Need info on MG engine conversions
 

A friend of mine has a 69 MG.....wants to do an engine conversion for more than a few reasons.....mainly cost, power and upgrades and cost......

Does anyone have first knowledge of what has been done, what is to avoid, etc.....he has in mis mind of dropping a low mileage Miata motor inside.

I have done many engine swaps, including V8s in 914s, sixers in 356, gas to electric etc....I have used Kennedy conversion flywheels, have owned Autin Healy's form the 70s....

REAL advice, please.

If going Mazda, I'd go Mazda rotary!

Have you looked at this site?
Steering column 1968-69 : MG Engine Swaps Forum : The MG Experience Archive

When I was a kid this young guy in my neighborhood put a small block Chevy in his TC.

D'uh :rolleyes:

I had a clean, pre-rubber bumper MGB-GT that I'd love to still have with an upgraded motor that wouldn't destroy the weight distribution and turn it into a tractor (see the travesty MGC).

Yes, indeedy! :D

Thanks, any body kits? He doesn't like the rear end.....

Geeze, guy's got Google? :confused:
Lots a stuff out there.

Dari....looking for personal suggestions. Rebuilt Porsche engines brings up Motor Meister.....just sayin'.....

Would a small Rover V8 fit in it? Alloy block and nice and light.

I saw a MG with a small block Chevy once. It looked stock but it was a crazy fast sleeper.

In a straight line. Serious suspension work needed if you go to a v8 or even a 6. That's why I like the rotary.

MG actually offered this exact combo in the MGB GT V8. Apparently, with its aluminum block and heads, the motor weighed 40lbs less than the cast iron four.
MG MGB - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As far as body kits go, he's got a chrome bumper MG! Why would he want to f*ck with that?

The rover V8 is the old Buick 215, used in 60's Skylarks. They're readily available, and as Jim pointed out, 40 lbs less than the British Leyland boat anchor. Performance parts are easy to find, and a good place to start is here...
D&D Fabrications: V8 Technical Data

My brother had a MGBGT with the rover V8 from the factory. I remember hearing that the aluminum V8 is lighter than the iron 4 cylinder . Not sure what thay had to do to fit the V8. Sure did sound nice, and go well .

Sorry posted WO reading the above.

Buick Grand National sounds like a fun choice..
I Dated a girl once who was made a widow by a Chevy powered MG Midget, literally.:(

Coolest conversion is to the v8 as mentioned. Most common seems to be a GM v6.

I've had my B since highschool, would love to find a close to rust free body. Talk him into sticking with a Miata? :)

Look up 'MG Costello Conversion'. My father had one many, many moons ago.

Late to the party here. I used to have a 67. The Rover / Olds / Buick 215 is the way to go if you want to stay close to what was available originally.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rover_V8_engine

I think the power is probably reasonable, compared to hotter engines.

The s2000 drivetrain sounds fun too. I have a buddy who has it in a 1970 Celica and it really screams in a light car.

G

I have also seen a conversion with a Toyota 16AGE (Corolla GT) and 5 speed transmission. It needed a bigger radiator, and the owner started thinking about originality, so it was converted back when the right MGB motor was found.

Best
Les

Pick up a japanese clip (cold and wet) from 240SX turbo 205 HP stock (SR20DET) or a little more depending on year - up your boost and you get more very easily. Set you back about $3,500 to $4,000 depending on the miles. Inline turbo four will come with everything - radiator, shroud, a/c, p/s, engine, transmission, computer, full wiring harness, even steering for right hand drive which is pretty cool if the MG is right hand. Alot of the sellers send you the rear end and the drive shaft as well (IRS).

You could build a really neat little MG like that.

On the other hand, an aluminum LS is only about 50 pounds heavier than that engine but with adapters, transmission, etc., you will probably be into this for more money than the SR20DET swap.

I'm also a rotary fan. You have big cooling needs with a rotary (don't even try to use the stock MG radiator) and it will need an oil cooler but the mazda cooler rocks the house. An RX-7 donor car would make a sweet MG swap.

**warning - i've put a SBC in a jaguar, a 13B rotary in a Fiat x1/9, and a 911 six in a 550 spyder so I'm clearly prone to doing stupid things**

angelahttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/wat3.gif

i quite like this SR20DET conversion

Kyle Bingham's 1970 MGB-GT with Nissan SR20DET Engine

http://www.britishv8.org/MG/KyleBing...-SR20DET-A.jpg

I like the way this one turned out:

Brian Kraus's 1976 MG Midget with 1986 Mazda 13B rotary engine

zero to sixty in 4.2 secs...:eek:

I think the 4.0 rover motor is a good choice. Gotta be a lot of them out there. Seems to be best way to go keeping it all 'English'. BTW the 4 cylinder motor IS from a tractor originally. It was designed as an industrial power plant which is why it's soo heavy AND makes no power. It think it has a total of 3 main bearings.

I've seen several apart and look like the R&D was from a Ford model T engine.

Isn't the Miata engine and iron block motor itself? I think the Rover swap is probably supported more readily in the aftermarket.

I love my Miata... but... the motor... not so much.

Ask the Miata guys and they will tell you not a lot of extra HP in the N/A engine to be found (reminds me of the 2.5 N/A in my old 944) the only way to get significant HP increase is to go forced induction (ack, back to the 944!) and of course you have to beef everything up to deal with the added HP.

So if you are going Miata N/A best be happy with the stock 130 HP (or look into a Mazdaspeed turbo).

And don't get me started on the PITA it is to replace the heater hoses!

To repeat myself, I love my Miata but if you are looking for big HP I would look elsewhere.... for me it is a blessing and a curse... detours me from spending big $$$ on engine upgrades ;)

There was/is a local guy with a MG that is highly modified, if I bump into him I'll ask what he has under the hood.

Turn up at a classic car race, and wander around the pits talking to the guys. There will be plenty of cars that fit your wish list of things, and the thinking has already been done. These guys will be pleased to share their wisdom ;)