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 MGF Technical - New Radiator Position

Over the next 6 months or so, I will be embarking on installing a rotrex supercharger on my F.

As the car is 11 years old, it needs a new lease of life!

I have decided to improve the handling and also improve the access to install a intercooler, I will cut out the front of the bonnent bay (where the spare wheel goes, who needs one!), and mount the new raditator at an angle like the MGF extreme.

I will at the same time open up the bonnent with some airvents.

This will give me more than ample space to install the intercooler. A customer built ally rad will fit in the gap.

I will be installing a lamnovia cooler at the same time,so there will be no oil cooler up front.

My question is, is the sheet where the wheel bolts to structral? If so I will need to weld some square rhs in a rectangle to reinforce it.

If not I would just weld a brace at the top and bottom.

Has anyone actually trued to this? Or would this be overkill?

Chris Glen

Chris - been thinking about this for years, and have been trying to persuade Roy that this would be a 'very good idea' too - for all the reasons mentioned here: http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/group2/aerodynamics/200HPD_aeropack.htm

I don't believe that the spare wheel panel is structural as such, but it must lend some stiffness to the front structure of the car - so IMO it would be sensible to strengthen the panel as you put a big hole in it.

BTW Techspeed are interested in doing a bonnet with a top vent, so long as they have 10 firm orders. I reckon that this ought to be very easy to achieve - if you're interested let me know and I'll start chasing this project again :o)
Rob Bell

I'm not certain, but wouldn't an intercooler rad that far away lead to terrible turbo lag?
Will Munns

How does your insurance company feel about it?
Sam Murray

Going through A-Plan and Andy Marsh, it seems that supercharging won't make a big difference in premium, Sam. I asked. I too have a rotrex supercharger sitting in the garage, along with a ported VVC head and a 'spare' engine block... ;o)

Will, why would remote fitment of an intercooler make any difference to turbo lag? Not that this is going to be too much of a problem for Chris anyway, as he is supercharging. That said, getting cool fluid back to the induction tract to cool the intake charge is what it is all about. A long distance to a front mounted rad is just going to mean more time for hot coolant to dump more heat before being recirculated back to the heat-exchange matrix in the induction tract. Assuming a decent water pump and an efficient radiator, this is a win-win situation.

Mind you, remote fitment of the turbo charger itself would be a bad idea - lag central.
Rob Bell

Aliparts can knock up all sorts of type of Ally Rad, so I was going to go for a nice chunky rad.

As Rob says, there should be no lag as a supercharger compresses the air at the intake and not the exhaust.

I think it would be the most sensible way to put a bracket in. Its just my welding skills are pants!

The installation is basically the same as on the elise, another set of coolant pipes will be good enough for under the car, along with some silicone hoses.

As for the bonnent, I have managed to get hold of an airdam from an evo, which im dying to put in with an angle griner!, but thanks for the idea from techspeed (unless how many offers do u reckon you might get rob as a small slit at the front might be quite nice!)

I'm with A-plan at the moment.

I like a-plan, as my car is already quite modified i think they only charge me about £20 more than normal.

I recently had my car setup at emearld, 166bhp and 138 torque. Im quite happy with that, but i need more low-mid torque which the rotrex will give me.

I was going to write something up for fast forward, but i didn't think anyone would be interested...




Chris Glen

I thought that the intercooler was an air/air interface, but looking it up now I see you can get air/water/air intercoolers
Will Munns

I,d be very interested in an article in ff mag.
Would make good reading imho.
Sounds cool......:0))
Mel
m e johnson

Hans Pederson who has for years been exporting his own kit for XPAG engines, A's, B's plus A series engines is close to launching a kit for the F. He uses an Opcon Autorotor Twin Screw Supercharger. The web site is www.hi-flow.com. Like Mel I would love to read more in the ff mag.
Andrew W Regens

Trust me Chris - there would be plenty of interest in this project in FTF! :o)

My rotrex supercharger is actually part of a genuine Turbotechnics kit from an F - so I am rather lucky to have practically all the pipe work and bracketry I require. What I don't have yet is an Emerald and a set of suitable cams for my cylinder head. Oh, and I need to get the block machined for a set of up-rated liners :o)

The job list is frighteningly long. Maybe I might be able to start on this little project this summer...
Rob Bell

Wow!

You have a bracket!!

I dont suppose you could send me a picture / dimensions of the mounting bracket.

That would take a lovely headache away from me!

My email is chrisjglen@tiscali.co.uk

Thanx
Chris Glen

Chris,
Top venting the radiator will potentially give you a reduction in aerodynamic lift at the front, which is good for motorway stability. However, you might want to consider a rear spoiler to improve the balance front to rear. I can vouch for the effect on my sprint car - see a picture at www.vehiclehandlingsolutions.com/page4.htm
Now if only I could afford a power upgrade.....
A Kitson

Andy - thinking of producing a few more boot lid spoilers? :o)
Rob Bell

Hi andy,

I currently have a standard rear spoiler if that helps?

Do you have a larger image of the TF bonnent vent?
Chris Glen

>>
You have a bracket!!

I dont suppose you could send me a picture / dimensions of the mounting bracket.
<<

Which bracket do you need info on Chris? I'll see what I can do to oblige! :o)
Rob Bell

Im really looking for the bracket which holds the supercharger to the engine block.

It will give me a starting point, when I go to fabricate it.

Thanks

Chris Glen

Yup, that's the tricky one all right! I've trial assembled my rotrex to my 'spare' engine block to figure out how it attaches - so I'll picture this when I get a chance, and post the image here for you Chris :o)
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 11/12/2007 and 17/12/2007

MG MGF Technical index

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