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 - Supercharged MGBV8??

Hi fellow V8ers
Ive came accross this site yesterday where they advertise a Supercharger kit for the LandRover Discovery.
Thinking to myself now LR V8 similar to MGB V8's right?
Well looking at their kits I imagine it wouldnt be too hard to adapt a kit to MG's.
The only concern may be a space factor
but heres the link for u guys to see yourself

http://www.capa.com.au/landy_kits.htm

happy reading
PS
Roger your the "Ye wise man of MG V8's" what do you think of this kit...

Steve
Steve Berno

I think you'd have to run without a bonnet to keep it cool Steve!
robert pulleyblank

You might want to check out RPI Engineering's web pages from the UK. They specialize in Rover V-8s, and they don't recommend supercharging newer engines with the GEMS engine management system. Seems you don't get proper fuel distribution with a supercharger, some of the cylinders run lean and then grenade.

Cheers,
Paul Kile
Paul Kile

Paul in reference to the GEMS engine management system, its ok for my V8 because I run an Australian built Haltech engine management system which can be modified on the fly and has some options in the list such as traction control and electronic rev limiter

still the thought of a supercharger is nice though...

Steve
Steve Berno

Guys, I don't know a lot about it but the Holden Commodore fuel injected 3.8 litre V6 here in Australia comes with a supercharger option from the factory. Isn't this engine buick in origin and related to the rover???? Probably available as spare parts??
regards
mark
mark mathiesen

Mark, interesting idea. My everyday car is a supercharged Calais. This engine is also used in quite a few high performance GM cars over in the US.

It has occured to me that the supercharger, EFI/Engine Management system could be easily adapted if you put together the right manifold. After all the GM engine is 3.8 litre and many of us are running 3.9s in out MGBs. Possibly an easy way to get a reliable 300bhp.

Anyone have any more ideas?

Regards,

David
David

David
before I installed the V8 we mucked around with a standard commodore v6 and it was a hell of a job to get it to fit
not just the manifold either! we had problems with the distributor cap too
but if these motors are so plentiful here in Oz ,im sure someone must be thinking of putting one into a B!.
Id love a GT with 3.8 V6 ( AND SUPERCHARGED YEAH BABY)
sorry getting excited again!

Steve
steve berno

Why not just leave the poor little B alone and go bungee jumping instead? Cheaper too!
Angus

Still...
Angus

Angus
interesting idea that
thing is with bungee jumping you cant take your mates along for a scare hahahaa
Steve Berno

G'Day Steve,

While Angus goes bungy jumping ( I must admit, this time of year Angus is more likely to end up like a stalactite if he goes bungy jumping in Canada!!) we can keep talking about supercharged MGBs.

I was actually suggesting putting the induction system from the supercharged 3.8 V6 onto a 3.9 Rover. With a bit of adaptation of manifolding, this should be possible. As far as a 3.8 V6 into an MGB goes, the engine is cast iron (heavy) and I think that it is quite tall as well.

The supercharger and plenum chamber would add a bit of height, but nothing a bulge in the bonnet couldn't cover.

Regards

David
David

Ak ok David, interesting idea... Actually that may work but how hard would it to be to buy just the manifold and s'charger off the motor.Most wreckers would sell u the motor plus s'charger right?

Still it isnt a bad idea..may require some bonnet manipuilatiuon but then that would add interest and curiosity to onlookers...
PS
David werent u the one working on a 4 link coil over rear suspension for the MGB?
If ya are id like to know how ya going as im very interested to see how it all pans out as i wouldnt mind improving the rear end on my B

Cheers
Steve
steve berno

I have been looking at the idea of supercharging my V8 for a while, but the unit I was offered would not have fitted under the bonnet. It was a Sprintex direct displacement unit intended to be mounted on the side of the engine and work with a standard Federal fuel injection system.

This unit is large, about 20" long, 6" wide and 8" deep, but requires no oil feed from the engine. Runs approximatly twice engine speed.

My conclusion was that the only way to fit it was remote away from the engine. Meaning possible shaft drive as the calculations on electrically driving it proved impractical.

I'm keeping this one on the backburner, but am open to ideas on methods of remotely driving this type of unit.
Nick Smallwood

Nick & Steve,

Nick; The GM unit is what they call a roots type supercharger in it sits in the Vee of the engine. It probably is not much higher than many EFI plenum chambers. It would be a lot easier to mount than the Sprintex type.

Steve; You live in Adelaide, no mates in Elizabeth (the GM Plant) that could send one your way?

You are quite right Steve about the 4 link suspension. Events in my garage has been fairly non-existent recently with the birth of a daughter, home renovations and Christmas. I must get my priorities in order. I will keep you posted or feel free to e-mail me to get the latest update.

Regards

David
David

Anyone following this thread with a Rover V8 in mind
could do worse than to talk to Simon at Progress Engineering. He provides 350BHP 4.6s for armoured Range Rovers (amongst many other things).

Simon has a good grasp of the practical limits of the Buick engine and some experience of supercharging it.
This may not be very encouraging.

The Company's number is a good one for every V8 owner's
book (44) 1622 687070
Best wishes.


Roger

the supercharger is the same make which they fit on the ford 3/8 v6,cost $900.00 in aust.
I have a sd1 rover that I am going to supercharge
the input and output on the ford supercharger is a pipe so you can mount it anywhere.
I dont think it will fit in my mgb v8 through.not enough room.
mark

I see that the Land Rover kits follow the usual route of a unit located to the side of the engine and as has been said the space problem is the main one. It applies to Turbo kits to a slightly lesser extent althougb i know of at least 2 conversions that use a turbo V8. I also know of someone well down the road to fit an ex TVR supercharged V8 to an MGB, but not having spoken for a few months I don't know where the project is at.

The claimed power appears to be very realistic from other forced induction conversions of the V8 and without question this would make for a very strong performer. I see that the boost levels are realistic to run without an intercooler, or other form of intake charge cooling, which eases complication. Anything is possible but it is the end result and how it looks that is more of a question here rather than the usual can it be done.

It may be interesting to note that Lucas/Land Rover were developing a supercharged V8 but this was terminated several years ago. The supercharger was very compact and fitted in the V. It was surrounded by a new design of intake manifold that used a completely twinned system that had a plenum over both rocker covers. The prototypes were quite effective except that they did run into some reliabilty problems that saw the demise of the project and the simpler route of increasign the capacity used instead.

There was a period of further development of the twin intake manifold as this provided a significant power boost on it's own, something around 30 bhp on a 3.5, so I was told. There were never any production spec maniflds made, only development 'codge ups'. Even so the scope was there to look further but it died not too long after and all development bits were cut up. I have tried to get some design details but have failed, and that is with some pretty good contacts.

Rog
Roger Parker

Re: the V-6 supercharger. The Eaton supercharger which can on the late '80's Thunderbird Supercoupe was mounted atop a 3.8L V-6. The supercharger is fairly compact and could possible be fit to the side of the engine in a "B" and a tube run up to a pressure bonnet over the carb. I laid one of these units next to the left side of the Olds 215 in my "B" and was able to close the hood, almost. With some massaging of the fenderwell it might fit. Another thought - if an air meter or throttle body was mounted on the intake of the Eaton unit, which is on the back, and the supercharger plumbed into a FI manifold it should be low enough to close the bonnet. Food for thought! I see the Eaton superchargers at swap meets about four times a year at $150 - $200 each.
Kurt Schley

Well hello Kurt, imagine finding you here! Guess that MGB-V8 bulletin board project is a bust. Might as well use this one instead.

I've been working on a supercharger setup for some time now. Had an Olds factory turbo on it before that.('71 MGB) Got one of the new Eaton M90's about a year ago, which is a tad big for the 215, but with an intercooler and SFI it should be OK, and ought to be about right if I ever get the stroker motor finished.

This blower, a Roots type, has a bypass valve built in and has the inlet in the rear which gives a lower profile. I am convinced that if the injectors were angled upwards enough to be able to get the fuel rail on with the blower mounted, that it could be positioned low enough to shut the bonnet. Well, that is if you could get the belt drive to clear.

In my case it is a moot point, since I have a plenum between the manifold and the blower which elevates the blower above the fuel rail. Or I suppose I should say I will have it, since I haven't welded up the pieces yet. This is not a problem for me, as I have been running with a hood scoop ever since the original 4 barrel Buick V-8 went in, and my car could not be disguised as a stock machine anyway. Seeing over the hood has never been a problem.

The Eaton unit used on the Rover is an M60, the main difference being that it is shorter. I understand that Eaton has a "reasonable" rebuild/exchange program through their exclusive US distributor, Magnuson. Don't know about worldwide. This might make it sensible to pick up one of those swap meet units, although most people I've talked to recommend buying new, which does have the advantage that you can specify the drive length and pulley size.

I've been distracted from the project since last summer building an International Travelall, but now that it is close to completion I have started work on the MG again. I modified a JWR Offenhauser manifold to accept the plenum and the injectors, using the same location and angle as the Rover setup, but with the Ford system, because it can learn "on the fly". I'm also using a late Rover fuel rail. Haven't decided about the regulator yet, but expect it will be Ford as well.

The blower belt is going as close as possible to the water pump, and driving only the blower. That way a thrown belt will not immobilize me.

I think this system will work pretty well, but it will be summer before I'll know for sure. I'll try to get on occasionally and let everyone know how it is going. 300bhp should be easily within reach.
Jim Blackwood

This thread was discussed between 24/01/2000 and 10/02/2000

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