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MG MGB Technical - Engine Upgrade

Hi, Has anyone completed a, 'simple' in terms of bodywork changes, engine and gearbox swap for a more modern type. Would love to fit a Mazda MX5 as per MGB LE50 but it looks like a lot of work. Would be interested to hear what has been fitted with success. Would just like an injected more drivable engine with more power. Thanks Andrew
Andrew Walton

buy a MX5 or an LE50 (if you have money to burn)!
Everything else will be a lot of work.
That's not to say I don't think it should be done. I quite like the idea of a modern motor for a daily driver.

MGmike
M McAndrew

Andrew - ask on the engine conversions board
R Walker

Thanks have done - didn't notice it !
Andrew Walton

Andrew-
If you have a Rubber Bumper MGB, then a conversion to a Rover V8 is relatively simple in terms of bodywork. It's been done thousands of times before, so there's no steep learning curve with long hours of trying different ideas on how to make it work. Lottsa power! We're currently putting a 4.0 liter Rover V8 into a 1980 MGB, and it's been a pretty straightforward conversion so far.
Stephen Strange

Andrew, I agree with Stephen, V8 is the way to go. A V8 MGB is a wonderful car to drive and it sounds fantastic. It can be a blistering quick sports car (for an MG) or an effortless long distance cruiser, all is the same car. The Rover V8 is light, quite tunable and as Stephen says, it's been done thousands of times before so there's plenty of experience. I've got a factory GT V8 and a V8 roadster conversion, they are both wonderful MGBs although quite different.

I can recommend he book by Roger Williams, How to give your MGB v8 power or to have a chat with Dave Vale at The V8 Conversion Centre in Kent.

Cheers, David
David JM

Lots of V6 conversions over here, but mostly American iron (GM). There are an awful lot of sweet small V6 I've been looking at lately, but I haven't done or seen one in an MG, so I'm useless.

FRM
FR Millmore

Andrew-
I should have mentioned that the engine block and cylinder heads of the Rover V8 are aluminum, and so it weighs about the same as the the OE BMC B Series engine of the MGB with its cast iron engine block and cylinder head. Consequently, the handling remains the same and you don't have to mess around experimenting with different coil springs and damper rates. Also, there's plenty of free hands-on advice available on line from those who have actually performed the conversion themselves. Click on this: http://www.britishv8.org
Stephen Strange

Thanks for all the input. The MGB Engine Conversions board is a graveyard !!! I'll follow up the V8 option. Cheers, Andrew
Andrew Walton

sorry to highjack the thread slightly but ive just read the input from stephen strange which says that a rubber bumper B its a relativly easy conversion to a V8, does that mean that there would be a big problem if i wanted to convert my 67 GT, Cheers, Vin.
Vin Rafter

Hi Andrew, I'm in sth Bucks, so not too far away, feel free to contact me through my e-mail and exchange phone numbers if you want to chat.

Vin, same goes for you, feel free to contact me off line. My V8 roadster is a '68, a little more work than a rubber bumper, but not too difficult. Don't forget, most of the Costello cars were done before the rubber bumper was around.

Cheers, David
David JM

The older the car the more work involved in installing a v8 engine. The firewall must be cut away for the heads to clear and the exhaust requires a hole in the inner fenders. RAY
rjm RAY

Vin-
Big problem? Yep. Your 1967 MGB is a MKI model that uses the 3-synchro transmission. You'd need to convert to a four-synchro or another transmission and change the transmission tunnel to the larger one used on a MKII model, plus use the steering column and steering rack from a Rubber bumper model and modify the crossmember to suit, do firewall (bulkhead) and inner fender modifications, as well as changing the motor mounts and relocating the radiator to the forward position of the later rubber bumper models. You'll definitely need technical knowledge and considerable skills, plus access to all of the right shop equipment. You'd obviously be better off getting a later Rubber Bumper model (All VIN numbers from 410001 on) and working from there.
Stephen Strange

A V8 - I have a rubber bumper 77 model B roadster - where does one buy a V8 3.5 engine...very tempting!!

/Moss
Moss

See http://www.mgexperience.net/phorum/list.php?40 for extensive discussions of various engine swaps.

My Jamaican-MGA uses a 3.4 V6 Camaro engine, for example.
Bill Spohn

This thread was discussed between 06/09/2012 and 12/09/2012

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