1962 MGA Roadster Pro Touring build

[jhail010]

long story short, I have 2 MGAs, an early coupe and a 62 roadster. The roadster is a parts car for the coupe but I essentially have a whole second car minus the engine. The body of the roadster is shot, the fenders are being transfered to coupe as they are in better shape than the originals. So I have the oppoirtunity to heavily modify an old british sports car.

The plan is to either modify the original frame or frabricate a whole new frame. the car will be stretched and widened to accomdate a more aggressive tire package, say 18 x 10 and 18 x 12, or 17 equivilant. already have wilwood SL6R calipers that was intended for another project. Eninge is probably going to be an AMC/Jeep L6 to begin with, although a v8 could be an option. I have a spare borg warner t5 5 speed.

The car will be a throw back to the great Le Mans cars of the 1950s, with a bit of modern technolgy thrown in to improve overall performance.

I estimate the project to take between 2 to 3 years minimum.

All I am concerned with at the moment is designing a chassis that will perform well and be safe. Since I am new to pro-touring and have no experince in chassis frabication and suspension design/geometry, I will probably be picking your brains for ideas and clarifaction. I have seen the forum stickies on front and rear suspension and have a lot of reading to do.

first question right off the bat, would it be better to stay with modern low profile tires and larger wheels or keep my wheels to the more traditional 15 or 16 inch and run wider tires. I've also entertained the idea of using low profile tires for daily road use and switching to smaller wider tires for track use....which is best?



I'm new to this stuff so try an tolerate any stupid questions, I'm trying to learn

[Dave Pratt]

Well I can't give you much if any advice on what tires to use but I'll be keeping track of this build...sounds great turning an old MGA into a pro-touring car...bring it on sir!

[john31s]

A T5 will not hold up behind a 4 liter Jeep motor with tires as wide as you are planning. Even a world class would probably pop.

Awesome idea, get some pictures posted, and keep us updated.

[jhail010]

A T5 will no hold up behind a 4 liter Jeep motor with tires as wide as you are planning. Even a world class would probably pop.

Awesome idea, get some pictures posted, and keep us updated.

Good to know! i'll have to keep an eye out for a beefier tranny then.

[Ghiaguy]

Here's you some inspiration -- Saw this car last month at a Palm Springs Car show -- LS engine with a 6 speed out of a Viper





Now get out there and do it!!!!!

[chunger]

Interesting build! Love to see something different here! Semi-related tie in - when I was a kid, my parents bought another house in which we were going to move to. When we arrived there was a MBG hardtop sitting in the driveway - I thought it was a house warming present, but the previous owner picked it up and drove it away. Always liked these quirky cars.

I really like the idea of using a straight 6 - you could always turbo it to get more, and the packaging overall would fit better with this body style. I'm not so sure a T5 would grenade. My experience has been - its all in how you drive it. If you plan on dumping the clutch, and you get traction, then it's not going to live, but normal crusing? I think it'll be ok - at least for a while.

Good luck with the build!

[jhail010]

Not too shabby! if your into modded MGBs heres an interesting one: http://www.sccaforums.com/forums/aft/46587 not sure if posting web links is alright but heres a shot anyways. its an e-mod scca racer with a jag v12! bada$$ to say the least.

[Twentyover]

Be sure to visit http://www.britishv8.org/ and http://www.mgexp.com.

[jaybee]

Wow, this promises to be one COOL ride!

As a thought, these cars weigh almost nothing. As a result you don't necessarily need 335 width tires to really sling it around corners. I'm not saying to skimp on tires, but I am saying physics favor Colin Chapman's design dictum "add lightness."