Future car project

[HopefullySoon]

Hi

I'm the thinking of what car I would like to do as a project in the future and an mg b seems to fit the bill , but would like to make it a Sebring tribute (the car will want lots of welding but that's gotta be good here lol ) and if I'm welding hell out of a project anyway it I may as well do a bit more and get the car I want .

The real mg Sebrings I've looked at comes with a V8 cyl engine from the factory .... But as I dont have the cash for the real McCoy ..... I was wondering what v6/v8 engines fit with minimal grief I know that with enough cash time and skill you can make some things fit some where (no way I can afford a 8k for a genuine one as a starting point of a project) , but wondered what other options were about engine wise .

Regards

Malc

 

[W.olly]

Why not the usual RV8 as they are cheap, not sure the LT77 G box is easy to come by though nowadays, unless you mooch through RSD1 forums for one.. or V6 ford Colonge type, good engine but heavey, go the 24v way and lots of power, not the BOB engine though as a ball ache i believe to fit with the gubbins that go with them.

 

[HopefullySoon]

Hi wolly

Love your boat thread , my brother lives near stopes tavern

I did wonder if it was possible to shoehorn a SD1 engine /box in ....... That's kinda why I asked to see what's a goer and what's not .

Regards

Malc

 

[piman]

Hello Malc,

MG never used a V8 in the MGB, they were all four cylinders, they did a straight six in the MGC but I don't remember which model they raced at Sebring.

It's your car but you'll destroy the value putting a wrong engine in it, i.e. one M.G. never used.

Alec

 

[rcx132]

Hey, I don't know what engine would fit without grief, but in terms of selecting a V8 for my project, I saw it like this:

Rover V8 - viable but dated. I would only use this if I wanted something quick (i.e. no ECU)
Jag and BMW V8 - I don't know how good they are but there doesn't seem to be much support out there for them. You'll be on your own trying to get them wired up.
American V8 - Availability? Costly in the UK?

So by process of elimination that leaves one engine:

Toyota UZ (aka "The Lexus V8"). Tons of support out there for it, light weight, compact, simple, cheap as chips. I got mine for £200 with gearbox and ECU and low mileage and guarantee. They were originally designed as race engines. Front, mid and rear sumps available. The ECU is easy to wire up. Only grief is mating it to a gearbox, the kits are expensive, but there are CAD adaptors online, and you can get it made abroad for very cheap. I decided to keep to the stock auto box as mines an off roader so auto works well.

 

[rcx132]

Hello Malc,

MG never used a V8 in the MGB, they were all four cylinders, they did a straight six in the MGC but I don't remember which model they raced at Sebring.

It's your car but you'll destroy the value putting a wrong engine in it, i.e. one M.G. never used.

Alec

Thats a point. Too powerful an engine in too small a car ..

 

[fixerupper]

I think some of the MGB's in the mid 70's had Rover V8's ...

 

[bricol]

Costello . . .

 

[Fazerruss]

Hello Malc,

MG never used a V8 in the MGB, they were all four cylinders, they did a straight six in the MGC but I don't remember which model they raced at Sebring.

It's your car but you'll destroy the value putting a wrong engine in it, i.e. one M.G. never used.

Alec

Did they not produce the MGB GT V8 in 1973 to 1976?

 

[8ob]

I like the Sebring replica`s, its one of the few classic cars that can be modified like this and be worth more money than a standard car. I have seen Sebring V8`s fetch north of 12k, thats not bad when you think the same kind of conversion on other cars would render them worthless. I would look out for a tax exempt MGBGT and go from there, V8 rover makes all the right noises and in a small car like that will get a move on. The other upside is its a well documented conversion and it wont be any hassle getting insurance on it.

Bob

 

[rtbcomp]

...

MG never used a V8 in the MGB,...

They did, a friend of mine had one, and it was a death trap.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MG_MGB#MGB_GT_V8

 

[ajlelectronics]

One of the conversions on Scimitars is the Omega 2.5 or 3 litre. Had no experience personally, but told it is easy enough.

 

[rtcosic]

Easiest conversion is to replace B series with turbo T Series from Rover 220/420/820 turbo.

180 or 200 bhp as standard and with a more modern turbo replacement up to around 240 bhp reliably without internal mods and on the original MEMS ECU.

T series block is derived from B series so engine mounts and bell housing etc identical. Bolts directly in same hole as B series and mount to original gearbox (not recommended). Mate to an LT77 box.

Lighter cheaper and more powerful than most old Rover V8s.

More than powerful enough to be scary in an MGB platform!

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Mate ripped the exhaust off my SD1 V8 on a speed hump so I put the engine & autobox into my MGB GT ! Manifold clearance is a problem but solveable. I used genuine MGB GT V8 exhaust manifolds but they are now rare. Standard carbs stick through bonnet so it's either fit a Holley or source a MGB V8 inlet that puts carbs to rear of engine. Mine was a very late GT so already had V8 body as standard. If you use an earlier model then some underbonnet modifications are required but plenty of people have already done the transplant so not difficult. There are several books that detail what is requried for a V8 conversion such as "How to give your MGB V8 power" by Roger Williams.

 

[piman]

Hello all,

I'd forgotten the later model V8, (Ken Costello did it first)
But by then the M.G. competition department was long gone so I'm almost certain no official V8 MGs raced at Sebring.

Alec

 

[Burdekin]

Volvo T5.

 

[Shox Dr]

Volvo T5.

I wouldnt go near one. If* the hot side of the turbo is cracked, it a new turbo at 1400quid, as Garret dont supply parts. Been there got the badge

*I say if, I rang a place that had 7 full cars to break, he also was running round in one, everyone was cracked even the one he was using

 

[Burdekin]

Never heard that before but considering I'd be swapping the turbo anyhow probably not an issue. Strong engine and 300hp is easy to achieve.

 

[bigegg]

+1 for the lexus v8.

 

[Shox Dr]

Never heard that before but considering I'd be swapping the turbo anyhow probably not an issue. Strong engine and 300hp is easy to achieve.

I guess it depends on tbe variant. I stupidly bought an expolice s60 T5r, went like a scalded cat...not for long. Rurned out the turbos were eggs, the hot side cracking. I sent one to AET in Normanton to get refurbished, even they couldnt get the parts. New turbo well over £1k, for a 2k car 6yrs old