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Chassis Modifications - Any suggestions?

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Chassis Modifications - Any suggestions?
#1
nicmac Nicholas McClaren
Geelong, Victoria, Australia   AUS
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Hello Again Everyone!
My MGA chassis is coming out of the sand blasting factory and will be nicely primed, ready for some minor restoration work.
I was wondering if members of this forum have any suggestions for modifications that could be done before the body goes on.
The only suggestion, so far, is to install a post behind the seats that would be suitable for the subsequent fitting of inertia reel seat belts.
Have members done or heard about any other modifications at the chassis stage of restoration that would suit an MGA that will be used for touring, rather than competition?

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Re: Chassis Modifications - Any suggestions?
#2
MGA56Joe Avatar
MGA56Joe Joe Walsh
CHESHAM, Buckinghamshire, UK   GBR
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1956 MG MGA 1500
How about...

* If the front sub-frame isn't already "notched" for an anti-roll bar then do that. Modify the lower suspension arm at the same time (see Barney's site for details).

* Fit jacking plates to the chassis at points which are most convenient to slide your trolley jack under. If you made them slightly cup shaped to fit the circular plate on your jack it would be even easier to jack your car up without scratching your new chassis and there would be no risk of the jack moving.

* Fit a reinforcing plate under the centre of the large front cross-member for the same reason. Just flat bar for this one as you don't want anything which might catch on a ramp.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024-04-21 04:39 AM by MGA56Joe.

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Re: Chassis Modifications - Any suggestions?
#3
Bolney Coupe Avatar
Bolney Coupe David A
Haywards Heath, Sussex, UK   GBR
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1960 MG MGA 1600 Coupe "Iris"
If not already done you could weld seals to close off the open ends of the chassis cross tubes to prevent internal corrosion.

Also decide if you will inject Waxoyl or similar into the chassis and at which locations. Drill the holes and inject, sealing the holes with plastic plugs, I used 8mm holes and plugs. Do the same for the body before fitting it. The cheapest insurance.

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Re: Chassis Modifications - Any suggestions?
#4
JackinVT Jack Malone
Jay, VT, USA   USA
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Enlarge the passenger side battery box to fit an 26R size 12V battery. Also if you have an older style front extension modify it to take an anti-sway bar. Personally I would not paint the chassis until all repairs and modifications are completed. Mine was wet blasted and was in my damp garage all winter and never flashed.


"If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong."

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Re: Chassis Modifications - Any suggestions?
#5
MGA56Joe Avatar
MGA56Joe Joe Walsh
CHESHAM, Buckinghamshire, UK   GBR
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1956 MG MGA 1500
In reply to # 4787459 by JackinVT Enlarge the passenger side battery box to fit an 26R size 12V battery. .....

Excellent idea!

While you're at it, weld on at least one additional earthing point adjacent to the new battery. Also one each side of the engine maybe? By the fuel pump?

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Re: Chassis Modifications - Any suggestions?
#6
bobs77vet Avatar
bobs77vet bob K.
northern Va, VA, USA   USA
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I made my two battery boxes look the same and be big enough for a real battery, I only use one battery but they are identical for appearance sake

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Re: Chassis Modifications - Any suggestions?
#7
Grubeguy Avatar
Grubeguy Gold Member Grube Guy
Washington, DC, USA   USA
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1957 MG MGA 1500 Coupe "JP"
1958 MG MGA 1500
1968 Saab 96 3cyl 2stroke
1972 Fiat 850 Spider    & more
I did the same with my battery boxes - enlargened for bigger battery and for storage on the other side

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Re: Chassis Modifications - Any suggestions?
#8
JackinVT Jack Malone
Jay, VT, USA   USA
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Sorry, but no one is looking at your battery boxes smiling smiley

In reply to # 4787505 by bobs77vet I made my two battery boxes look the same and be big enough for a real battery, I only use one battery but they are identical for appearance sake


"If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong."

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Re: Chassis Modifications - Any suggestions?
#9
Ahmed Avatar
Ahmed Ahmed A
Calgary, AB, Canada   CAN
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1958 MG MGA
1972 MG MGB
1979 MG MGB
Another mod I did to my chassis which I highly recommend is to weld two cross support beams under the seat mounts so the seats are sitting on those rather than just attached to the wooden floors.

I have some photos that I can try to dig up and post. But if you look up my restoration thread you'll find them there.


My 1958 MGA is not a car, it's a CAREER..!! ... angry smiley angry smiley

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Re: Chassis Modifications - Any suggestions?
#10
nicmac Nicholas McClaren
Geelong, Victoria, Australia   AUS
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Thanks for the suggestions, Joe.
Nick

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Re: Chassis Modifications - Any suggestions?
#11
nicmac Nicholas McClaren
Geelong, Victoria, Australia   AUS
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Thanks for the ideas David.
I'll post later about what I do.
Cheers, Nick

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Re: Chassis Modifications - Any suggestions?
#12
nicmac Nicholas McClaren
Geelong, Victoria, Australia   AUS
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Thanks Jack for your suggestions. They look good.
I'll post down the track about what I do.
Regards Nick

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Re: Chassis Modifications - Any suggestions?
#13
nicmac Nicholas McClaren
Geelong, Victoria, Australia   AUS
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Thanks Joe, These sound like simple and useful ideas.
Regards, Nick

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Re: Chassis Modifications - Any suggestions?
#14
nicmac Nicholas McClaren
Geelong, Victoria, Australia   AUS
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Good idea, although one of the battery boxes has been removed already.
Regards, Nick

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Re: Chassis Modifications - Any suggestions?
#15
nicmac Nicholas McClaren
Geelong, Victoria, Australia   AUS
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Thanks Grube for the idea - I could add another for storage.
Cheers, Nick

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