MGB & GT Forum

This straddles the line between MGA and MGB topics, but I figured I'd post it here. I have a 1958 MGA that's currently in a slow frame-off restoration(I'm going for probably an overall 98% cosmetic in Old English White with a red interior).

In any case, the car was raced in the past, and I'm guessing that whoever owned it ran the engine into the ground, pulled it down for a rebuild and lost interest/died with parts scattered all over the place. I have a block and head, but no crank, rods, or pistons. Fortunately, I found the front and rear plates and flywheel(along with the dynamo and carburetors) which makes my plans easy.

After a lot of debating, I decided that I'd go ahead and put an MGB engine in the car. I didn't want just ANY MGB engine, though-I wanted a 3 main to get the mystical "free revving' qualities that folks attribute to MGA and early MGB engines. I'd then round out the build with a ported and polished 12H2923 head and a VP-11 Camshaft-the basic formula that Dick Moritz(and I'm sure many other folks) use for a "street performance" engine.

In any case, I mentioned this in passing a while back, and Dave PMed me that he had a 3 main and wanted a very reasonable price for it. After some discussion about my ultimate plans, he offered a block, rods, and-the real prize-a new old stock unused factory crank. I'll need pistons and of course a lot of other parts, but I have a basically solid starting points.

In addition to the above, though, he spiced up the offer WITH delivery to Kentucky. Considering that he's in Colorado, that basically sealed the deal for me. He told me he was headed to Atlanta in mid-October, and would be headed down I-75.

So, with all of the plans laid, he and I were able to meet up today in Lexington. His grandson pulled the block out of the truck like it was nothing, we got everything loaded in my car, and he was on his way after chatting for a few minutes.

I have a LOT of work ahead of me on the engine, but I know I have a solid starting point. It was also great with to meet up and chat with a fellow MGer just for a few minutes.

Thanks again, Dave.