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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - RV8 Front inner wing reinforcement

My '77 MGB GT is about to get Rver V8 power, but before doing so, I need to cut the holes in the front inner wings for the RV8 exhaust manifolds. My problem is that the supply of reinforcement rings; BMH; # RGD01149/RGD01148, seem to have dried up!! Some say the presses are damaged and BMH have not decided what to do ( typical BMH??)!! Just recently, MG Motorsport got hold of a RH one ( RGD01148 ), so my seach is down to a LH one. Norwegian MOT require these reinforcement rings to be install to approve my V8 conversion, so my project have come to a frustating full stop!. Can anyone out there help an enthusiast in despair???? PLEASE
Halvor Asland

Clive Wheatley "offer" RV8 inner wing exhaust stiffener plate for 70£
www.mgv8.homestead.com
Regards
michel

Hi Michel

I believe I have tried them all, Clive ( who supplied for another of my V8 conversions), MGOC, MG Motorsport, MG Hive, BMH, B&G, MOSS, ... I have also got respons ( at last) from BMH and the answer is sort of; we may make some in 2005....

HELP!
Halvor Asland

Halvor,
When I bought my manifolds from MGB Hive, they supplied me with a template to cut out the holes, and I made up some reinforcing plates myself from the template........this looks like the best route.

Mike
M Barnfather

I now have over 50,000 miles on my 1966 roadster conversion, the first car I built with RV8 style headers, & I still wonder why some of you are fiddeling around with fender reinforcements. While my car is mostly a daily driver, it has seen a little track time & a few auto crosses. I can't imagine why reinforcements are needed in the inner fenders. I certainly have no cracks, shakes or shimmys.

If you cut an oversized hole & use them to clean up for appearance sake, then I agree. Otherwise, I just do not see the need.

Maybe someone with over 400 hp who constantly is drag racing might need them?
Jim Stuart

Jim
I have discussed reinforcement with a number of people involved with the RV8 and none were convinced that it was necessary or that what was provided would have been effective if there had been a serious strength issue. (sounds a bit irish but hope you know what I mean). The reinforcing rings are really more for show than anything else.

..... but there are show cars and there are cars to be driven.

Happy New Year

Roger
RMW

And, according to Halvor, if you want to drive the car it must have the reinforcements, regardless of their efficacy.

A rule, no dout, made by bureaucrats, but, unfortunately, a rule none the less
greg fast

The inner wing panel is quite thin metal.....and the re-inforcement rings certainly make it look sturdier.

Mike
M Barnfather

Gentlemen

The problem is exactly as Greg describes, my V8 conversion project will have to follow along the RV8 route of MOT reasons, so since the RV8 have them - mine will have to have them. Whether they fill a function or not, is not an issue sorry to say.

Having said that; Jim: I am not heading for 400 bhp, but the modified TVR 500 engine should easily be giving 300+ GENUINE bhp. Of the 340bhp TVR claimed, at least 40 of them were ghost bhp!!

kind Regards
Halvor
Halvor Asland

It's not the HP that's the problem, it's the enormous amount of torque these engines generate, mine twisted the splines on the original Vitesse half-shafts.

Mike
M Barnfather

The car could not be registered in Sydney & maybe Australia wide without reinforcing rings. Why did Rover fit them on the RV8 if they are superfluous ? Maybe it is overkill in this case, but our local rules consider it "good engineering practise" & we have to comply. Barrie E
Barrie Egerton

You don't need them in Victoria, Barry. I certainly don't miss them (I turned down the edge with mine just to look tidy, not to reinforce). I've also seen some really extravagent holes, no reinforcement at all, cut by others (MG worshops, professional converters).
I'd say it was a case of Rover doing it for the sake of neatness, just to look sturdier as Mike says(a raw metal edge looks bad), then "monkey see, monkey do" w.r.t. the regulators.
It shouldn't be too hard to make a copy that will fool "them". The metal looks to be about 2mm at the most. At the prices quoted above worth looking at doing anyway. Also check the regulations, they may say that the hole needs to be reinforced but do not require a the specific rover panel, anything will do.
Peter

to my last add: - the small number of electric welds to the RV8 reinforcers tell you all you need to know.

Roger
RMW

Halvor,

I had the same problem lat year. I got "the other side" from Brown & Gammons. I haven't got their address but it is easy to find on the web. I can't recall how much I paid but I do remember that it was expensive for what it is!

Good luck

Richard
R Weston

I cut mine out of 2mm mild steel, any thicker and I would not have been able to follow the inner wing contour.

Mike
M Barnfather

Brown and Gammons...

http://www.ukmgparts.com/index1.html?o=110487576013316
Cecil Kimber

Gentlemen

My problem looks to have been solved. Gavin in Australia is breaking a RV8 and has offered me to carefully drill out the LH reinforcement ring.

GREAT!!

Once again - proof what enthusiasts do for each others!!

Halvor
Halvor Asland

This thread was discussed between 01/01/2005 and 05/01/2005

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