This very special MGA has a top speed of 122mph and is possibly the fastest road going MGA in existence. With numerous improvements and modifications to interest and delight every MGA owner.

 The “MGA Super Sports” is a project designed to take the MGA model into the new millennium. Having taken some two and a half years since its commencement in the Autumn of ’96 when members may recall details of Martin Bentley’s project MGA appearing in issues of “Enjoying MG” in a series of articles titled “Improve & Modify”. Since that time a considerable amount of product development and testing has taken place, resulting in the cars’ recent completion. The project concept was to produce a high speed MGA amply powered for long-legged touring, with positive handling and braking to equal if not exceed the capabilities of many modern day cars. The aims were to be achieved by using innovative ideas and components, while simultaneously retaining the cars’ classic lines and beautiful styling.

  Furthermore each modificationhad to be reversible to enable the original component to be easily refitted if required. It was evident from the outset that a more powerful engine would be required, together with a transmission capable of providing lively performance together with the ability for sustained high speeds at low engine revs for today’s’ motorway conditions.

  2.2 Litre Club Performance Engine
Retaining the aesthetic appearance of the standard MGA power unit, this new 2,200cc Club Performance engine is a fully balanced Stage 2 MGB 18V unit, with offset cylinders bored and stroked nitride hardened crankshaft to 2.2 litres. Polished and ported gas-flowed lead-free cylinder head. Fast road 718 high lift camshaft. Roller rocker valve gear and duplex vernier timing gear for accurate timing of the camshaft. Lightened flywheel, modified closed circuit breather and high pressure/flow oil pump. A thirteen row oil cooler is also fitted.

Transmission
An MGA five speed gearbox conversion MGOC Spares & Accessories part number G810 is installed, comprising a Ford type 9 Five speed gearbox with bolt-on mountings to chassis. A new casting bell housing to couple the box to engine back-plate together with a special spigot bearing for the input shaft. Modified new length prop-shaft. A gear-lever positioning extension enables the gearlever to be located in precisely the correct MGA position. A modified longer speedometer cable is also included.

  Ford Type 9 gear ratios: 1st 3.65/1, 2nd 1.97/1, 3rd 1.37/1, 4th 1.0/1, 5th 0.82/1

Rear Axle MGB banjo type differential at 3.9 to 1 ratio

Tyre size 15″ x 6 J 185 x 65 R15 with 75″ rolling circumference.

The car cruises comfortably in 5th gear at 70 mph at 3,151 rpm and at 100 mph the engine revolutions reach only 4,502 rpm., ideal for modern traffic both on UK and continental motorway touring. If a standard MGA rear axle of 4.3 to 1 ratio were fitted the car would return 20.73 mph per 1000 rpm requiring 3,376 rpm in 5th gear at 70 mph. It is worth noting that a standard MGA with standard four speed gearbox would require a stressful 4118 rpm to achieve 70 mph.

 Ignition Management System
Lumenition ignition mapping engine management system is a computer programmable method of providing accurate and infinitely variable mapping of the ignition advance curve at regular intervals to 6,500 rpm. This provides very smooth running through hard acceleration, at any cruising engine speed and also at tick-over. The ignition management system is fitted in conjunction with a Lumenition Performance Ignition system for the benefits of having no wearable moving parts but activated by a light emitting diode, plus a performance constant energy coil and high output amplifier providing a stronger spark for fast road and competition use. A 43D performance distributor with the bob weights locked has been fitted and the standard dynamo has been replaced by an alternator.

Carburation
AUD505M HS6 1 3/4″ Abingdon Special Tuning Dept carb kit complete with K&N 1 3/4″ air filters and K&N Stub Stacks to improve air flow. Air flow is further aided by presence of a louvered section on the nearside bonnet panel to enable warm air to exit and be replaced by cooler air through the improved competition front grille mesh. Fuel delivery is via a performance solid state electric fuel pump and flow is governed by a Fuel Regulator.

five speed gearbox conversion	MGA Club Carpet Set
B drilled discs wuth Tarox pads	B uprated dampers & stubs
Telescopic conv. Lowering blocks	MGC radiator for improved cooling

Exhaust
Large bore MGB modified MGOC-Double S stainless steel three branch manifold coupled to a large bore heavy duty single stainless steel silencer is fitted.

 Wheels & Tyres
The wheels are a new concept in wire wheel manufacturing, designed for use with tube less tyres. A ring of silicon seals the spokes within the rim, thereby keeping the wire wheel rims air tight. The 15″ x 6J chrome wires are used with 15″ x 6J 185 x 65 HR speed rated up to 130mph. By using 65 profile tyres together with increased tyre width to 185mm more rubber contacts the road surface for improved cornering and stability and the wheels fit within the wheel arches. The Yokohama tyres provide an overall rolling circumference of 75″.

  Suspension
Rear suspension comprises original specification MGA leaf springs lowered by one inch using a Club Spring Lowering Block kit. Oil filled Koni telescopic dampers mount directly to plates located at the original damper mounting positions.

Computer programmable ignition management system provides infinitely variable and accurate mapping of the ignition advance curve at regular intervals upt 6,500 rpm for breathtaking performance.

Front suspension utilises original specification coil springs together with Club 30% Uprated MGB lever arm dampers modified by inverting the control arms to connect to MGB Stub Axle/King pin assemblies. An uprated anti-roll bar is fitted together with urethane bushes.

Brakes
MGB drilled brake discs for improved efficiency and MGB brake calliper units are fitted on the front incorporating Tarox Fast Road pads that are effective from cold. A tailored copper brake pipe kit, a servo assisted brake kit, together with braided stainless brake hoses and Castrol Response brake fluid.

  Cooling
With a 2,200cc engine within the tight confines of the MGA engine bay an inevitable cooling problem needed to be addressed. This has been achieved by installing an MGC radiator with a larger surface area than the standard MGA radiator. By removing approximately one inch of steel from the landing panel the larger MGC radiator can be installed. Filled with Forlife radiator fluid with a boiling point of 109 C, silicon top and bottom hoses and a louvered bonnet panel section to assist air flow, overheating or high running temperature is not experienced.

15″ x 6J Tubeless wheels	Sports aluminium front valance
Desmo overtaking mirror	Monza quick release fuel filler cap

  Interior
A standard MGA Club Carpet set together with an MGA Interior Trim kit. Leather trimmed Competition Sports Seats with headrests mounted on T-series seat runners to enable a very low seat position with maximum front to rear adjustment. A pair of four point race harnesses are fitted. A 14″ Moto-Lita leather rim steering wheel with an ali-billet centre. The Competition Sports Screen in chrome and aluminium is a recently reintroduced item, formerly offered by Abingdon and made by Auster is now offered by MGOC Spares & Accessories. A pair of miniture but effective wiper blades legalise the screens’ road use. The standard pull-type starter switch is replaced by a push-button ignition starter.

  Additional Exterior Styling
Desmo oval overtaking mirror, Louvered bonnet panel, Competition aluminium valance with mesh vented air flow holes for the oil cooler. Competition style stainless mesh grille and an alloy Monza style fuel filler cap From the initial concept the “MGA Super Sports” is born, living up to expectations and goals set.

All those involved with the project at MGOC Spares & Accessories welcome this opportunity to share the experience, look forward to hearing from you and discussing the many improvements and modifications that this project has now made possible for MGA owners.