat time was made public. Its easy to drive an A fast. Don't lift and hang on for the ride!
SkippyMGA

hey skippy, shoot me an email. I need more info on your motors i.e. I need one.

thx
John
John B

I read his booklet about suspension setups- the potential for illegal operation was a veiled reference to moving the lower suspension pivot. Since there was only a reference to it, and I've never seen what was being refered to , I can't comment directly on it's legality or illegality. It struck me at the time I read it that it might be rulled illegal in SoCal. Am certain if I looked there is no way i could find it, as I moved cross country since I saw this half a dozen years ago.

I know nothing of his engine preparation, so I won't comment on that, and don't believe engine preparation was on point.
greg fast

This thread was discussed between 07/11/2005 and 08/11/2005

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