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MG MGA - My new car

Hi guys, well looks like I've joined the ranks of MGA owners. Thanks to you all for your help in what to look for, I've now bought a red LHD mk1 1500, pretty well up together, just a few things to sort out, so I'll be picking brains soon.
I took it for a test drive today, a bit slower than my MGBGT but you guys did warn me about that, but it was lots of fun to drive, so watch this space.

Jack New Forest

safety fast Jack
Bob Walker

Looks lovely - congratulations
Graham V

super.
mog

Looking good Jack. Is it a UK car or an import? Looks like the wire wheel conversion has been done properly with the narrower 1600 back axle.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Looks tidy Jack - enjoy
Cam Cunningham

It's an import LHD Steve, couldn't afford a RHD, body is great and drives not bad, a few things for me to tinker with.
Don't know too much about the car collecting it on Sat.
Only having Frogeye sprite, midgets, and MGBs I'm not up to speed with MGAs, so it's a learning curve for me, so I'll be pestering you and the other guys lots, and as you say we are not far apart, I'm in the new forest, so I'll hopefully meet up let you have a good look at the car and educate me.
Cheers.
Jack New Forest

Glad you like it Jack, it does look to be a really nice car.

Even though my car is a 1600, I still think the 1500 has a much purer look about it.

Your 1500 will drive just as well as all the other models, drum brakes are excellent but just need regular adjustment to keep them at their best.

It corners just as well as all the later models and so, cross country, it will probably keep up with them pretty well too.

The only thing that I am certain that you wont like to do with your MGA,
is to sell it! :-)

Cheers

Colyn

Attached a pic of our car at JoG in September, with my wife cleverly hiding her broken leg in its cast, behind the car.

c firth

Very nice Colyn, no bumpers, is there none on the back ?
I suppose it reduces weight.

Cheers
Jack New Forest

Colyn,

Great photo, Chris should have shown her war wounds!

Best,

Doug
Doug Wallace

Jack

There is no reason why in slower time, after you have had a season of driving and enjoying the car, that you you could not convert the motor to RHD. All MGAs were produced with all the holes/apertures and captive nuts etc to take either option. All the bits are available - although you may have to hunt around for the dashboard.

Although a fairly straightforward job it would probably be easier with the engine out for access to steering column connections and re-routing some of the brake lines as the Master Cylinder swaps sides also.

Just a thought for the future!

Steve
Steve Gyles

The only drawbacks of steering on the wrong side are more trouble seeing when overtaking and car park barriers.

It is an easy task to convert to RHD if you have the parts. The biggest issue was finding the rack, but now Moss has new ones. I have sold a few RHD racks over the years, but haven't seen one offered since the Moss ones became available. The originals were worth much more than jacks until the replicas became available.

There is no need to remove the engine, or even the chassis extension. Just remove the upper column completely, then withdraw the shaft below the knuckle from the bottom. Disconnect the track rod ends and unbolt the rack from the car and withdraw it sideways.

For the dashboard:
Drop the heater controls first, then drop the dashboard (removing the gear shift makes this easier) and then you have access to all the dashboard from behind to disconnect everything, marking all the wiring as you go. The only thing that takes a bit of time is the ether-filled tube through the firewall to the cylinder head. For the switches just remove the knob and the bezel, and remove while still attached to wiring. Of course you started by disconnecting the battery to avoid any short circuits.

Pedal box:
Then you can undo all the pedal box and pedals, and move this over to the other side of the car. The only difference in the pipe work is that you need new shorter pipes, nothing else changes. You can measure and get these remade to the correct new length. New rubber seals are a good idea here, plus new bronze bushings in the pedals and new clevis pins. You may choose to bend the brake and clutch pedals to give a bit more space between them, I did. The accelerator pedal assembly for RHD is available new. The old one cannot be adapted.

In remounting the new dash, just refit everything using the layout in the manual. Heater stuff remains unchanged (if fitted)

Insert the new rack as a reverse of the removal. Fit upper steering column and make sure to center the wheels before reinstalling the steering wheel. Bleed everything (hopefully except your knuckles)

Then you fit the wheels again and take it to have the front tracking reset.

It took me about eight hours but I was taking my time and converting from RHD to LHD. I still have all the RHD bits, but as they are all original, they are not for sale.....sorry.
dominic clancy

Thanks Steve, and thanks for all the info Dominic, perhaps something for the future, but I will make a list of parts required and keep an eye out for them either on the Internet or at auto jumbles,
Cheers

Jack.
Jack New Forest

Took this one for posterity Doug, its about the only one she would let me take of her with cast in view.

Chris still talks about the trip and she often says that, in spite of the broken leg, it was the best trip we have ever done with the MGA.

Cheers

Colyn

c firth

Jack,
yes my car has no bumpers front or rear, which means that I have to be really carefull when I park it.

But when I first saw my car it was set up for racing and so I like to think that the bumperless look is part of the cars history. (I also like it this way)

It still has the lowered racing suspension too, which I also like the look of but I have to admit that it is not exactly ideal for road use.

A pic of the car at Spean Bridge Commando memorial

Colyn

c firth

Nice pic Colyn, can you tell me what your wheels are, they look like Dunlop racing wheels, knock on design ?
The car I have bought has chrome wires but I'm not a lover of too much chrome!
Tell me more about your wheels, supplier etc.

Cheers

Jack

Jack New Forest

Jack
the wheels are from Racemettle, they are alloy bolt-ons cleverly designed to look like Dunlop knock-ons.
They were on the car when I bought it. I found out later that they were approx £300 each which would have probably persuaded me to fit Mini lites instead.
Colyn
c firth

Jack. Glad you were able to get one one your side of the pond and save the taxes. Bill Mason
Bill Mason

Cheers Bill, I'm Scottish always looking for a good deal ha! ha!
Jack New Forest

Colyn,

That fabulous weather at the dramatic Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge on LE-JoG, reminded me when in 2003 we were lucky with the same warm sunny weather the only time Yani accompanied me to Scotland; here is the shot of her at the Memorial. And both legs intact haha!
She could not join LE-JoG owing to family illness.

Cheers,

Doug

Doug Wallace

Hi Jack , I am clearing out a few books and I have a spare original loose leaf file Service parts list (AKD1055)for the MGA 1500 ( I bought it some years ago but now have the one for my 1600 instead.It is in Ok condition (not mint)just missing the front inside title page. £10 plus postage if you are interested (cost me more than this 10 years ago. - can send you photos if you like - cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

Thanks Cam, I've got a friend has some stuff for me, but I might be in touch for that.
Well she arrived today,
FSK 252
Engine no. BP15GB13454

Car no. HDL4323394

Hopefully get some history from thee number, and get it on some sort of register.
Looking forward to enjoying the new girl.
Sorry pic is upside down !

Jack New Forest

Jack

H = MGA
D = Roadster
L = Light/Glacier Blue
4 = North American Export
3 = Cellulose paint
23394 = November/December 1956

So, your car has been repainted at some stage in its long life - quite common!

A good reference book for you for all your future jobs is Original MGA by Clausager. It is back in print for about £25.

You can get a Heritage certificate from the archivist at Gaydon. It will have the basic build history.FSK reg is what it will have been given when brought back to this country. Scottish reg, quite common. Mine is.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Thanks Steve, good info.
Yes I know they respray lots of old classics, I like light blue, but I'll get used to red.
Now to have fun checking it all over and finding out what I need to tinker with , and hopefully don't find anything I missed when I bought it.
No doubt I'll have more questions Steve.
Jack New Forest

Hi Jack, looks a nice car.

Which way up are your bumper over riders? I think they should be big at the top.

Richard
R A Evans

Good spot Richard, I think that's why Jack posted the picture upside down to make them look correct!

Steve
Steve Gyles

Jack

It looks like the over-riders have been put on since the original photo you published. While you are putting them back the other way have a look at the centre section of your front bumper. It looks flush with the grill. It should in fact sit about 1" forward of the grill in the middle. Might be an optical illusion but worth a check.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Jack..looks a lovely car ..congratulations . I think you will make a happy couple. . I would add that when I opened the photo I thought for a minute you had imported it from Oz....
Neil Ferguson

Very funny Neil, yes rubbish photo !
Jack New Forest

Well gents, I have had my car two whole days now, and I'm trying to get to know what I need to do to it, it's pretty much up together, but a few things missing.
I now need to scour the country looking for:

A Tonneau cover for a LHD MGA I noticed the studs are on the top of the door is this normal ?
Will any Tonneau do or is it a special fit ?
I also have no side screens ?
I'm hoping not to have the hood up too often so I'm not to desperate for the screens.
I'm also missing the clamp which hold the spare wheel in place.
I guess these items are scarce second hand, I know I can get side screens new an arm and a leg !
Not sure if Moss are anyone do a LHD tonneau ?
Also need to carpet out the boot !
Other than that not too bad.
So if anyone knows of any of these parts for sale, can you please let me know.

Cheers
Jack New Forest

Jack

You will get to know the MGA suppliers and obviously it will be your choice who you then continue to provide your business to. For me, it's Bob West up in Pontefract. He has a mechanic (James) and a trimmer (Les). Between them they know everything about the MGA and hold a great number of spares, new and old. Might be worth going through your list with him and seek advice. Mention my name if you wish.

Ebay has a wheel clamp: eBay item number:131706107504

Steve
Steve Gyles

Jack, may you both have many enjoyable times together - looks great. One thing before spending out on boot carpet check if the boot leaks, many did and it would be a shame to ruin new carpets.
Cheers
Mark
Mark Dollimore

A word of caution about the reproduction spare wheel clamps. (it's remarkable and infuriating how often these are missing). The reproduction clamps I've seen are the longer MGA 1600/Mk II variety. I bought one too. The eBay listed item Steve has shown looks suspiciously the longer clamp too. It's a fiddle to secure these clamps with a roadster car. My mechanic rigged up a wing nut by welding together a wheel stud and the wing part of a (non MG) wing nut. This works fine,by virtue of sitting into the hole in the clamp deeper than the original wing nut.

Even more difficult to locate is the original wing nut. I only just found one after a few years. Perhaps repro items are now available.

As for the absent side curtains, this can be a problem. Sooner or later you will need them. I personally got caught in a massive sudden summer downpour only last week. Got drenched! Doesn't it get rather nippy at times in your part of the globe?

The MGA boot is not originally lined. But getting some sort of carpet is a good idea as items sliding around in there inevitably wear the paint.
T Aczel

Hi Jack,

would you tell also the Body# ?

Thanks

Gio
Giovanni Delicio

Jack

If you need some temporary kit while you sort yourself out you can borrow my sidescreens. I run a sports screen so my normal screen, hood and sidescreens are sitting idle in the attic for the past 8 years or so. I don't want to sell any of them but you are welcome to borrow. They are black trimmed.

Some cars have the tonneau studs on the door, but probably most don't. There are a couple of tonneau designs: short ones that extend just behind the seats and full length that go almost to the boot hinge line. Most cars have the short length. I don't think LHD tonneaus are difficult to source. I believe they come without the stud fixings attached. You fit the Lift-a-dots yourself to suit your stud layout.

Steve
Steve Gyles

For tonneau, side curtains, hood:

http://www.donhoods.com

I also use

http://www.mirrortrim.co.uk
dominic clancy

Jack
Its not widely known that if your spare wheel is not pushed firmly forwards into the oblong cut out in the rear bulkhead, then the folded metal hood frame falls down too far.
This causes the metal arms on the hood frame to protrude forwards into the seat backs instead of resting downwards neatly against the chassis.

I didnt realise this when I first got my car and I tore a couple of holes into the backs of my newly restored leather seats. :-(

I bought a repro spare wheel clamp and wingnut from Moss and, although it is not as neat as the original, it works ok.

Has anyone told you about the MGA GURU website yet?
This is a fantastic source of information on the subject of MGAs. You will be amazed what you find on there.

It includes a template/pattern with exact measurements for making your own carpet.
I used it to make mine from an offcut of black carpet and it fitted perfectly.

Like Steve, I cant fault Bob West Classic Cars, I got my car from them and I love it.

Colyn
c firth

I just re-read my last post. In saying the spare wheel retaining clamp is longer for the 1500/1600 models, I neglected to include the word "COUPES". All the roadsters, and therefore including my MK II roadster, and yours, use the shorter clamp.
I haven't seen the Moss clamps and wing nuts Colin describes, and they are probably fine. The repro longer later Coupe style clamp I purchased was also ok, but the pressed detail was definitely not as crisp and well defined as the original Coupe clamp that I also happened to have.
T Aczel

Jack

You mentioned earlier about getting on some sort of register. The MGA club in Holland runs a worldwide database. I had a look. Your car's details do not appear. The closest one is 4 cars earlier. This is the link if you want to enter your details and some piccies: http://www.mgaregister.nl/

Mine is there: 55600

If you are an MGCC member you can also join the MGA Register.

If you are interested in getting a Heritage Certificate from Gaydon this is what you get for your money: http://www.mgaroadster.co.uk/heritage_certificate.htm

Steve
Steve Gyles

This thread was discussed between 24/01/2016 and 02/02/2016

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