Modified 1960 MGA
44 MGEAUGUST 2019 http://www.mgenthusiast.comride until I could fetch it. I had to bum
a ride home with my smirking buddies
for myself and co-pilot Dennis, then go
cap-in-hand (big sigh) to Lori and ask
her to accompany me back to Wenatchee
so we could tow Morris home with her
4X4 and a rented two-wheel dolly.
Though I knew I would miss the
purr of the 1800’s valve train and the
tickety-tick of the SU fuel pump, now
was time to heed the voice of reason.
Bill has spent years researching and
developing modification options so,
with his help and advice, I embarked on
an 18-month project of street-rodding
Morris. I first refreshed a low-mileage
2004 3400cc FWD Chevrolet V6. The
aluminium-head 3400 is 50lbs lighter
than the original MG four-cylinder
iron B-series, and packs three times
the horse power of the original MGA
motor, yet with computer-controlled
fuel injection it achieves over 30mpg.
Then, with a kit from BCC, I converted
the timing cover end of this originally
transversely-mounted engine to a
rear-wheel drive configuration. The
intake plenum also got turned 180
degrees to get the inlet snout to the
front, and the injector wiring harness
had to be reworked to orient the
multi-pin connector to the rear
where the ECM was to be
mounted. Our friend, Dave
Renner, reprogrammed
the computer and advised
me on some of its wiring.
As these Chevrolet motors
had only been installed into
TR6s and MGBs up to thatABOVE: Fetching Morris home after the transmission let go in Washington State.ABOVE: Stacy knew that he would miss the sound of the
B-series engine but he also likes the purr of the Chevy V6.
front, and the injector wiring harness
had to be reworked to orient the
multi-pin connector to the rear
where the ECM was to be
mounted. Our friend, Davehad only been installed into
TR6s and MGBs up to that