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MG MGA - MGA + Miata?

DOes anyone have info of fitting a Miata engine and gearbox into an MGA? My dad is getting older and wants to build an MGA he can "drive to Florida". He has a 1500 and has built several MGAs and a TR3 over the years so he doesn't have the desire to chop the car up. He wants to be able to buy parts from Advance on the spot if need be. We're thinking Miata, but any modern, common drivetrain would work. The Miata engine weight is about the same as the B-series and they are very common. Any other suggestions?
Kemper

Kemper. My understanding is that Carl Heidemann (hope I spelled it correctly) of Eclectic Motor Works has done such a conversion on either an MGA or an MGB. Thus, you might want to contact Carl to see what he can tell you.

I have some experience with the Miata, having purchased one in Florida to have as transportation when attending to my mother who was hospitalized for an extended period. My younger daughter was reaching driving age and an MGB was a problem for her to drive. (Short overall with short legs.) Thus, I had the opportunity to drive the Miata in city traffic for several weeks, drive it from Orlando to Arizona (recreating a trip I had made 20 years before in an MGB) and have had a chance to drive it since. Great car. What the new MG should have been in 1980.

The engine reminds me of a tuned MGB engine. Revs freely and smoothly. Needs a little more slipping of the clutch to get started than a B with a standard weight flywheel. The five speed tranny is excellent.

However, as I mentioned, I made the Florida to Arizona trip in a 79B many years ago. Five main bearing engine and a four speed with overdrive. Had just as much fun with the B as the Miata. Neither engine used a quart of oil in the three day, 2,300 mile trip. I would take my current 79 (originally purchased and rebuilt for younger daughter) anywhere that an MG is capable of going.

The Miata engine and transmission are both excellent units and you can get them serviced at a number of shops. The five main bearing MGB motor and a five speed conversion would seem to be their equal, more in keeping with the originality of the MGA (most MGA owners do not seem to have a problem with an MGB engine having been installed), but it is more difficult to find someone to work on them.

Please let us know what you find out. Restoration will, hopefully, begin on my MGA this winter and I will be installing a five main bearing MGB motor and a four syncro tranny to go with it. Rear end gears will be early MGB unless I can find something a little bit taller available. The five speed Sierra conversion is under consideration and much will depend on how much money is available at what time. However, if the Miata conversion seems to offer significant benefits with equal cost, I would consider it. This is the MG for my younger daughter and the Miata has been her pride and joy for a number of years now.

Les
Les Bengtson

Why not just refurbish the B series engine and the original transmission. Once that is done, they are about as reliable as anything else. We have a 66 MGB with the B series 1800 engine and the original three syncro tranmission (which, other than the rear mounting is almost identical to the MGA transmission). I have never touched the transmission, but did rebuild the engine about 6 or 7 years ago and we drive the car as our primary transportation vehicle. This includes a yearly trip from our home, just across the sound from Seattle to LA to visit ageing mothers. Other than a flakey fuel pump on one trip, we have never had any problems in the 6 or 7 years that the car has been completed. Good luck - Dave
David DuBois

Yes it fits. there was one done in Vancouver b c. He show it in May British car show. It is only thing to use, the rest is front wheel drive.
Martin
Martin

A photo of someone's car at:

http://www.angelfire.com/amiga/mga/index.html

It might look better if the tubing for the air cleaner cold be fitted through the radiator support panel and the air cleaner fitted at the side of the radiator (as much as is possible).

Mick
Mick Anderson

I believe that picture is of Ed Theobald's MGA in White Rock, B.C. (near Vancouver). He's currently working on installing a Miata drive train into his brother's '80 MGB.
Al
Al McMillan

It sounds like fun to me. But how many parts can you get for a Miata at Advance Auto? Granted, there are more Mazda dealers than MG.. I'd buy a nice Miata (for practicality and creature comforts) for the highway, and have the 1500 shipped down to impress the neighbors and tootle around (and tinker with). Either one could strand you at the worst moment, though.
Tom

As I mentioned, he wants it to look like an MGA, but he wants to have the modern edge in traffic and on the highway. Therefore, the B-series is out. Do get me/us wrong, we both love the B-series. I drove an A-series midget everyday to college in the 90's, buy let's face facts, the A and B-series cars are better suited to country drives, not extended 70-80 mile per hour highway drives. I'd drive my '58 coupe to California, but at 60 mph, it would take a LONG time and anything over 4000 RPM is too stressful.

To answer the question, Advance sells Miata alternators, starters, clutches, oil filters... If the 1500 'A chucked a generator on the road, I don't think Advance or anyone else could help and carrying a spare everything isn't practical for a small car loaded with vacation gear.

We measured the 'A engine bay and will start gathering data.
Kemper

I think I saw this car as well, at the Van Dusen Gardens car show in May. It was badged as a twincam, but had the wrong wheels. When I finally got to see it with the bonnet open, it was indeed a twin cam engine, although one made by Mazda.
Mitch Smith

The MGA pictured is exactly what we want to do. Does anyone have contact info for the owner? I googled the name, but nothing amce up.
Kemper

I found this Miata club in Edmonton that has a picture of a 1959 twin-cam that one of their members put a Miata engine in. You might be able to contact him through the club. http://www.telusplanet.net/public/rbhutson/miata/arc01/musings_v7-08.htm

They also talk about an MGA with a Miata engine in Vancouver's Sea to Sky Miata Club so you might try that one also.
Jeff Schultz

What about an MGA-Toyota instead?
Photo at:

http://www.angelfire.com/amiga/mga/index.html

Well, it is a Twin Cam 1600!

Mick
Mick Anderson

kemper send me a private email, i may have some info for you, jim
james madson

"I believe that picture is of Ed Theobald's MGA in White Rock, B.C. (near Vancouver). He's currently working on installing a Miata drive train into his brother's '80 MGB."

That is correct. In fact the picture on that website was taken by me and 'pirated' from a website I run (without credit, you dirty dog! ;-)

I spoke with Ed on Friday and he is now looking for an MGB GT to convert to Miata power. He has recently finished a 60s Mustang with modern Ford V-8.

You should understand that Ed is the head of the BC Air Care testing concern and is therefor very interested in doing 'clean' conversions.

His car is indeed a Twincam, although it became separated from the suspension in the distant past.

I wouldn't do a conversion to an MGA myself, although I wouldn't have any qualms about bastardising (or improving, depending on how you view it) a much more common MGB, but frankly, Kemper, a stock MGB engine is dead reliable in the MGA, so there is really no need to do an engine swap.

Another swap that I am thinking about into an MGA framed car is the GM 60 deg, V6. Lighter than the original, with 5 speed gearbox and modern engine management system. If you gotta do it, and parts and mechanical expertise while running cross-country concern you, that might be something to consider. I intend to go with a recent injected engine, but carbed engines from Blazers are pretty commonly available.

The car I am going to convert is at the bottom of the page at

http://www.rhodo.citymax.com/carpictures.html

(wonder how long it will be before THAT image gets stolen and shows up on other sites....;-) - you'll see Ed's car a couple of rows up.
Bill Spohn

Apologies for using your photo, it has been removed. When collecting hundreds of photos over the years it is difficult to always keep records of the sources.
In the normal spirit of the MGA community, people are free to use anything of mine that I put on the Internet. My ego will not suffer.

Mick
Mick Anderson

Kemper,
There is another solution. I agree with previous replies that the MG engine can be quite reliable.

I have a 56 MGA with an 1800 MGB 3 bearing engine, pertronix electronic ignition, Lucas alternator, 3.9 early MGB rear end, front disc brakes (with MGB calipers), anti-sway bar and 5 speed Ford Sierra tranny. It was modified just for highway driving. Today, Sunday, October 9, I started in Murphy, NC, at 9:30 a.m. and arrived home in Tallahassee, FL at 5:00 pm. Most of the trip was driven at at 70 mph on I-75 at 3200 rpm. The engine never missed a beat.

I carry a spare Pertronix ignition, a spare water pump, thermostat, a gallon of distilled water/Watter Wetter mix, a set of plugs, some gaskets and light bulbs, and Barney Gaylord's list of tools and stuff for road trips.

Oh, guess I should also say I tow a trailer.

I think you can do a few mods on the MGA for a lot less money than the Miata transplant will cost, and it will be just as reliable.
Frank Nocera

All I can offer is this photo someone emailed to me for my web site...

http://www.lbcnuts.com/mg/modsengine/miata_mga.jpg
Steve Simmons

Confirming Les' early posting, Carl Heideman has put a Miata engine in an MGB GT. It looks like it belongs there.

G Goeppner

It was a lot of work, but I just love my 215 Buick conversion. It's really a blast to drive. For pictures and detail, google lyle jacobson mga v8. Lyle
Lyle Jacobson

Mick - I didn't realise it was your site - you are more than welcome to use my photo (photo credit is always nice).

Excellent site, BTW.
Bill Spohn

I guess I should have read all the posts before I posted myself. I didn't even notice Bill was here! The photo of the Miata engine I linked to above was sent to me by Bill himself.

Hey Bill, I'd love to add the Toyota one to the same page if you don't mind! :)

http://www.lbcnuts.com/mg/modsengine/
Steve Simmons

Steve,

I took the photo of the Toyota engined Twin Cam MGA. It is Twin Cam chassis number YM1 2415. The car belongs to Dan Casey in the State of Queensland, Australia.
You are free to use the photo.

Mick
Mick Anderson

Uh, yeah. There's me paying attention again. Time for those brain pills I guess.

Thanks Mick, I'll add the photo to the collection, with credit of course! :)
Steve Simmons

Ok, how about a vote. B series or Miata.

I've got a very clapped out restorable MGA sitting in my workshop. Right next to it is the drivetrain from a 1999 Mazda that gave it's life to keep a Peterbilt from getting overly personal with my backside.

I had orginally planned on doing the Mazda conversion and calling the car the Bill Spohn Special, just because it seemed like Bill would appreciate the tongue in cheek jibe.

Now it is starting to seem like a heck of a lot of work for not much real reward. I'm driving a supercharged 1970 MGB pretty much daily and it is just peachy. Lots of power and smooth as butter. The thought of bolting an 1800 with blower into the car, seems to be making a lot more sense. In this case, the 5 speed conversion is probably the way I would go, as the extra cog would make the car an 80+ MPH cruiser. Which is normal traffic speed around here.

Then again, I already have the Miata engine and gearbox with all electronicki bits. So for the price of a custom radiator and some welding I can get to learn fuel injection programming.

This is getting confusing. Maybe I'll just let the project gather some more dust and put my feet up.

Kelvin.
KJ Dodd

Sell the Miata for cash and use that cash to buy a 3-main 1800. It's a totally appropriate engine being virtually identical to the MGA unit, and you won't kill the value of the car like you would putting a Mazda engine in it. Plus, the power of the 1800 feels perfect for the MGA unless you're installing wide wheels and going for pure performance. Also keep in mind how fast the project would be done compared to fitting the Mazda stuff. If you want to take my MGA 1800 out for a spin just say the word. I need to come up there for some parts anyway!
Steve Simmons

Kelvin - I am in the anti-MGA-defloration group. Save the Miata engine for something that doesn't matter like an MGB - I can put you in touch with Ed who is just doing another one in a GT for his brother.

In the good old days, when they were just old cars, maybe, but engine swaps into defenceless MGAs today are a shame. I wouldn't even consider it with the Jamaican if it weren't already separated from most of its 'MGA-ness' by a previous owner.

I suppose if your MGA is almost a total write-off, it might be supportable, but these days you can get almost anything you need to rebuild them. There are many good vendors out there - what's the name of the one I deal with....Mass?....Muss....Moose......
Bill Spohn

there is an MGB with a 2.3 liter Ford(escort) with Ford five speed in this area I believe this has been done before also, It ssems to be a great change over and is neat in all respects. You might consider that if the Miata thing does not work out,
beachadj

The way I see it:

Gentleman ask lady if she will sleep with him for a millin dollars. "Of course she says"!

Gentleman ask if she will do so for ten dollars "Of course not, do you think I am a whore?"

Gentleman replies "We have already established that fact, I am just negotiating the price"

So an MGB engine is OK but not a more modern and reliable unit? I would think anyone who has added so much (little) as a set of chrome air filters has already compromised their integrity! (For those of you with no sense of humour, I will explain that the above is writen tounge in cheek.)

Pete
Pete

This thread was discussed between 08/10/2005 and 23/10/2005

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