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MG MGA - Twin Cam or Not

How would one tell if a 58 MGA is a twin cam?
F.E. Valenzano

You do not say if it has an engine.
The most obvious things are the "knock on" steel disc wheels, disc brakes on all four wheels, five holes in the front crossmember to access the front sump (oil pan) bolts. The tachometer should star the red sector at 7,000 RPM.
If there is a pushrod MGA nearby you can see if the steering rack is mounted further forward, the flat panel in front of the rack is smaller in area, and the radiator mounts are further forward.


Mick
M F Anderson

Further to Mick's list, there are a few further subtle clues: The fuel pump mounting bracket next to the batteries as well as the starter swith bracket in the engine bay, both being different to the pushrod. There's also the removable louvered panels to the wheel arches as a further clue. If the TC engine is missing, sometimes the brake and clutch MC's from the TC are left behind which also differ from the pushrod. Dash has a vinyl covering as standard on the TC's too, 'normal' pushrods it's painted body colour.

Good Luck.
Peter Steyn

May as well keep the list of Twin Cam differences going.
On the Twin Cam the heater (or the hole for the heater) in the firewall horizontal panel is further to the passenger side than on the pushrod car (on a LHD car). The bolt positions holding the body to the chassis "goalpost" are different. The oil filling fittings on the steering rack slope downwards instead of upwards (oil gun operated from under the car).
Some external features of the gearbox are different, but this can only be seen if the tunnel cover is removed.

Mick
M F Anderson

How about the pretty obvious "Twin Cam" plate on both sides of the bonnet (hood)? If the plate is missing, the spacing of the holes are different than those used on the subsequent 1600 and 1600 Mk II plates. As we are talking the 1500, then no holes would indicate it is not a Twin Cam body.

Steve
Steve Gyles

F.E. ,

Post a photo and we will soon tell you.

Cheers
Mark...
Mark Hester

Could be a deluxe? Has many of the same differences listed above but not all so it might be easy to confuss those not extremely familiar with all the details. Personally, I'd perfer the deluxe! Cheers!
Robert Maupin

Except I don't think you can have a 1958 deluxe. Weren't the first ones 1960.

Also, I thought the very earliest twin came did not have the removable inner wing panels.

Malcolm
Malcolm Asquith

Simply look at the VIN plate. All real twin cams start with the letters "YD" or "YM" followed by a 1, 2, 3 or 5 followed by the serial number (501 thru 2611) CKD cars may have an exta letter following the YD or YM.

VIN for 1055's start with HD or HM

VIN for all 1600's (including MKII and Deluxe) start with GH

The above info is from "Original MGA"

Also make sure it matches the number stamped in the chassis, otherwise it may be a complilation of various cars.
Chuck Schaefer

Good point Malcome! Cheers!
Robert Maupin

Sorry, That should read:

VIN for 1500's start with HD or HM

Chuck

Dyslexia strikes 10 out of every 5 people ;>)
Chuck Schaefer

Chuck, it sounds like you should join DAM - Mothers Against Dyslexia!
L Wheeler

Price
D.M. Black

This thread was discussed between 10/06/2009 and 22/06/2009

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