MGA swivel pin question

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Back to, or at least I was planning on being back to, picking at the MGA. The top picture is of the original swivel pin. It has a square mounting surface. The bottom picture - pre-cleaning obviously, if of the replacement swivel pin John gave me since the other one had problems with the thread. This is different in design and has an extended mounting profile with what looks to be caliper mounting points.

Is the bottom (dirty) one from a disc brake car? Should I use this (I have a matching one for the other side) even if I will be staying with drum brakes? or, if this the kick in the paints to convert to disc brakes now?





Thanks!

[Steve Simmons]

Yes, you have one of each there. I'm in the middle of a disc brake conversion myself. The hardest part is finding the calipers. If you have those then the rest isn't too bad. The disc brake hose mounts are in a different place on the cross member so you either need to cut and weld the little tab, or have custom hoses made up. I haven't decided which way I'm going with that yet. If you move the tab then you also need to change the length of the hard line, shorter if I recall correctly.

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Ideas on finding the calipers? I take it they aren't MGB swap-able?

Hope things are good BTW. Off to LeMons to run with a team this weekend...

[Steve Simmons]

They are different, but you can use MGB calipers with a set of caliper adapters. I've seen them for sale from a few sources. The authentic MGA calipers are out there but will often cost you around $200+ for a used set. Many people go with MGB for this reason, although I figure the adapters and B calipers must cost $150 by themselves. Try Jim Alcorn in La Jolla for leads on correct calipers, plus any of the "big" used MG parts guys. They also pop up on eBay from time to time.

Post photos from the LeMons!

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Thanks. Are the caliper rebuild kits freely available for the OE MGA calipers?

LeMons should be interesting. - will get pics posted Sunday PM.

[Jimmy]

I'm sure you'll have fun this weekend.
I was supposed to codrive with a friend, but his father died recently.

[Steve Simmons]

Thanks. Are the caliper rebuild kits freely available for the OE MGA calipers?

Yes, available from all the usual sources. I got mine at Moss.

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Thanks guys.

FYI - LeMons was a total hoot, right up the the point where we roasted the engine.

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We're figuring the sombrero was worth about 5-10 MPH on the back straight, but then again it probably gave us some extra down force in the high speed sweepers

[Jimmy]

Figured you'd have a blast.
Did you have to "Press 1 for English"?

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Ha! That is funny.

We did wear matching sombreros. Oh, and the blender on the trunk worked.

[Jimmy]

I'm a bit bummed (okay, a lot) that I didn't make it.
Mebbe next time.
Again, glad you got to enjoy it.

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You going to run?

[Jimmy]

Well, that was the plan, until my friend's dad died unexpectedly.
He (my friend) had such a good time when he was brought in as a co-driver that he decided to enter a vehicle himself.
We discussed the design/motif and, well, it was all a go until he got beyond busy with the estate.
Malcolm will hate this, but we were going to use a Cherokee (which is obviously superior to a Defender in every way, and cheaper), and ideally a 2WD version, for weight savings.
You may even have seen my friend co-driving a Cherokee at the LeMons last year - that's what started it all.
He's into vintage car racing and a very good driver - enough so that he can keep a Porsche 356 on the track (for the most part), so I would likely be relegated to taking a lap or two while he'd go use the bathroom.
Still, I really want to do it.

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I saw a blue Cherokee this year - same car/team?

[Steve Simmons]

That's it! That's how we can finally see this "race" against the Jeep and the Rover. At LeMons!!!

Looks like the little Mazda from down south had some fun!

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I have an SD1 that we could dress up like a Daytona that would be a hoot.

[Jimmy]

It was a dark colored Cherokee, that much I remember. Could well be the same one.
My friend was lapping cars when he drove.

I like Steve's idea...but how do we get Malcolm to participate?

[malcolmr18zoy]

Yes well I'm not much of a fan of the 24 hours of lemons, but it might be a good venue for a Cherokee, since the entry cars are usually destoyed. I think that I agree with Jimmy, for once, a cherokee would be a great candidate for the 24 hours of lemons. Very apropriate.
Malcolm

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OK - back on topic (I know, I know, I was the one who lead us astray).

Anyone have a spare MGA driver side swivel pin I can buy?

[Steve Simmons]

I have a whole front setup, but not a pin by itself.

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