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MG MGA - Upgrades-Post Tour Update. Finally!

Hi all,

Well, it's been over two weeks and I am finally getting around to posting an update.

Over the last few months I added a modified real seal, an MGB clutch/flywheel, and a street grind camshaft from Crane-all of these mods are explained in detail on Barney's site.

Well, the first seal leaked and I had to pull the engine out again to replace it. Seems as though I may have been a bit careless when either modifying the seal or installing it the first time. Anyway, needed a laygear and a reverse gear for the gearbox anyway. Oh, did I mention Barney drove 3 hours to meet me halfway to deliver a gearbox while I was in the states on business?

Got the second seal in, as well as the clutch and flywheel from the MGB and dropped the engine back in. No time for the camshaft at that point.

During my next free spell, I installed the camshaft as well as some MGB lifters and pushrods, re-gasketed the carbs, and added some K&N filters as the stock ones were in need of replacement anyway. Did a tune up, adjusted the carbs, and was ready for a Fall rally just hours before we were to depart.

So, here we go. I am usually the last, if not one of the last cars in the group. Lots of these guys have either expensive cars or alot of money in their classic British cars. Big carbs, big exhausts, racing brakes, tires, ignitions, clutches, suspensions, you name it and these guys have it. Me? A basically stock MGA, stock carbs, stock ignition, dynamo, stock exhaust, 4-wheel drum brakes. The only real modification is the cam, and maybe the clutch and air filters. Oh yeah, I also have chrome wheels. Hey, I like chrome.

Let me say that the camshaft is a winner. With the exception of the newer, more modern cars we ride with, I was the new king of the hill so to speak. Particularly around 3500 RPM in third gear. The camshaft and tuning made the car run so differently that my friends wondered what the heck was going on.

Of course, I did it for my satisfaction and to aid in the fun-factor. But it was kind of fun knowing that I made such a change with relatively little expense and could now bully the bullies. Nobody beleived that basically all I did was a camshaft!

I wonder what this car would be like with a supercharger? I say wonder because I will never know. I have no money, I mean plans to buy one!
Tom Baker

Tom
Once the power bug bites....
dominic clancy

Tom, How did the seal fare? Any leaks? I am still debating on whether to do the seal or not. I have acquired an excellent crank that is standard and the scroll seal is perfect. Thinking of keeping it the way it was designed and using the "diaper" approach.
James Johanski

James,

The first seal leaked, totally my fault. When I say leaked, I meant it literally sprayed out and made a huge mess.

The secnd time around I wasn't rushed and it did fine. Maybe a drip or two after driving. I was down about 1/2 qt. for 375 miles or so or thrashing and at speeds of at least 140 km/h, or about 85. While the front of the rear engine plate had oil on it, I think it was from the draught tube or valve cover or somewhere up top and just happened to migrate there.

What I try to stress is that my car would literally pour oil out of the gearbox leak point after some hard driving, but almost no loss for around town driving. I would typically loose 3-4 qts in 300 miles. The logical answer (thanks Barney) was that the scroll could not keep up with the flow of returning oil back to the oil pan. After a visual inspection, the scroll was in fact damaged.

I live in Japan, no access to an affordable machine shop, or old car parts for that matter, so finding a crankshaft, cleaning, checking, cutting, and shipping from the US was not the best option. Otherwise my crank was fine and the best option was to source a rear plate and have it machined and shipped from the US and try the modification.

If I lived in the States, had a known good crankshaft, and the cost of machining, bearings, time, and other parts was not too expensive, I would have gone that route. On the other hand, if my crank was only leaking 10-12 drops after a run I would just leave it alone!

All in all I am happy with the result. One half qt. in almost 400 miles of serious driving v. 3-4 qts for the same trip is progress!



Tom Baker

The oil leakage you are now getting may be due to no PVC valve. According to Barney (and this sounds logical) the positive seal only works completely with negative pressure (slight vacuum) on the crankcase.
I have now acquired a crank with no wear to the journals or scroll, so I am at least initially going to go with no seal at the rear. I will use a lip seal at the front--I have the proper timing chain cover. I will also use a lip seal at the front of the transmission. With the addition of the "diaper" under the bell housing, I should be able to keep the car from depositing those offensive oil drips wherever I park.
James Johanski

This thread was discussed between 23/10/2007 and 24/10/2007

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