MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - RV8 style exhausts

Anyone got experience of fitting RV8 exhausts and information about the various makers and the quality of their wares. I want to fit some to my conversion and need to educate myself from impartial scources.
Thanx
Leslie Cole

I got mine from "Mike The Pipe" on "your side of the pond". They look good and fit well.

Mark
Mark Marchbanks

Well Mike the expensive pipe has shut up shop and it appears no one has any experience of fitting these to their cars apart from Goeff King who kindly offered his experience.
Come on guys there must be some more of you.
Leslie Cole

Leslie,
I'm not much help, but I bought my stainless RV8 manifolds and complete stainless single system from the MGB Hive for 400 pounds. I have not fitted them yet but will do so over Christmas. Will let you know how it goes.

Stainzy
David Staines

I got mine from Clive Wheatley MG car club spares man Tel 01902 337294. The highest quality manufacture and fit, don't have to remove engine or loosen from mounts. Not fhe cheapest but definitely the best, I looked at a few! Used to have Mike the Pipe block huggers. The huggers were a bu*ger to fit. I remember spending days fettling the manifold flanges to align with block. Good Luck
Richard
Richard

Leslie

I have fitted MGB Hive RV8 system and had to do some mods to make it fit properly. I also found that the manifolds will not go through the wings with the heads in place.
If I was to do it again I would pay the extra and use Clive Wheatleys.
BHive cost me £375 after some haggling at a show.

Cheers

Mark.
Mark Rawlins

I would really appreciate some input from Towery and D&D RV8 header owners, too, as far as ease of install, mods necessary, price/quality ratio, etc.?

TIA,
jimt

Thats more like it. Ta for your responses.
At least we now know that it seems everyone has trouble fitting the B hive system somwhere down the line. I suppose it's inevitable being the least expensive option on the market.
The Wheatley system will be worth a look and probably money better spent in the long run.
Any more tips then keep em comin.
Thanks again.
Les.
Leslie Cole

I am planning a trip to the UK next year in April /May
It would be a good opportunity to purchase some parts in the UK and save me some SHIPPING COSTS. Where can I find the RV8 exhaust from Clive Wheatley and how do I know it is made by his company when I buy it through one of his agents or dealers. Exhaust manifolds never seem to have the manufacturers name on it.
I wil be travelling from London to Aldeburg on the East coast of UK. Some local shop on my route might do.
Last time I was there I bought the Ron Hopkinson sway bar Suspension upgrade.
Werner
Werner Van Clapdurp

I got mine from Glen Towery. They are very well made with a continous flange reinforcing and keeping all the exaust ports in line, i did have to put a notch in the drivers side exaust flange for the deep stick, fitting them to the block wasn't a problem, fitting them with the engine in car it wasn't so easy it required a little bit of maneuvering them in place but this may have to do with me making the opening in the inner fenders a little bit on the small side, they are a two piece design I had them ceramic coated in and out they look great, i am very satisfied with them and the service that Glen provides.
Romney
Romney

If you dont remember anything else, when cutting.

Remember the heads and therefore the holes are off-set by the width of a conrod!

www.mgbv8.co.uk

Nick
Nick Smallwood

To add to my reply above the price for the headers was 440 US, price for welding the bungs for O2 sensors was 35 US, price of ceramic coating 200 US. I will fuel inject it in the future using the SD1 fuel system, i have a complete working system plus extra computer and air flapper that i picked up last summer in the U.K.
Romney
Romney

Romney,
That is also what I plan to do. What FI system do you have? Is it the Federal, as used on the 1980 SDI?
I have all the parts except the wiring harness and the control unit itself. I am planning on going to UK next year so I might look for it there.
Also missing all the sensors. This will be the difficult part of the conversion to FI. To find all the right components.
Werner
Werner Van Clapdurp

My RV8 headers came from TSI in the U.S. They ae the same headers sold by Glenn & D & D, & are made by Kirk in the U.S. I have another set on order from D & D that will have 1 5/8" primaries for a somewhat larger engine on the way. The original set fit quite well, with no gasket leaks, I did some serious grinding to clear the dip stick, & a little bit here & there to be sure I could get a socket on all the spark plugs. The holes in the inner fenders were trial & error, but I wanted to be able to remove the headers with the engine in place, which I can, by unbolting the brake master- 1978 body- but not removing the brake lines. I do not object to the larger openings in the inner fenders, no water splashing in during rain storms, lots of heat going out.

I too had the headers jet hot coated in silver & am very happy with the appearance after about 7000 miles.

Jim
Jim

Werner,
Yes, my fuel injection system is the federal as in the 1980 Rover SD1. I took it out of my SD1, it is complete from sensors to wiring. etc, Let me know if you need any help collecting the bits I have a supplier in the UK i will give you his address if you e-mail me off line
Romney
Romney

I too have used the MGB Hive system. It is made by GES down at Exeter, who are extremely helpful in modifying the system to fit your car.

Specifically, with the block hugger type I found that one pipe was just the wrong shape - "cut and weld it up so it fits, send it back to us and we'll make you a new one" GES said!

With the RV8 style system I found that the rear silencer and inlet pipe were fouling the axle and left the box too close to the road - "we'll make a new one to your measurments " GES said!

The RV8 headers are a PAIN to fit and impossible with the engine in the car. I cut the down pipes and fitted sleeves to enable the headers to fit easily and minimise the size of the hole required in the inner wing.

Chris Betson

Jim, Maryland..you mean your RV8 headers were made by Kirk Racing in Birmingham, Alabama?
Tony Barnhill

I have recently converted my car from block hugger to RV8-style headers. I highly recommend Clive Wheatley's product in the UK, they are the best I have seen.
I used TSI for mine and they are mild steel and were fine.
See my newsletter article on the trouble I went through fitting them on my car (on my website):
http://mgbexperience.com/ca-mgbv8
Martyn

Have you people heard anything of a header system from Barrie Robinson in Ontario, as advertised in The MG V-8 Newsletter volume VIII, issue 1, Jan. 2000 (blue cover)? The picture shows a two piece honkin header with decent secondaries. I can't get through to his e-mail. Sheez, I might have to phone!

Angus

I'm reluctant to hack giant holes in my fenderwells because they are a significant structural component of the chassis, however, I will if I have to in order to cool things down. Has anyone tried the block hugger style headers that have been Jet-Hot coated? Reportedly, the coating will markedly reduce underhood temperature (as much as 300 degrees less in some instances). Has anyone had any experience with Kirk Racing headers? Thanks. (This forum is a great resource!!)
Gordon

>>>because they are a significant structural component of the chassis<<<

A point more than adequately answered by the fact that the RV8 uses them and has type approvals.

MGOC Spares also stock RV8 systems and having used both Clive Wheatley's and the MGOC once I am well pleased with both.

Rog
Roger Parker

Gordon, like you I just didn't think that cutting holes in this part of the body was OK. Rumors abound about RV8s juddering because their front clip isn't sturdy enough with those holes, etc. ... prob. apocryphal, but best avoided. I've found that Jet-Hotted block huggers are fine. The coating really, realy reduces the heat. I guess it all goes out the tailpipe! I have a very warmed over 4.2. There are no vents or other cute tricks to reduce overheating, it just doesn't seem to need them.
Bill Withum

For what it's worth....I purchased a set of SS RV8 headers from Clive Wheatley for my 4.6L two years a ago. Superb quality and workmanship. I personally believe the rumor regarding the scuttle shake is just that a rumor! I cut the opennings large enough to fit the headers without completely removing engine (lossen engine mounts and raise engine enough to slip in) I then fabbed mirror image reinforcing rings for both in side and out of the engine bay from 18 gauge steel. I've run her up to 120 mph, stady as a rock and with absolutely no shake, ditto with spirited back roads driving. I would challenge anyone to say there is any less structural integrity...if anything there is more in my IMHO! On the subject of cooling. Anyone whose interested in aluminum radiators, check out Howe Racing. I had them fab an aluminum radiator for my 4.6L in exact replica of the V8 radiator with solid mounting tabs to fit a SPAL hi-pro 16" fan. Great workmanship, exceptional cooling and for a very good price ($465.00) and it took three days from start to my door.
Steve LaGoy

Steve,

Did you use the stock radiator mounting location with the Howe, or, did you have the mounting tabs fashioned to move it up to the radiator duct panel? And, do you have any contact information for Howe Racing? How did you spec the radiatior to them?
Michael Willis

This thread was discussed between 27/11/2001 and 26/12/2001

MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical BBS now