Funny ad on today's Bring a Trailer

jmackro

jmackro

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There's currently a frankenstein MGA on the BaT site. Read the last sentence of the description (duplicated below) to see why the MG is getting sold mid-project. I shudder to think what engine this backyard engineer plans to put in the e9 or what color he's going to paint it!

This 1957 MGA roadster is offered as a partially completed restoration project that’s been fitted with a Mazda Miata 1.6 liter engine and matching 5-speed manual transmission. Stripped to bare metal and sandblasted, both bodywork and frame are solid and several additional mechanical upgrades have been performed, most notably the fitment of a Hoyle Engineering coilover front suspension and MGB calipers with cross-drilled rotors. The sale includes many parts including Miata independent rear suspension setup, MGA rear end, folding top and side curtains, bumpers, weatherstripping, doors, and more. The seller has just purchased a 1970 BMW 2800CS which has taken precedence, so the MGA must go to clear up garage space and funds.

For more detail, see: http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1957-mga-2/
 
I hang my head in shame

Somewhat because my first couple of posts were about how I planned on putting the new Coyote V8 into my e9. I mean it weighs less and has 3X the power and I could not understand why I was getting blasted so badly, of course now I "sort of understand". Anyhow, I think this project is kind of cool, the guy obviously knows his way around a shop, his work is impressive and I would love to have a "reliable" British drop-top. I hope he finds his e9, joins our group and moves closer to Austin :-)
 
Good thing this is nowhere near me. I kinda like it, and have a susceptibility for the idea, if not the flesh, of an MGA... would have put a BMW M10 in it tho'. That color paint, in those surroundings, looks real nice. I dunno nothin' 'bout dem Mazda engines tho.

Think about it... given Brit build practices, he probably has a lot more actual metal in there than many of our coupes, even after the sandblasting.
 
Peter Coomaraswamy said:
....I think this project is kind of cool, the guy obviously knows his way around a shop, his work is impressive and I would love to have a "reliable" British drop-top.
Click to expand...

OK, OK, I sort of agree; you can hack up an MG any way you want, and it isn't a high crime. Replace the cast iron, pushrod lump and unsynchronized 4-speed with a Japanese drivetrain - sure. Paint it Jade Green Metallic from a modern Nissan - well, it is sharper than olde English Ivory. And yes, the build quality does look quite high (though incomplete).

But please don't do this to an e9!
 
I had a Sunbeam Alpine for many years and was always thinking that an M42 with a 5 speed would be the ultimate transplant for that anemic old pushrod engine. It would've been a 'Sunbimmer'.
Wish i had the shop and the chops to pull that off.
I think that engine and trans combo could be a viable transplant for a lot of classic 4 bangers.
 
Peter Coomaraswamy said:
Somewhat because my first couple of posts were about how I planned on putting the new Coyote V8 into my e9. I mean it weighs less and has 3X the power and I could not understand why I was getting blasted so badly, of course now I "sort of understand". Anyhow, I think this project is kind of cool, the guy obviously knows his way around a shop, his work is impressive and I would love to have a "reliable" British drop-top. I hope he finds his e9, joins our group and moves closer to Austin :-)
Click to expand...

I think the blasting may have been due to the manufacturer(cough, cough) of coyote engines, who shall remain nameless, haha. I am sure we all would approve of an LSx conversion.8)
 
3nsahalee said:
I had a Sunbeam Alpine for many years and was always thinking that an M42 with a 5 speed would be the ultimate transplant for that anemic old pushrod engine.
Click to expand...

I helped swap a Boss 351 into an Alpine. The owner started the project thinking that any small block Ford would fit like the 289 in a Tiger. Unfortunately the Boss 351 is a 90 degree engine, and the 265 & 289 are 60 degree engines. The Boss 351 also has huge cylinder heads, so it was a ton of work to get it to fit.
 
rsporsche said:
gotta love it. you must be into pain. i'm a serious believer in ... "Lucas - prince of darkness"
Click to expand...

I've had six old Brit cars and have generally found the post war but pre BL Lucas electrics to be of high quality and very suitable for easy restoration. The worst electrics I've dealt with on old Brit cars were those related to the Chrysler supply chain
 
m_thompson said:
the Boss 351 is a 90 degree engine, and the 265 & 289 are 60 degree engines.
Click to expand...

I don't think any V8 engine has 60 degrees between the banks - the firing sequence wouldn't be consistent (720 degrees / (2 x 60) degrees = 6 not 8 cylinders). I'm not denying that the 265/289 series might be more compact than the 351, but they're both 90 degree V8's. For more info, see the chart on the right hand side of the page at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Windsor_engine

There was a modified Sunbeam at our local Cars & Coffee a few weeks ago with a Ford V6 installed. It looked like a pretty clean installation, since a V6 is both narrower and shorter than a V8.

I have no ethical issues with hacking up British cars, but e9's are more rare and have plenty of great engine conversion alternatives that are marque consistent and don't require irreversable surgery (e.g., BMW 3.3 or 3.5's).
 
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Well he certainly didn’t start out with a mint example of the car and what he did isn’t all hacked up so only a diehard MG enthusiast would hate him.
I’ve got a friend that patched together a CS coupe out of 4 rotted Northeast coupes (most of which were given to him) and then someone gave him LT1 Chevy with a 5 speed so that’s what powers it now. He told me he was deep into raising a family at the time and couldn’t even consider buying BMW parts to rebuild a BMW six so it made sense to him at the time. What can I say, different strokes for different folks. ~ John Buchtenkirch
 
John, we need pictures! I mean if there was a totally rotted e9 (or 2 or 3) that could be correctly pieced together powered by an all aluminum V8 small block- putting out about 400 HP it would just be a hoot! Maybe even a 2002 :-) Will anyone send me death threats if I try that with an 02?
 
Peter Coomaraswamy said:
John, we need pictures! I mean if there was a totally rotted e9 (or 2 or 3) that could be correctly pieced together powered by an all aluminum V8 small block- putting out about 400 HP it would just be a hoot! Maybe even a 2002 :-) Will anyone send me death threats if I try that with an 02?
Click to expand...

No, they made a lot of '02s. :smile:
 
ooooooK then

As soon as Hamleta (Polaris coupe) finds a real home (I'm just fostering her now) I will hunt for an 02 that "needs" a V8, I also need an e3 then the family will be complete.
 

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OK, I never posted these photos because they are kinda nasty. Not because of my camera but because Steve’s shop shares a building with his wood working shop he uses for his home alterations & improvements business. Everything in his shop is covered with saw dust and Bondo dust. The engine is just like it was when he took it out of the Camaro he was given except now covered with lots of dust. He said there was absolutely no clearance problems with the Saginaw 5 speed or the right side of the engine but the left side required removing the brake booster and battery box and a heavy reworking of the left side Camaro exhaust header. I think he has a remote booster but I’m not sure, it was at least 2 years ago that I talked to him and took these less than impressive photos. I do remember he said he lined up the Camaro shifter with the coupe’s shifter hole and that determined the engine location as strange as that sounds. Other than that I have no additional information that I can remember. He expects to have it repainted and on the road this summer, some woman ran into him several years ago and the insurance company totaled it. He bought it back and has re-patched it together since. I will probably see him at cruise nights, I could then ask further questions if someone might have some. ~ John Buchtenkirch

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More than enough room so it seems

I'm not too sure about the weight issue with that motor as it seems to be an older 350 but the Coyote engine weighs less than 450 lbs with 420 HP and I could get a new one for 7500.00 and a low milage used one with all the goodies for probably half that so the gears are turning, one day maybe :-)
 
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