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MG MG Y Type - Y type special

Having a bare YA chasis on hand, and noting the low prices at which "basket case" MGBs are advertising makes me wonder about a B engined special... has anyone done this? Has anyone thought better of it? is it a really silly idea? etc.....
Roughbert Strong

I am building a special based on a YA chassis at the moment. It is being based on a combaination of MGB and Wolseley 24/80 components. I have fitted the Wolseley 24/80 rear axle with a 3.9:1 diff (same as MGB)as this gives me a wide enough rear track to fit the body between the wheels without having to manufacture inner guards as I plan to fit cycle guards to all 4 wheels.

The front suspension and brakes are MGB with an MGA/Magnette Master cylinder mounted under the floor providing hydraulics for brakes and clutch. The engine is the Wolseley 24/80 six cylinder 2433cc Blue Streak engine which will be upgraded to High Compression MGA spec. with triple H4 SU carbies and a custom set of fabricated extractors. The gearbox is a MarkII MGB unit (without O/D to reduce weight) I am using splined hubs and 15 inch wire wheels. The steering rack will most likely be from a Triumph 2500 as it has a short pinion shaft allowing a unit joint to be fitted close to the rack enabling a 3 piece steering shaft to fit around the fatter engine.

I have an MG TD grille and Y Type headlights which I will be fitting along with a polished alloy body with no doors, aero screens and a bonnet top only, exposing the engine in true boy racer fashion.

I am expecting approx 140 HP in a car weighing approx 800kg ...should scare an MGB or two!!
Phil Stafford

I'm in awe of Phil's project. By coincidence the donor car for my project's engine & transmission was going to be a Wolesley 14/60 (was this engine the same as the VA?), but an all-MG project has a bit more appeal. Don't know if I entirely like the underslung chassis though.
Roughbert

An all MG special using any B series engine and MGB gearbox would be a great idea. The B series engine is easily adapted to the Y type chassis by fitting an MGTD/TF style from engine mounting bracket to the front cross member and fitting a fabricated engine mount bracket to the fron engine plate of the b series engine (6 off 5/16 bolt positions available on a standard B series), remove the section of the Y Type gearbox cross membe between the Chassis rails, keeping the external sections as body mounts and installing an MGB rear cross member into the Y Chassis. An engine stabiliser from the rear engine plate to the fire wall provides lateral restraint. This method of engin installation allows maximum room for exhaust system etc without side engine mounts getting in the way and was a more traditional method of engine mounting on early MG's (K Type N Type etc.)The underslung chassis provides a much easier basis for fabricating a "special" body and has the advantage of a standard panhard rod fitting and an additional 5 inches of legroom/engine room compared to the TD/TF chassis. This allows a bit more space to fit the bigger bell housing and still have pedal room in the foot wells. (This was critical for my car which is running an engine 6 inches longer than an MGB)
Phil Stafford

Phil, did you use the Y type pedal box?
roughbert strong

If I hadn't already got too many projects on the go, it would be great fun to have a bash at a special. If anyone else in UK fancies a go, I have a YA chassis sitting here doing nothing. It could be yours for a nominal sum. Give me a shout. Keith
Keith D Herkes

I have removed the pedal box in case I can use it, but as the new pedal shaft position will be very close to the front tubular cross member I will probably have to fabricate on to fit. I will be using TD Pedals ste up to suit the MGA master cylinder centres.
Phil Stafford

This thread was discussed between 05/12/2001 and 09/12/2001

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