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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - CB v8 conversion

I own a very nice 74 CB i plan to put the buick/rover engine in.The question is why does my research suggest to change the crossmember,dash,column,etc. to RB spec when you can simply add an extra joint to the steering shaft to work around it.I would like to keep my column and dash if possible,and yes i know the original was done that way.
greg phillips

My '74 GT CB just has the extra joint. It has worked beautifully for years, and without a doubt the car is one of the more powerful conversions on the road (dyno'd at 263 braking HP) and handles very sharply. Stock dash, stock column, steerer cone in firewall carefully massaged. You can get away for sure with the CB x-member -- IIRC nothing was done to mine -- but the motor must be mounted just a tad higher. That's no problem in and of itself, but the crown on CB cars' hoods is a little lower than with RBs so the air cleaner clearance is very close.
Pete Delay

Pete,

I'd like to hear more about your engine. I'm also in St. Louis, perhaps I could give
you a call sometime? Drop me a message at daniel.c.jones2@boeing.com.

Thanks,
Dan Jones
Dan Jones

Pete did you perform your conversion?Do you have pictures you would be willing to e-mail?I'm intersted in how you supported the steering shaft between the joints.Are you using a rover or buick/olds engine?Did you have to do the firewall mods i've read about?I have alot of questions would it be possible to email you?I like Dan am interested in the specs of your engine.I'm in northeast Mo. near Truman State University about 4 hours away but would be willing to drive for a look sometime if that was possible.Do you know anything about the mg "show"in galesburg ill. next month?
Greg
greg phillips

I used two Borgeson u-joints. Worked great. I cut my pinon as close to the sterring box and altered my drive shaft to fit. Borgeson joints come splined for MGB and also splined for what they call d shape. Get their catalog. All hot rodders know about Borgeson.
Dick Porter
Richard Porter

Look at Boregson's site at www.borgeson.com. You don't need additional support for the shaft between the joints if you only have 2 joints. They've got everything you need and in stainless too!
Paul Joly

The idea of using the rubber bumper crossmember in a CB car is but one of many really stupid ideas from a Speedpro book "How to Give Your MGB V8 Power". Another equally stupid idea is to move the engine forward. This is a British book, from the land of Costello, & the author should be ashamed.
Jim Stuart

Jim thanks for the input could you make any suggestions on the easiest butbut correct way to do the conversion?By correct i mean safe and not cobbled togther.Thanks in advance for any help.
greg phillips

This thread was discussed between 21/07/2000 and 25/07/2000

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