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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - V6/V8 swap info

G'day.
Dad has a rubber bumper B with a build number of 420xxx with the 1800. He's finally retired from work and gone travelling for the next year - so as a retirement gift and to say thanks for everything he's done for me, I'd love to butcher his B while he's away. He's been talking about a V6/V8 for years and has done nothing about it! The car is far from original and I'm thinking of an engine swap. Problem is, after reading many websites of potential swaps I'm more confused as to what is the simplest and most cost effective option.
The 3.5V8 seems ok, but Bill's V6 kit looks good too. The car is RHD so I'm not sure even if Bill's V6 kit will work.
Without starting a flame war here, can someone please point me in the right direction where to start and what are the major obstacles that I will encounter. Eg: should I source a Rover SD1; should I get an old complete Range Rover; should I buy Bill's kit and get an engine/tranny etc from the importers???..(that's an easy one for you Bill!).
Any help would be wonderful. I just want to put a big smile on my old man's face when he gets home.
Cheers,
Matt.
Matt

Hi Matt, Before you do anything, I suggest you talk to the local registration authorities. I not sure about Tassie, but here in NSW the RTA frowns very sternly on an engine capacity increase greater than 15% which basically rules out anything for roadsters. If you have a GT you may be able to use the factory MGBGTV8 as basis for saying that the V8 was an "option" and therefore your conversion is within the "spirit of the regulations". Regards Tony
Tony Todd

It sounds like you guys are way OVER regulated down under!! Hope u can find a solution . " SPIRIT" --lol sounds like the authorities need a little spirits.
Gil Price

Gil,

you are lucky to live in a country where most modifications on this kind of cars seems to be allowed. In most parts of the 'western world' these mods are not allowed and it is difficult and expensive to legalize such kinds of upgrades. When i did my GTV8 conversion in the early 1980's here in Germany it was much easier to bult this car (although there was extremely limited parts supply in these days)than to get a legal registration.

Matt,

if it is a roadster, i would not do a V8 conversion as a well built 1950 ccm B with stage tuning is a more
more desireble car for the driver. I tested it out and would allways vote for a modified B-series engine in a roadster again or fit a Supercharger. With a GT you can copy a works V8 and will end up with a comfortabel cruiser but it takes off the caracter of the car completely.
When i compare both my B's, the GTV8 is nice for travelling around, the Stage 6 (Special Tuning) roadster is a perfect and amazing toy instead.
Going fast on the Autobahn (we do not have speed limits in here), the roadster feels safer at 200KpH than the V8 and is easier to handle on twisted roads too.

Ralph
Ralph

Ralph
No doubt you are right--just cant stand government intervention into everything by idiots sitting behind a desk with no idea of what they are doing!Im 67 so hopefully I can enjoy my car a few more years before they take it away from me --LOL.
I have a 5.0L Ford V8 in my B roadster it handles better than my stock B and is way more fun to drive. BTW do you have a spoiler on your V8 , that sure helps to stabilize the front end.
Thanking my lucky stars !!!
all the best
Gil
Gil Price

Hi Matt I'd like to suggest that you get in contact with Jim or Gavin Brown at MG Workshops in Launceston in Tasmania. There are quite a few V8 B's in Tassy and having been involved in converting a few of them myself I strongly recomend them both for their advice om the job and the excellent knowledge and supply of parts required
I've never had a problem getting rego on a converted B in Tas. just do a good job of the conversion and it will go through without a hitch BUT before you start go to Transport Tas. and get form(10)for engine conversions and fill it in and get approval first(they don't like it much if you havn't asked them first)
Goodluck V8 Gary
Gary

Hello Matt,
You should be OK registering a MGBV8. I had no real trouble at all in Victoria, and I believe that reg's are a bit tougher here. Because I was using a 4 litre Rover motor I had to upgrade the brakes to RV8 standard. I got a volvo 240 ventilated disk kit from MG workshops in Melbourne. You might not need to change the brakes, ask your engineer. MG workshops will do the whole "turn key " conversion for you if you like, ($$ though).
Contact the road authority and ask for their list of engineers. You will need a certificate. These cost around $500. Do preliminary consult, and it will be a breeze.
The MGB V8 was a factory built car.In fact twice! There was the MGBV8 GT in the mid '70's and the rover RV8 in the early 90's. The Latter was an appox' 2000 car production stunt by Rover to relaunch the the MGB name. This is what makes it extremely easy to get an engineers certificate. Almost a "rubber stamp" job.
If you stray from Rover or range rover V8, you are into "special case" territory, and it might get expensive. Personally I would like to fit a LEXUS motor, but the legalities would kill it.
In Australia we are very fortunate to have Dellow automotive in Sydney.
http://www.dellowauto.com.au/
He makes toyota supra W58 21 inch adapter bell housings. The small toyota gear box fits into the MGB transmission tunnel. It is also very light weight and very strong (500 plus BHP).
We are also fortunate to have Adrian Ackhurst at AA Automotive in Adelaide making the best exhaust extractors in the world. True triY scavenger set up, unlike the much less effective RV8 "shorty" set up (which cost more than Adrians).

The 3.9 or 4 liter motor is much stronger than the 3,5's by the way. The 3.5's often had a problem with cracking where the crank case bolts attached. The 3.9's, 4's or 4.6's did not.
search " the MG expedience" and Jacobs "MGB V8 news letter" http://www.britishv8.org/

By the way, check it with DAD first. I had a nightmare the other day/night where well meaning relatives had got those "over hauling" TV people to paint flames all over my MGB, brrrr.

Peter

Hello Matt,

My two cents advice on that matter: is to know what your friend will prefer as a swap. Here in Canada I have seen different swap that yields to a fun car to drive. A popular one is a GM V6 2.8L EFI with 5 sp. This does not require many modifications of frame and suspension. Also the Ford 5.0L v8 is very popular but it needs, of course, a lot of improvement of the car a many levels. Another consideration is the use of the car. If it is a daily driver and if the gas price is prohibitive in your area, it is a vote in favor of V6.

it is always difficult to decide for someone else...
Cheers,

JGC
Jean Guy Catford

Matt (and Gary), many years ago I had the good fortune to visit Tasmania. I was there for only about two and a half weeks, but it was one of the most memorable places I've visited. Beautiful place, nice people - except maybe the waitress who told me in NO uncertain terms that it's not "Fill-LAY of sole" it's "FILL-let of Sole." ;)

This is probably bad form, and my apologies to the webmasters here, but the MG Experience has a very active V8/V6 forum (http://www.mgexperience.net/phorum/list.php?40). Some of the same players as here, some different.... Might be worth asking over there, too.



Rick Stevens

The V6 is a very smart decision. Plenty of power, torque, light and at the end it is a very balance package. The V6 is a 60 degree which makes the fit an easy task on the MGB. A new 3.4 liter V6 can be purchase from your local GM dealership for about $1800 to $2200 US and it comes with a warrnaty. This is the engine we use.
Same engine comes in a 2.8, 3.1 and 3.4 liter same physical dimensions.
See www.classicconversionseng.com
Bill Guzman

This thread was discussed between 17/02/2008 and 02/03/2008

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