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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - Suicide doors

Has anyone converted their MGB GT to suicide doors? am seriously liking the idea as mine is in the process of being 'pimped' in my garage. These ideas having been written down before i saw MTV's show, but the show has given me new zest to carry out my penciled ideas.

Any feedback or links appreciated.

Chris
C.F. Capes

Chris,
You may well br out on your own on this one but that said I pass on my best wishes for the project.
I suspect MG owners have enough to do keeping the car running as it is was built rather than adding aonther potential headache to the list!

Cheers , Pete.
Peter Thomas

Chris,
Interesting idea. It would require a bit of work but it seems to be doable. I would suggest using a junk door as a template and switch everything from the front to rear. Most of the interals could stay in the same spot, but you would need to switch the hinges and latch to the opposite sides. To mount the hinges on the B-pillar you could have to probably reinforce it somehow as it doesn't seem super strong there. Maybe just some metal plates. I would keep the windowwinder handle and quaterlight all in the same place. Good luck.

Brooks
Brooks Twist

There is also the option of the Labrigini (sp?) option so they would open up and forward on an angle. Someone in town sells a universal kit for under $1000.
Will you be reversing the trunk lid as well so it opens from the front? Thats an idea I have been toying with and plan to use hinges from a Saturn.
Keep us up on the progress. I want pictures if you can.
kids1

I considered the ferrari enzo style door hinges as is like a combo of the lamborghini style with the gull wing'd delorean, but thats a hefty job, plus the quarterlights are in the way for the top hinge.

I hadn't considered changing the bonnet (trunk) as at present its fine, the only change being im going over to hydraulic lifters, also putting these on the rear boot lid too. Regarding the rear boot lid, i was going to have it flushed, as in remove the badges and the lock, plus fit a modern flush fitting fuel filler, but with regards to the lock, am unsure if the boot would then look to bare/smooth so to keep it as is.

will try and get some pics if i open this can of worms, as peter quite rightly pointed out, the mgb is one constant headache.

Chris
C.F. Capes

Chris, take a look at the rear of the car driven in the movie Ferris Beuller's Day Off. I'm pretty sure it has the "clean look" you are after.
http://www.clean-air.org/aceproject.htm

It is a Modena GT250 but looks like a B in the rear.
kids1

I'm also looking at the smooth trunk option. The lid is already done, I'm just looking at options for a latch. I'm thinking I can bolt in a latch from something like a Miate or any type vehicle that has a remote release. The question is where to run the cable. I'm thinking under the carpet, through the floor in the back and then into the trunk somewhere by the gas tank. Or, do I make it high speed and use an electric type release found on something like a Dodge Stratus? Has anyone out there done this?
Drew Fletcher

Drew, coming from the uk, other than the dodge and classic yank tanks, im not in the know on the mechanisms in the cars you have mentioned. On the Ferrari's and Maserati's at work the rear boot lids have an electric solenoid release mechanism with an additional emergency cable release in the event of solenoid failure or dead or disconnected battery.

i was thinking of doing it that way, so even if the electric route fails, the cable release is already fitted. hope this helps

Chris
C.F. Capes

Drew, I've installed the electric release in several cars. It can be done in a couple hours, for about $35. Mr.Gasket sells a good kit. You have to switch the hook and latch position however, which will take a little fabrication. Either that or the solenoid will mount on the boot lid, which would be heavy and unsightly.
Jeff Schlemmer

Chris
Side vents to reduce the temperature of the engine bay would be a very worthwhile improvement.
RMW

RMW, I like the thinking. Chris, consider the vents on the upper rear corners of the Suzuki Samurai. They are clean, classic and functional and might look factory if worked into the fenders of a B. I think the newer styles used in so many hondas etc. look too new and fake. Although thats just a matter of styling.
kids1

Not too keen on vents personally, as im only gonna be running a 4 cylinder where by i got side draft carbs, the theory of ram charging or even to reduce the temp under the bonnet, well, its not like the nose hasnt got a huge enough grill.

Having said that, yes i have seen some of the old ferraris with very low cut scoops which may look cool on the B, but personally, im keeping the bonnet as is
C.F. Capes

Jeff-

Any pictures or details on swapping the latch & lock?
Jim Stuart

What about the BMW Z3 side front wing (fender) air vents. Or even the right shape 'hole', similar to Astons.
Richard
Richard Evans

was thinking of a similar idea richard, and running the exhaust out of the wing like a ww2 spitfire.

http://www.blazinlow.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=42615

Ive found this guys conversion to his mahoosive SUV helpfull, i thought that the hinges he used from a jeep looked v similar to those of the mgb. i found the mgb's door, the inner part that has the lock mechanism mounted to it to be almost perfectly straight all the way down to the curve, so the door would be the easiest part of the hinge transfer. Regards mounting to the b post i was thinking of using box section to add strength back to the 'b' pilar as you will have to cut into it, plus will provide near as perfect square edge, so technically you could use the box section of the car to trial fit the door hinges to the door while the door was still on a bench.
It seems a lot more than a weekends worth of work if to do it properly, not to mention the time for painting etc etc, but i reckon on the whole would be a very cool job. Id like to know if anyone else has done this to the MG BGT, if not would be a v cool gimmic.
C.F. Capes

Jeff,
Is this the release kit you refer to?
http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=2810&prmenbr=361
Regards
Tony
Tony Bates

Tony, that's the kit I've used before, and actually have one in my shop, possibly for future use in my B.

Jim, I've never done the swap on a B. The last one I did was on a Comet. It looks like it could be done by fabricating a new mounting bracket for the latch and the "loop" without too much work.

You could also use a cable release extension to a stock latch, with a remote servo. You can use a bicycle brake cable, and a few parts from a really cheap bike brake assembly. Add a "noodle" for a 90 degree bend(in a good bike shop they'll know what you mean) and you can mount the servo up above the wheel well in the trunk. That's about $45 for everything tops without changing the latch. Clamp the release cable to the servo and you've got a great system that can be released by cable if the battery goes dead.
Jeff Schlemmer

Yep, thats the type of kit. Have got 3 months now of solid MGB afternoons and weekends as College/uni is now over till september, so gonna try and get these doors done seeing as ive said it doesnt look too hard, 3 months should be plenty of time for a few attempts.
Chris
C.F. Capes

This thread was discussed between 13/05/2005 and 29/05/2005

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