MGB Jaguar IRS in an MGB

[Jim_Nichols]

No secret, British V8 site Roadmaster sticky,Evan Amaya Jag IRS, Daze Mustang Jag IRS parts I,II,III,and IV. I've also seen the one Tony mentioned from the guy in England.Also Pete Mantell just put one in a MGB with LS Chevy V8.

 

[rick_ingram]

I don't intend to use flares...I was planning on cutting the thing down, as I've seen a couple MGBs with stock track widths running narrowed Jaguar IRSs. But no-one seems to be willing to share the secret!

Contact Jim Blackwood and take a look at the Roadmaster sticky on British V8.

Attached is a photo of the diff we installed into the Roadmaster project. Jim is to the left; Pete Mantell is to the right. Pete's hand is near the mounting bar used on this bolt-in unit for the MGB.

 

[equiprx]

I'm building a replica XK 120 OTS with all 1994 XJS six cyl and running gear. I don't know if any of it will fit. One issue is wheel track. Inside the replica rear wheels is 64" and it will have spats (wheel covers). I'm expecting to have special steel wheels made with a large offset to narrow the wheel track. I'm just curious if that will be enough or if I'll have to cut and weld the suspension.

 

[Jim_Nichols]

There are 2 pictures of the Roadmaster type Jag IRS in my Gallery.

 

[bill_young]

One problem we ran into on the Roadmaster project was in using a rear from a later model Jag instead of the earlier E type or other sedans of that era. The later cars used larger diameter wheels and the outer hub carriers won't clear 15" wheels unless you have quite a bit of offset and that means fender flares for sure. If you're trying to tuck everything inside the stock body lines then it's either an early style unit or something like the custom units built by Hoyle as Larry Shimp did https://www.britishv8.org/MG/LarryShimp.htm or the unit built by Todd Budde that he used in his car. https://www.britishv8.org/MG/ToddBudde.htm
About the only way to get a late Jag to fit without flairs would be to actually notch the rear frame rails in order to get the hub carriers inboard a few inches more. That's a lot of work for sure.
I've seen Jim's work on the Roadmaster project and it's very good. Don't go by the visual look of his welds on his car as shown in the newsletter, those were mostly done with gas or a stick welder, he's now working with TIG and MIG and has much better looking results. His engineering though is top rate IMHO. Well thought out and designed parts that are quite strong enough to do the job.

 

[Camshaft]

Okay. So I'd have to go with something older than a '92 to make it work, eh? How old are we talking?

 

[tony barnhill]

Bill - I don't think either of those guys used Jaguar rear ends.

 

[Jim_Nichols]

Tony, Thats right. The Hoyle used Ford Sierra (Merkur in US),Volvo IRS is similar,also Dana 30. Todd's IRS used Nissan R200 diff. I know what Bill meant about the newer Jags needing bigger and more offset wheels than the older XKE. I have a friend that has a Jag IRS in a T bucket with Buick V6. The large bell can be cut back to the notch on the bottom. When I was behind him I could see all 4 U joints spinning.He has 15" wheels. I think as long as it has the inboard brakes you can trim the bells and make it work without flares. You still want to shorten the lower arms and axle tubes. I think Jim shortened one side slightly more to center the pinion in the tunnel.The newer one with outboard brakes is a different animal all together. You should check out the websites we mentioned for more info.

 

[Camshaft]

Thank you. I did notice how the axle was trimmed differently on each side, clever. What about swapping the knuckles out for the earlier type for clearance?

 

[Jim_Nichols]

I think 64-74 XKE and 65-83 XJ6 all use the same knuckle(bell). If you look close there is a notch on the bottom inside.Just trim up straight from there.

 

[Camshaft]

Perfect! I picked the IRS up today. I'll get pictures tomorrow, hopefully.

 

[Jim_Nichols]

2 more pictures on shortening axles and control arms.

 

[bill_young]

Tony, I know they didn't, as I said, those were alternatives if you weren't using an early Jag IRS and wanted to keep the tires inside the stock MGB sheet metal. The clearance issues we found were where the lower control arm bolted on, the width of that portion was the real source of interference with the wheel. If you could narrow that a bit you could probably fit a 15" wheel to the carrier.

 

[Camshaft]

Jim, Tony, Bill, everyone...thank you so much for all of your help and input. It'll be a slow process, but ultimately, a rewarding one.

 

[tony barnhill]

You're venturing into a new area.....lots of photos, lots of detail.

 

[Jim_Nichols]

Camshaft, What year is your IRS? Any pictures?

 

[Camshaft]

It's from a 1992 XJS, Jim. No pictures yet.

 

[tony barnhill]

That's not from an XJ6...its from an XJ40....believe there's some differences in them.

I know the hot rodders want the earlier ones ending in '87.