Moss Motors, Ltd

I am finishing a conversion project started by a previous owner over 20 years ago.  Needless to say I have completely disassembled it and started over.  My question is what angle should the engine and transmission be mounted in the frame?  I currently have the drivetrain sitting with the engine and trans straight up and the shift lever leans toward the passenger side by about 15 degrees.  My assumption is that the engine and trans must be mounted with a slight lean to the driver's side.  Before I go any further I thought I would see if someone else has already dealt with this.

I'm clueless on MGA motors, but you're not going to be able to lean the motor more than a degree or two if you're planning on using the standard "T"-series radiator and top hose.  What gear was the box in when it was so far to the right?  One could bend the shift lever, I suppose ... 

Install the engine and transmission straight up, everything will work better that way, carbs, oil pan, etc. You can always modify the shift lever to suit yourself with a little heating and bending. Maybe Motorbill will chime in, he's done several MGB engine conversions in T series cars and would know exactly what you need to do.

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'73 Midget (V6)
'59 MGA (I6) under construction
'73 Lotus Europa
'52 MG TD kit car body project.
'98 Jag XK8

"There is a fine line between a hobby and mental illness"

jjones,

First, it's far more important that the engine is straight up and down (vertical) than that the lever is. Second, if the engine is indeed vertical, the shift lever should also be vertical. If it's not, something is amiss. MGA shifters are straight up and down in neutral.

We do this conversion in our shop quite regularly. In fact, we have two going on right now, though we use an MGB engine and gearbox or MGB engine with a five speed conversion, the basics are the same. By the way, Dick mentions the water outlet/inlet situation. We have a radiator shop close up the  stock openings in the TD radiator and cut in new ones to suit the MGB (or A) engine. Then we just get some rad hoses with sections of right angle to suit. Nifty.

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Motorbill
From Lola to Land Rover, If it's British and has wheels, it's likely I've bloodied me knuckles thereupon

Thanks.  That helps me narrow down my search.  Also, thanks for the radiator approach.  I was considering having that done. 

j,

Make sure that the new necks you have soldered into the radiator top and bottom tanks "steer" the hoses in such a direction that whatever fan you use has plenty of clearance. This is especially critical on the bottom, where you need to point a right angled neck away from the fan, but not so far to the side that the hose will strike or rub the bonnet. It's fussy, but it's possible.

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Motorbill
From Lola to Land Rover, If it's British and has wheels, it's likely I've bloodied me knuckles thereupon