SKF Bearing Part Numbers & Diff Ratios

At the Art Deco weekend in Napier this year, we had a techi workshop one evening and one outcome was a handy list compiled by Gordon Vogtherr.....SKF Bearing Part numbers for VAs. Please excuse my techncial descriptions and all data is provided in good faith and I will not take any responsibility for any errors :)

SKF Bearings
Fan 6302
Front Wheels Inner 6306
Front Wheels Outer 6304
Rear Wheels Inner 6208
Clutch withdrawl 7208
Clutch spigot 1204
Constant (?)Mesh pinion RLS10 (cannot read my hand writing...)
Layshaft front and rear F-99026
Bevel Pinion Front 5206A
Bevel Pinion Rear NM30
Differential Right and Left 7208

Diff Ratios
MG VA std......9/47 (5.22) (SVW Parts can supply 10/47.....ie 4.7)
MG WA std.....9/43 (4.77)
MG WA alternate......10/42 (4.2) or 9/41 (4.55)
MG SA std......12/57 (4.75)
MG SA alternate......11/49 (4.45) or 11/58 (5.27)

Wolesley 10........7/37 (5.28)
Wolesley 12/4......9/48 (5.33)
Wolesley 18.......10/48 (4.8)

Upgrade engine to Police Specification

Specifications (SVW Review Issue 20, 2011)
Standard VA TPBG engine
Bore/Stroke 69.5mm/102mm
Capacity 1548cc
Horse Power 11.98HP
Power 54 bhp

Police Specification VA TPDG engine
Bore/Stroke 73mm/102mm
Capacity 1708cc
Horse Power 13.22HP
Power 67.7 bhp (est)

You need either WA Pistons or the MGA 1600cc "Flat-Top" Pistons for the increased 1708cc cylinder bore. The MGA Pistons are usually easier to find, but will need the gudgeon pin hole reaming out slightly to take the original connecting-rod little-end pins. (This hole must be reamed to be a sliding fit).

SVW Parts also stocks a slightly larger Wolseley Engine head gasket which is more suitable for the larger 1708cc bore.

Is it 1708cc or 1709cc?
My maths says pi*bore/2*stroke*4/1000 = litres and I get 1707.638cc or 1708cc when rounded.

Wow, this post resulted in some really good information from the SVW egroup on Yahoo as well as the SVW Register, thanks for all the feedback. I summarise below:

Robin Page - Australia
I asked my engine man to do this to my VA1880S. He carried out an ultrasound and did not consider there was enough meat in the block. So he bored to 72mm. Pistons and conrods were made to order to achieve a compression ratio of 8.55:1. Capacity is now 1657cc. Standard MGB camshaft grind. Engine was balanced. It is a very strong and torquey engine and feels more like a 6 than a 4.
For what it is worth.

Bas de Voogd - Holland
I think there is quite a difference in casting thicknes’s possible. Personally I am not in favour of this operation. Remember MG’s only experimented with it. There is no proof of larger VA engines other then 5 experimental ones and the typed Policecar Sales leaflet. Quite well possible that even these five TPDG experimentals were a thicker casting too. There are however a number of succesfull enlarged bores running around without hassle so far.
The attached photos (courtesy John Bannister) show a blown up engine but this might have been caused by a loosened up small end pinch bolt and neglecting the rattle. I know more then one VA loosing their engine this way.[Contact me re photos]
.....also....from Bas
A thought might be to grossly overbore, then press in a thick, engineered sleeve designed to seat on a machined ledge at the bottom.Then bore to specs.Core shift was a real problem on most early engines, world wide. It made thin wall, light engine blocks something for the future.

Framing - pretty well complete - big step forward

Framing pretty well completed, doors, hood, windscreen etc.  Will add more detailed photos in the future.

My Restoration - High level specification

Restoration attitude: Keep the driving experience as original as possible but make 0864S more suitable for distance cruising in modern traffic and cope with the New Zealand North Island hills. [Updated 14 May 2012].

Engine
Probably bore out to Police spec as we will do a lot of hill work and m’way cruising (See another post in this site re engine specification)
New modern head gasket
Main Bearings - leave unless need to replace with shells
Big ends-perhaps use shells-need to strip motor and assess whether to continue to use white metal
Balance components eg crank, pistons/rods etc
Water pump bearing conversion as per Gordon Vogtherr
Triple value springs - convert to double
I have purchased a new "modern" VA camshaft and bearings from SVW Parts
Oil filter - perhaps....however one can see this when you open the bonnet, so may just change the oil more often and use the original filter system (SVW Review 20, 2011 pg 15)

Electrics
Diode protection on fuel pump to increase reliability from burnt points
Maybe reverse polarity and convert front side lights to LED blinkers/side lights (need to reverse polarity to use LEDs)
Chrome headlight reflectors – lasts longer I am told than silver
Maybe electronic distributor/points conversion……(when I have nothing more to fiddle with!) Horns/Spotlight - keep original two horns etc

Gearbox
Leave original as possible – that is the VA experience
Replace needle bearing with modern as per Vogtherr conversion

Clutch
Dry clutch

Diff
Change ratio to longer gearing – to keep revs down for cruising at m’way speed – should be great with 1706cc engine. Here are the details…. the high ratio is 10/47 ie 4.7 as against the standard ratio of 9/47 ie 5. 22, that's about 11% higher and “is very noticeable on the road”. (Quote from SVW Spares).

Brakes
Automatic brake shoe adjusters are now fitted (adjuster conversion from MG A via SVW Spares)
Master/slaves - line with chrome inserts
Brake shoes – still researching – apparently use softer material

Wheels/Hubs
Assess all the components and renew as required - also balance them! as well as the usual advice in SVW Reviews etc on hubs/splines etc.

Tyres
Replace the 5.00 tyres with 5.50 is recommended by some owners and apparently works well with the 5.00 rims.

Suspension
Still open to advice/suggesions. SVW Spares have a telescopic conversion and have sold about 70 of these to SVW customers who say the ride is a lot better. Does this still fit my "Restoration Attitude" though? One VA owner is enthusiastic about originals in the front (where they can be seen) and telescopic in the rear (hidden). A topic of rich discussion I expect. Bas' web site http://www.basdevoogd.nl/shock_absorbers.htm has information on this issue (and a lot more!). 0864S had telescopic shocks fitted when purchased so I have the conversion hardware but may try and overhaul the originals and go from there, then I have a basis for comparison.

Tyres
I will keep on working on this one. I believe two options are favoured, widening the rims to 19x5.50" to enable wider tyres to be fitted...or leave at 19x5.00" rims and use 5.25 (?) tyres. I may have this slightly wrong and will update as I receive clarification.

Fuel tank
Seal up overflow as this is dangerous when filling and replace with an elbow and breather flexible tube higher up to a chassis member. Line/seal with modern tank sealant. See SVW Review article.

Colour
Tickfords could have any colour as it was a non Morris Factory supplied body. I am pretty certain I will go for the Duo Green combination.

Document all the car history
Get the words down for future owners
Use modern web technology but protect current owners privacy
I use this blogspot site…get some great history down. The blogspot site is soooo easy to set up, no web knowledge is required. I am happy to help if required.


I would be intersted in any opinions, thoughts, suggestions on this specification. I will keep adding to this specification area so all the changes and thoughts are in one place.

UK SVW Register URL

For those looking for more information on MG SA VA and WA vehicles, have a look at the main UK register http://www.svwregister.co.uk/. In particular I would recommend the following index of articles - all available via their web site...happy reading.....http://www.svwregister.co.uk/articles/index%20of%20articles%202011.pdf

Body at end March 2012

Latest photo of the body work.

Possible colour scheme - Duo Green

SVW Parts in the UK had this photo on their web site and maybe this is the Duo Green Colour which may grace my fine body !!

VA Colour Specification

I came across this specification sheet on Bas de Voogd's web site which has a lot of information about MG VAs.
http://www.basdevoogd.nl/

 

Body - framing coming together

The framing assembly is now in hand coming together quite nicely.

Chassis and Fuel tank repainted

February 2012 - With the holidays out of the road, the chassis was stripped back and water cleaned. Since the chassis was sand blasted and painted in 1983, it had developed a few thin paint areas where light rust was showing (it was on its side and the flat areas facing up had this light rust) , this was soon sanded back and instead of a repair paint effort, the whole chassis was repainted. At the same time the repaired petrol tank was repainted however the overflow vent will be modified so some of the repainting will need to be done again. The current vent system on the top of the tank allows you to fill the tank and overflow it easily before you know it.....until a pool of petrol appears under the car !!! (My owner has done this with another VA).

The brake back plates were removed (and sent to SVW Services as these were swapped for ones with automatic shoe adjusters) and consideration given about relining the master and slave brake cylinders with stainless inserts. This is recommended by club members as it prevents the brakes binding if the car had not been used for some time. While in the UK, my ones were sleeved with brass as this was done at that time (1980's). These will be redone in the near future in stainless steel.

Overseas Travel

End July 2011 - With the NZ exchange rate favouring work in the UK, my owner and another in NZ (also with a DHC) combined forces and did a deal with SVW Spares in Hull to renew/furbish the bodies. In my case, new framework, interior and assembly of panels, windscreen etc. A large box was constructed and many body parts less the wings and bonnet, were despatched to Hull. This was my second overseas trip and I look forward to coming back about July/August 2012 to be mated back to my chassis.