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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - My conversion

I'm finally doing it. I have a pretty, totally rust free '72 GT with nice paint, AC, hot +.030 4 cylinder with Burgess head, roller rockers, Crane cam, XR 700, tube shocks, HD front and rear sway bars, Nissan 5 speed, modded suspension, etc. 26K on car since everything was done.

I'm pulling the drive train and installing a '95 Rover 3.9 with 45k (yep, original miles), a Rover LT77 gearbox/bellhousing/flywheel, RV8 coated headers and either a Postal Jeep 3.07 posi, MGC 3.3 or MGC 3.7 rear. I already own all of that plus a pair of Towery AC engine mounts, late B motor mounts, late B rad mounts, late B radiators, MGC bonnet etc.

The jury's still out on the method of steering mods but I will be keeping the original front crossmember.

Although I've been on this BBS for 10 years and have read everything I can find on V8 conversions I still have a few questions that I will be posting. Please be patient with me and thanks for any and all help.

BTW, engine wise, I also have a few 215's a TR8 and an SD1 in various stages that I'll be getting rid of as son as I know I won't need any bits for my use. I have a RB GT, too that won't be used.

David
David

Congrats, David. I have no regrets doing my '77 B Roadster/Sebring fenders/Rover 3.5/5-speed.

Keep us posted and ask away with your questions. Looks like you're well underway with this project.

Cheers
Simon
Simon Austin

David, your current steering set up can be retained with a few mods. You need to move the uni joint further back so it misses the #8 exhaust outlet. To do this, have the part of the steering shaft in the engine bay lengthened & the part inside the cab shortened by the same amount (about 2 1/2" from memory)& use the later type uni joint. This needs to be done professionally unless you're a skilled machinist & welder. Since you live in FA, there should be plenty of marine engineers available. They shorten & lengthen the the drive shafts on outboard motors.It might be the way to go. Barrie E
Barrie Egerton

Thanks for the encouragement, Simon.


Barrie,
No need to modify the cone in the firewall? Don't I need to alter the angle of the steering shaft from the rack to the firewall. That would be great if not.

The company I work for has CNC lathes, CNC mills, CNC lasers, etc and I'm friends with the engineers. I can get just about anything precision made.
David

David, yes you need to modify the the firewall including the cone on a '72 model along with the other engine bay mods. I got the shaft as low as possible, but then I'm using blockhugger headers. Barrie E
Barrie Egerton

David, With the rover trans. look at the 3.07 rear.With a 185/70/14 tire your motor turns 2500 rpm @ 65 mph. the 3.3 is a nice (in town ) rear for light to light runs. OR the 3.3 is real good with the T5 trans with the .63 O/D. 2300 rpm @ 65 mph. The 3.7 rear is 200 rpm less than the B 3.9 4 cyl. rear & 200 rpm is nothing for the time it takes to change the rear. Send me your E=mail & I will send some pics. of a engine bay that I have the mods done on, for you to see. What part of Fa. are you in? I was in Fa. 5 times this year & would be happy to drop by for you to take a look.
Glenn Towery

This thread was discussed between 07/12/2006 and 10/12/2006

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