Got the exhaust hooked up, another ground cable installed. Got her cranked, then blew out whatever was clogging the grose jet on the front carb so it would run on all 4 cyls. Then I was able to take for a 25 mile spin around town. Was great. New clutch worked fine, car ran great, good oil pressure, temp about 190 and steady. Gearbox is a little crunchy when shifting, probably the synchros are worn but I can deal with that. Whole different car than a B.

Nice to finally have it on the road. New brakes, generator, battery, clutch, engine painted. New door catches so I don't fly out when cornering. Lots of little stuff to do since it has been sitting for a year.

Wray,

Congratulations on the maiden run, I "rode" in my coupe yesterday also...just happened to be on the back of a farm wagon. Local farmer is storing my body shell for the summer so I have room to put the chassis back together. I have never driven an MGA but have been told its a lot like an early MGB..was this your impression?

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David Terhune

My Blog http://mymgcars.blogspot.com/

SW Michgan, USA
1974 MGB and 1957 MGA Coupe

David, my impression, it was a lot like a TR3, stiffer, much more basic than a B. I don't have much experience in an early B but I can't help but think that the early B would ride better. That giant steering wheel is a trip. The gauges are laid out well, easy to see when you're driving. Less legroom than a B inside.

Plenty of fun. For any real trip it will be the B, the GT, or the Magnette.

Good progress on your Coupe Wray, hope things keep going well.

The A and B are quite different to me, I have '63 and '76 B roadsters, and a '62 MkII MGA. You seem to sit lower in the A, but still see well. My A is a bit less responsive then the 3 main '63. All three are fun, and the differences make me appreciate each.

I have thought of going to a smaller diameter wheel in the A, for a little more room getting in and out.

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1958 ZB Magnette, White over Burgundy, 3 main, twin SUs.
1962 MGA MkII Red, stock 1622, dual SUs
1963 MGB Rdstr Dark blue, stock 3 main, dual SUs with OD.
1976 MGB Rdster BRG, Weber 45 DCOE, OD.

One other curious thing, I don't seem to get beat up so much by the wind buffeting as I do in the B.

Great job Wary! Must feel really good to be driving the car.

Driving an A is completely different than driving a B. First, you're sitting farther back over the rear axle so the ride is not as smooth, and the steering feels different. The low doors and lack of wind wings make it feel much more raw and "in your face". I agree with Wray that there is less wind buffeting in the A, although there is more wind overall. Leg room is the biggest problem for me. I have an average inseam, around 32 inches, and still with the seat all the way back I can't straighten my legs all the way. I drive with my left foot under the clutch pedal and my right leg sort of turned sideways so I don't have to hold it up off the seat all day. Once you settle in and find a "comfortable" spot it isn't so bad. Last but nowhere near least is the view. The only view from a windscreen I've found more impressive than that of the A is a TC and that's an entirely different type of car. The view from the driver's seat of an MGA makes the MGB seem like a Volvo!

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That's a good observation. It's much more man-machine interaction than a B, although that may be hard for someone to imagine. I like it. It's like really riding out in the open.

Got a new grille for it from Moss/LBC but I'm hesitant to put it on. From what I've heard they are pretty poor quality and don't fit right. It's still in the box. The existing grille is a repro and it's easy to see it doesn't fit right; not even close. It doesn't seem to fill the opening like it should.

I may see about geeting one from Jorge, one of his stainless repros.

Just hope Susanne doesn't take the MGA away from me when she starts driving it.

Those guys here in California (forget their name) are supposed to have fantastic repro grills although they are quite expensive. I see them on eBay now and then. If I were buying new, that's the way I would go. But to be fair I haven't seen a new Moss repro up close in a long time. They may have improved.

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I really am hesitant to take it out of the box. I better email Jeff Zorn and see what he says. I've seen the Cal grilles, nice, made of stainless. That's the way I might go. Anything you put nice on an A makes it worth it.

Well, 14 days since this post the MGA is finally at home. Missed a couple of weekends due to other things. I drove it a couple of weekends ago for 25 miles, no problem. Only got a few miles today and she quit. Problem turned out to be rust clogging the input to the fuel pump. Had to cut the line and put in a filter between the pump and the tank to catch the rust. Fixed the problem.

While working on it in the parking lot a guy tried to buy it off me for double what I paid for it.

Wheee!

I just joined...had no idea that anybody cared about such specifics of individuals' resto projects.

I just got my A running recently after an engine and gearbox rebuild...among other things...

I also have a 63 B. The feel of the A is incredibly different...much lower, stiffer and quieter, I agree with the previous comments in this thread, but my A is tail happy under braking/deceleration...to the point that I might put a proportioning valve at the brake line union. Has anyone tried it?

Backstory

I got my 58 A running up and down my street on the 7/11. I have a picture after midnight with no hood and no grill. My neighbors love me. The smell of a lot of new components, engine paint, gear oil etc...was the best feeling I've had in months. The carbs need help though. The idle mixture is causing a lean condition throughout the entire power curve. I don't have enough experience with SUs to get them spot on.

It is an early 5-main with AUD135s purchased from a rebuilder in Cali. He makes them look new and polishes the dashpots just enough to look like a set that came from Burlen. I bought both during this rebuild and sent Moss their set back. I played with them a bit while the engine was still on the engine stand, but again, no experience to get them "right".

We have now made it to a show within 1 1/2 hours of home and hope we did well in our class. Two other As were there...a very personalized 60 - 1600 with a few nice touches...completely unrecognizable full wheel hubcaps (MG logos in the center) and a nice gray finish that I haven't seen before. The guy obviously cares a lot for his A. There was also a very well used 57. The guy has had it for 30 years and focuses on keeping it running. I went for a more traditional restored look...the way they did it in the 80s when Moss was the only source...it's OEW with chrome 60 spokes, but about double the horsepower than the A came with. If you contemplate a 5-main in an MGA...stop and just do it. This car would chew my 63 - 3 main B up and spit it out.

Apologies...I will keep my subsequent post to this group smaller...I'm just excited to know that you guys care for these cars so much.

unruly, these cars are too much fun not to care for them that much. That 60 you saw at a show sounds like a neat car. Full wheel hubcaps on it, would those by any chance be Ace Mercury wheel covers? If so, you saw something that is very rare and also really cool!

Is your 63 MGB restored? Post an intro post in the MGB section if you want to.

...will do an intro soon...

I'll look for pics of the show with the gray 60 and see if you can identify them.

thanks for the welcome...

Unruly, glad another A dude joins the fun. I've been working on mine more, changing the front turns and putting a new grille and bumper on. Just finished re-wiring the turns this evening. A spot of paint on the panel in fron to the radiator and the grille will go in.

I wouldn't mess with a proportioning valve just yet. My A stops quite well, even with drums up front. I'd check and make sure the rear end u-bolts are nice and tight first.

My A runs good enough that I don't think I'm going to mess with an 1800. The Magnette is getting one, a 3-main. I already have it. I may even do some work on the head, flywheel, cam etc. I did the 73 B like that and it runs quite well, quite well indeed. The Magnette can use all the power it can get, heavy car.

They are fun. I have been keeping the A at the office, in a temporary garage in our fenced rear area. I swapped places at home with the Magnette. Well, I was promptly informed by my wife that the Magnette would absolutely not be parked in that temporary garage, so we're parking our service van in the back so the Magnette can stay in comfort in the work bay. Go figure. She would rather have our van messed with than some grubby commoner messing with the Magnette.

Wray,

I have a 3-main in a 63 B. It does great and will probably help the Magnette. But, my comment on the A's 5-main engine comes from a hot cam, bigger bore and higher compression (shaved head and new pistons). The engine is 3 weeks old as well...it cooks compared to the 12 year old stock 3-main.

The rear-end is solid. I went through the car bolt by bolt before I went on the first road test. I got the carbs right Sat. and found a very smooth, crooked county road that goes on forever Sunday...oh man, all my work came together that day.

see ya...