Replacing all of the missing front suspension pieces in my MGA project is going to bust the budget and then some. I have a disk brake Ghia front torsion bar assembly and was thinking of grafting that to the front of the MGA chassis; was wondering if anyone has a bit of knowledge or insight as to whether it would be strong enough to support and function with the weight of a Ford 5.0.
There's going to be some engine set-back, of course so it won't sit directly over the torsion housing, I also have a pair of coil-over shocks that I could add to the mix, but still—
The reason that I thought/hoped that this option would work is based on this recreation:
And this original:
Both running air cooled VW torsion bar front ends and both apparently supporting the weight of that heavy 348 ci engine.
You couldn't source some used MGB bits? To fit them to the MGA chassis all that is required is to shorten the MGA inner tie rods slightly and slotting a hole on the MGB shock. They both share the same bolt pattern and if the A is drum braked it's an easy disc brake conversion.
Why don't you just use a mustang II FRONT ? Especially in light of Engine choice.
That being said I'm sure the TB suspension with work okay but you're not going to have any adjustability as far as spring rates, Etc. Ymmv
Baja bugs run that same front end to great success so I can't see you having a problem. Might have to get stiffer torsion springs and maybe add some gussets for strength but that's all been done before.
Fun fact: ACVW front springs are torsion leafs, not bars.
You can get stiffer torsion leaf packs whether it is a ball joint of link pin front end. Either one will be plenty strong for your uses. They can survive being pounded through the desert for a 1000 miles straight in a class 11 bug, putting it in a car, even a heavy V8 front engined one, would be a joke in comparison.
Imagine doing this for 1000 miles and then compare it to driving a car on the street.
"You couldn't source some used MGB bits?"
Too expensive. The hard parts are easy enough to find and reasonable to buy but they're forty years old now, but the bushings, calipers, brake lines, rotors, and bearings can add up very quickly and price the conversion out of my budget.
"Why don't you just use a mustang II FRONT ?"
Hard to find these days used in decent condition, WAY to expensive to buy the current "kits," they require that the front frame rails be straight square 2x4 steel tubes in order to attach correctly, and far too wide for the MGA chassis that I'm using.
I picked up a the necessary gussets along with the shock tower stiffeners to use on a sand-rail chassis that I had. Sold the chassis, kept the rest. I also have a pair of end braces that weld to the outer most sections of the upper and lower tubes and the frame. These will go a long way towards triangulating the beam, although I'm most concerned about torsion leaves handling the extra weight for now. The beam that I'm using has been cut and rotated for higher "sand rail" stance, possibly that the rotated position will also help with the additional weight.
Essentially, I'm kind of hoping to make use of what I have, strengthen it as needed, add the coil-over shocks if needed, but not have to buy new torsion leaves and such.
My Formula FST has an ACVW front end (it's a glorified FV after all) and runs push rod activated coilovers on the front. It's pretty simply built and if you have decent fab skills - which i assume you do based on the scope of your project - shouldn't be too hard to duplicate.
Picture:
Mr. Boxhead—
If you have the time/inclination could you shoot a few pics of the front end close-up, you're ride looks exceptionally well engineered and major cool in general. I could sure use the reference that some more photos would provide. I'm really encouraged by the posts here, seems that the stolen VW from beam idea is gonna work out great.
I've seen that some of the off road racers run end-threaded steel rods in place of the torsion leaves. Meant just to hold the trailing arms in place.
http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C26%2D401%2D020
Install some urethane beam bushings and quality adjustable coil-overs and done. An option that would allow for some very fine tuning of the front end as well.
Yes or no, either way, thanks for the info and the shot of that beautiful racer ! !
Uh TeamEvil you've been holding out on the HIVE 
Shame shame shame...on you. Before us you present photos of crazy stupid fast 'bugeyes' sportin' monster GM big blocks with 'pie crust slicks'.... and you want us to comment on a Vdub torsion front susp. ? Where pray tell are ye headed with this ? 
Oh, no, no, no . . . those "Bug-Eyes" aren't mine, I found them on the net, saved them to three different computers over the years and have been looking at the recreation every day as it's my desk top image. It's only just now that I find the need for possibly using a VW torsion front suspension in my own project so I posted them in order to illustrate that the idea seems to have merit/the beam seems to be capable of holding the weight of a V8 . . . maybe/hopefully.
Apologies for any misrepresentation/misunderstanding/mistake.
no apologies needed...was hoping the MGA might perhaps have a 392 'hemi' with 'zoomies' and a 6-71 puffer in the not to distant future....Blown fuel altered's ROCK.....Pure Hell, Winged Express....peace out
For outright handling, they aren't the greatest.
Obviously, much like a strut front end, limiting their travel to a narrow range and load up as much sticky rubber under them as allowed and they can be made to work.
The trailing arm solution works really well in the off-road world, but that's not as likely to benefit this project.
TeamEvil wrote:
Replacing all of the missing front suspension pieces in my MGA project is going to bust the budget and then some. I have a disk brake Ghia front torsion bar assembly and was thinking of grafting that to the front of the MGA chassis; was wondering if anyone has a bit of knowledge or insight as to whether it would be strong enough to support and function with the weight of a Ford 5.0.
There's going to be some engine set-back, of course so it won't sit directly over the torsion housing, I also have a pair of coil-over shocks that I could add to the mix, but still—
The reason that I thought/hoped that this option would work is based on this recreation:
And this original:
Both running air cooled VW torsion bar front ends and both apparently supporting the weight of that heavy 348 ci engine.
I have nothing to offer, other than a friend's uncle had a Beetle in the 80s with a Pontiac 428 mounted up front.
I had a Beetle body with a fiberglass "panel truck" conversion mounted on a narrowed and shortened Cutlass frame a while ago, rode like a coal cart, handled like crap, but looked PISSAH !
I know Jthw8 here is a huge aircooled head and has done some work on those types of front ends and can provide some great info.
What's the goal for this MGA project?
Maybe hack the middle out of a S10 front end? I'm not well enough versed in such things to know what that will screw up, but it would probably still ride/handle better than a bug beam with enough additional spring to keep things from moving too much.
The goal will be to build a fun, fast little car using up all of my random parts down cellar and in the car tent and keeping the additional costs to under two or three hundred dollars.
I've owned many Porsche 356 and Ghias and really do LOVE how they both handle, SO much better than an MGA or MGB. Since rebuilding the MGA front suspension or substituting an MGB front suspension would cost a big bundle, and everything else has a much wider track, the VW front beam is a natural way to go.
In that case go for it, I wasn't sure how the MG stuff compared to the VW.
