MG-Cars.info

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

Recommendations

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 Technical - MGB V6 Automatic:anyone have ideas?

I would like to know the best arrangement and configuration for a V6 automatic MGB or MGC to build for my daughter.

Any of you out there built one? If so please lend your experience to me on the best of all possible configurations....Purists I appologize, to advisors I will be grateful

Kind Regards,
Tony Giordano

PS: Attached are my cars at Bridgehampton Car show this year on Long Island: L-R: Original UM Downton MGC GT, 1962 Works Modified Austin Healey Sprite by Donald Healey with 1961 11 bolt Lemans Race Engine, and #75 Long Island Dealer race car 1961 A/H Sprite with Sebring brakes from the factory.

Thank You all in advance and to you hecklers too!!

Tony Giordano

Vauxhall in the UK did a nice V6 called the Omega, sure the block would have been used by GM in the States.
Ken Harris

Maybe this link will assist.

http://www.mgexperience.net/phorum/list.php?40

Herb
Herb Adler

<<Vauxhall in the UK did a nice V6 called the Omega>>

Indeed they did, Ken. I had a nice 2.5 auto...complete with 'works' reg no. - soon to be on my 'B'.

Dave O'Neill2

Heckler? Not me. Where you live I imagine this would be a very sensible and rewarding driving combination. The plus is another MGB/C body lives on.

Will look forward to seeing a pic of the finished project. Good luck with it all.

Regards
Roger
R Taylor

Try this site http://forum.britishv8.org/ Bill Guzman in CA sells kits for fitting GM v6s into MGBs. Barrie E
B Egerton

Tony

Here is the people you want to talk to http://www.bmcautos.com/ They specialize in v6 MGB conversions.

I have seen a few of the cars they have done and they are very nice.
Bruce Cunha

Tony, the late RBB is the easiest conversion but the CBB just needs a few hammer taps for clearance, so your choice.

It would be a shame to convert an MGC, but there are lots of MGBs available. Hang out on the MG Experience engine swap forum where several vendors of conversion kits post and all will be answered.

The automatic is the only unusual thing (teach her to drive standard!) but certainly doable.

The cast iron head GM V6 (2.8, 3.1, 3.4) is the best choice if she isn't too concerned about outright power, or the later alloy head version of the same engines if you are (3100, 3400, 3500, 3900)
Bill Spohn

Bill,

Are those the engines that were often found in the Camero/Firebird? If so, that is what I was thinking would be a logical choice for Tony since they are rear wheel drive, and there should be plenty of them around.

I'm think in the early series you cite are 60 degree engines. Is that also true of the later type you cite?

Charley
C R Huff

Yes, the 3.4 is a 60 deg. engine of the same class - the 2.8 was shorter stroke. The 3.1 and 3.4 share the same longer stroke crank and the 3.4 was recast to allow larger bores and represents the most displacement and power (160 BHP in the Camaro/Firebird).

The only thing out of the ordinary would be the automatic gearbox mount and I just don't know what fabrication might be required there, but I know Tony is no stranger to minor (and major) fabrication, so sticking an auto 3.4 into a late MGB should be a snap.

Probably buy one of the kits for it and use everything (including headers) except the manual trans mount.

This is a 3.4 Camaro engine in my 1956 MGA (albeit with Fiberfab Jamaican body). Needless to say the upper plenum didn't say 'MG' on it when I started.

Bill Spohn

Thanks Bill. So the 3100, 3400, 3500, 3900 engines are also 60 degree? Do you know if the 3800 as used in some Buicks is 60 or 90 degree? I had one of those Buicks really surprise me with its fuel economy.

Charley
C R Huff

Tony,

As mentioned GM V6 60 deg. is the common choice and if you do not want to go EFI a carburated one is still available. Many swaps were done in my area in past.
There is also another V6 60 deg. which is great, Ford 2.9 from Ranger.
I would avoid 90 deg. engines as fitting them is always more puzzling

Cheers,

Jean G.
Jean Guy Catford

The 3.8 is a 90 deg. engine so just as much work to swap as the Chev V8 it was derived from. The 60 deg. V6 gives more room around it and is a very easy install.

Suggest that you connect with the people that offer the various kits for thst specific swap.

And yes, the 3.4 came in Camaros and Firebirds from 1993-1995 after which the V6 option was the heavier wider 3.8.
Bill Spohn

Well yes, but the 3.8 idles dead steady and accelerates smooth as silk; headers are fairly easy out the fender wing; and out of box stock power on the 2001 3.8 V6 is 215 hoofers. Now if you adapt an Eaton sc, it gets thrilling. Cheers, Vem
vem myers

This thread was discussed between 28/02/2013 and 05/04/2013

MG MGB Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGB Technical BBS now