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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - Need the scoop on

putting the 215 V8/ Rover 3.5-3.9L engines in a rubber bumper MGB? Is it a just bolt in the V8 motor mounts and add engine and tranny and drive? Please none of this buy a book and find out please.
Jimmy M.

Buy a book and find out.

Just kidding ;)

No one person is likely to answer this 100% completely , and no one way is "correct".
1) Pick a motor there's lots of options
2) Pick a tranny there's a few options
3) Buy all the ancillaries to match the above motor and tranny combination. This is more a process of preference then anything else.
4) Stuff it under your hood.

If you want better explinations of what to do: Take about 3 vacation days from work and read the V8 bulletin board archives. Also get the V8 newsletters. Those are FULL of good info too. http://www.britishv8.org

Not trying to be an ass, but everyone did the conversion differently, and everyone will tell you how to do it their way, so just dig into the archives and see what you like.

My prefs:
Motor: rover 3.9 or bigger, or ford 302.
Tranny: Borg Warner world class T5

Everything else is up to you from there.

Good luck,
Justin

p.s. The ford 302 conversion is gaining popularity QUICKLY and should be seriously looked at.
Justin

Getting the old engine and transmission out is more difficult than you seem to think doing a conversion would be.
George B.

Have consider on putting a V10 Viper? I have the book!
Albert

The HTOB is a "must have" item, and the itty bitty starter is high on the list. Both are a little pricey.

Jim
Jim Blackwood

No V10's at this time, however the 32V 4.6L Ford V8 sounds like an intersting engine. I am looking at which V8 needs the least amount of fabricating to get in the MG. The 302 sounds like a great idea I like the sound of the Ford small blocks, just not sure it I can fabricate to much out in my garage (headers and what not). Any more info would be great thanks.
Jimmy M.

Consider the SHO Taurus 60 degree V8 for fit, should give more room for steering than the 90 degree V's.
George B.

Jimmy,
You can always farm out the headers. I am a cheap broke SOB so I did them myself. all it took was a welder, tubing an patience.
Larry Embrey

George not a bad idea only one thing its for a fwd car and I am not sure if you can get the motor to mate up to a rear wheel transmission. Oh well thanks for everyones input.

Jimmy M.

Mmmm A SHO Ford Front wheel drive on a MGB! It would be the first front wheel drive MGB on this earth
Albert

Dear Jimmy,
Don't go with the 4.6 Ford, it is much larger and heavier than the Ford and Chevy small blocks. I've heard it is equal to the size of the Ford Boss 429 big block.

If your interested in blazing a trail I recommend going with the Chevrolet LS6 5.7 V8 from the Corvette Z06. The external dimensions are equal to those of the Rover and it weighs about the same as a Rover 4.6 V8.

Oh, and it produces 405BHP and 400lb ft. of torque...

Safety Fast!
Mario
Mario Funk

a sho engine in an mgb is a great sounding conversion, i saw a recent photo of a b fitted with one from a car show i think in indiana?, does any one out there know the owner of this car or has any one seen it in person, this is a conversion i have thought about for a while, jimmy, if cost is no object viper v10 for sure, cost wise for a v8 the bop/rover 8 is going to be the least expensive because the number of parts easily available, a gm 60 degree v6 is even less costly than the 8, good luck, i will sell you my used book for very little, it has a lot of pictures! just kidding, jim
jim m

I don't know what transmission and bellhousing can be used with the SHO to convert to rear wheel drive, I cetainly wasn't suggesting that it remain FRD. Most FRD engines have RWD cousins whose components can be used.
George B.

George, I understand what you where getting at with the SHO V8. My thing was 3.4L V8 in the SHO has no know family member as far as I know. The 3.0-3.2L SHO engine the guy used in the V6 version used parts from a Aero star Van and had to have one or two things custom made to make it work (and the interior look like crap). The SHO V8 would be a great idea if it were truly smaller in width and length. I was looking around at LS1's since you brought up the engine it looks like you can have the entire set up (engine, tranny, wiring harness and computer) for around $3,500.00 which is not that bad. I think the LS6 Might be a little harder to get due to the even more limited availability of the cars it came in. The Rover engine, an EFI 302, or the LS1 looks like possible options at this point. Thanks for the information.
Jimmy M.

Jim,
I have to disagree with the rover/BOP being the least expensive. I would have to say they are about the same with the 302 being cheaper here in the US. While yes there are off the shelf conversion parts for the rover, the motors and motor parts themselves are expensive. I only have about $4200 into my completed conversion. Now if I had farmed out the headers it would have been $4500.00 And that is wiuth a $650 block rebuild, using all aftermarket goodies like alum heads intakes, water pump, etc. A Friend of mine built a 302 car for $3500 including the car, it may not be a show car, but he has driven it for 6yrs and loves it. 302's are just WAY cheap around here. Case in point, I have a guy offering me a COMPLETE running 302, heads, intake, carb, TRANNY. with that I could have done mine for much less..
Larry Embrey

I had not heard of a V8 sho?? the only one I have seen is the V6 which would be another great motor for the MGB based on it's performance. they are a strong little motor that likes to spin from what I am told.

302 EFI huh? planning on bulging your hood I hope? Unfortunatly the 5.0 EFI stuff is tall. One option I have seen mentioned and thought about myself is the Holley Commander TBI set-up. It is full computer controlled EFI that goes on in place of any square bore Carb. It is shorter than most carbs too!! They are a bit of $$ though, like $1500, but that gives you everything to make it run.
Larry Embrey

Larry,

The Edlebrock TBI is EXACTLY the same height as the Edlebrock carburetor/manifold for the same engine. We measured one of each at Fast Cars in August at the V8 2002 meet. The air cleaner flange of the TBI is exactly the same as the air cleaner flange of the carb. If you should decide to go with it, you won't have to make any mods at all to your existing hood setup.
Dan Masters

Larry,

You'll find the Taurus V8 SHO with a web search. It is a Yamaha design, as was the V6 IIRC.
George B.

Danm,
Good call, I completely forgot that Edelbrock had released that unit. I think it is even a step over the Holley in that it is a TB and intake set-up which uses Multiport injection does it not? THAT is state of the art!

When I said bulging the hood I was refering to the stock 5.0 upper and lower plenum set-up found on 5.0 EFI cars from the factory.
Larry Embrey

Larry,

Yes, the Edlebrock unit is a multi-port injection system.

You're right about the factory system being tall.
Dan Masters

If I go the Ford EFI route it will be with an aftermarket intake to clear the hood if that does not work some type of hood scoop will be inserted for clearance issues.
Jimmy M.

larry, although i agree that your 302 is a very god performance car, and starting to become the desired conversion, i would still have to disagree with the cost factor, i have several conversion cars my self and have followed the progress for a couple years of your self and others in out v8 club with ford conversions. my point was that if you have a starter car, medium to low mechanical skills, the bop/rover is the easier than the ford. you can pick up the phone and call dan, ted or glenn and order all the correct parts, no fabrication to deal with , no custom one off work, i see what you have put out for yours in hard dollars but what is your time worth, has to be factored in. that is where i am coming from, case in point, i bought a used mid mileage running 3.9 rover last year, all ancilliaries, for $700, coupled with the parts i would need from any of the guys above, i would still have that in my car and running for a lot less than the $4500, well, not trying to start a flame war, and by the way i would prefer to have 5.0 fi engine in my next car, jim
jim m

So Jim what do you mean when you say parts off the shelf to bolt up the ROver engine?
Jimmy M.

You can do a complete rover V8 conversion without having to "reinvent" any wheels. There's no custom fabrication, no trying to solve any problems. Its all been done before, and people like Glenn Towery have all the parts you need to do it. Probably the worst part about the job is a little transmission tunnel bashing, but that's not horrible by any means. All things relative, it's pretty easy, and the suppliers are good people.

Justin
Justin

jimmy, justin said it all for the most part, there are several suppliers who sell all the parts, glenn towery, d & d fabrications, tsi imports, all these in the states, and you can go to many overseas like clive wheatly in the uk. there are many otehrs i did not even began to name all the suppliers for bop/rover parts. if you are just looking at starting a conversion do not rule out the v6, i have one in my roadster and it is equal to my v8 car and also was a lot less costly and easier to complete, check out bill guzman conversions an also killer b v6, they are both on this thread alot, safety faster, jim
jim m

One thing that might make that SHO idea a bit rough, doesn't it mount the starter in the tranny bellhousing? That would mean some expensive custom modification to use it in a RWD car. Just a thought. I would love to see one though, it would be a sweet piece.

Also, believe it or not there are still some rebuildable BOP 215's around, and the last one I rebuilt I think I spent $1300 total on it, YMMV. So that option could be as inexpensive as any. Rover conversions are identical of course but usually more money.

I like the 302 option, just be sure to adequately brace the crossmember if you do that. It's a good solid, no nonsense approach.

SBC conversions will result in the highest HP potential and are not overly complicated, but you will probably have to modify the steering.

Various V6 options exist and have much to recommend them. You have to decide whether you will be satisfied with a V6, or have to have the other two cylinders for some reason. Many do. I considered the 60 degree V6, but back then it was only available as a 2.8L and still had serious longevity problems so I chose the 215.

Jim
Jim Blackwood

Now can you get this Rover EFI? or is it just carbed?
Jimmy M.

I have been watching this thread for some time and I just have to jump in.
Here is the bottom line...... If you want to do this, you will spend some serious money--there is no easy or cheap way out.
If you want the most gut wrenching performance you can get, go with the Ford. One drive in Carrick's car convinced me.
If you want an MGB--a car that feels like the old sixties style B which is a tourer, go with the Buick/Rover. With this combo you will get a nice road car that retains all the character of the four cylinder B with some more power.
It is that simple.
For the easiest conversion, call Dan at D&D. Buy all of his parts and follow his instructions. This will get you on the road where you can evaluate the ride and go from there.
Nuf said!!!!
James Johanski

jim M no offense taken, Nor do I wish a flame war. Just a bunch of MG nuts shootin the breeze sharin what they know..

You got a great deal on that motor, no question. My buddy spent $1500 for his 3.9L complete with 96K in it. I could get a non rebuilt 5.0 for about $700-800, but like I said would not be rebuilt, and probably have 90K miles on it. You must have the experience too we had a guy local buy a kit form one of the 3 vendors you mentioned, the kit alone was over $5k. But again, comes down to experience and shopping. I guess I am getting a skewed pricing view here locally, seems like ever darned thing is 20%+ more expensive.

Yes I did spend allot of time fabricating. That is also because I had never touched a car before, literally. I am willing to bet pretty soon kits will be made. I have even considered it, but I just don't have the time to put into it with a new kid due any day. I bet if we pushed Steve C enough, Fastcars will start making a "kit" with a crossmember already notched so it is a bolt in deal.

It really I think comes down to prefference. I have gotten in good with the local mustang crowd now, so I am finding thigs cheaper to find and we all have a common engine to talk about.
Larry Embrey

Thanks for all of the input. When I start the project I will let everyone know about the progress.
Jimmy M.

Jimmy,
Yu can look over the list of conversion parts offered by D & D Fabrications on thier new website, www.aluminumv8.com
Kurt Schley

Thanks!
Jimmy M.

Jimmy ,
I've gone with EPI for reasons of economy mostly. Both fuel consumption and instalation.
I've read/ heard that a 3.9 EFI should get between 25 and 30 MPG, which is better than my old 1800 twin SU motor. Also for me it worked out cheaper to have 30mm machined of the two parts of the air intake (about $200 Australian) than setting up a Holley (or somthing carberated). It's bound to have a little more go as well, I'm just about finished the conversion, I'm now doing the electrics which are turning out a lot less difficult that I thought it would be.Any day now, Zoom Zoom!!
Peter

Jimmy, M

You ask about 'Buy a book and find out'. You might be able to find Roger Williams' book 'How to give your MGB V8 power' in the SpeedPro Series. ISBN 1 874105 40 5. The second edition of this book has recently had a chapter added for North American readers/convertors.

The book is excellent - I have no axe to grind in relation to the book. I'm just very grateful for Roger's advice. My conversion moved out of the garage under its own power for the first time today!

Good luck.

Peter
Peter Hills

This thread was discussed between 19/11/2002 and 12/12/2002

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