Sorry, but I have to highly disagree with Bill, while the later model 1800 18V MGB engine were quite stifled due to EPA regs and the coming of smog control, the later RB MGB 's 18V engine has the potential thru rebuilding to become whtever you want it to be, a late model 18V egneincan even built to full out race egnien,so building to be dtreet perforamcne is for sure morethanh do-able. I recnelty had a customer for Alaska, of all pace, has a 1980 MGB, sahrps a tack, he coverted the car to twin HS4s, stock exhaust manifold, uprate distributor,and I buikld a 1900cc big bore engine for him, 10.0 to 1 compression ratio, APT VP12 cam and lifter, ported head, head with big intake 1.690" valves, vernier adjustable cam gear, ARP head, rod and flywheel fasteners, and Fidanza aluminum fylwheel,and he also coverted the car to a T9 5 speed, this is honest to god 125 HP performance , very streetable, MGB egine. So I can safely, tis late model MGB owner did infact reinvert the performacne of his late model MGB. Of course you, or anyone else doesn't have to take it to this level, but there are many things that can be done to the later 8.0 to 1 18V MGB engine, to bring to the level of the earely cars, or even beyond.
Ok, now to brag just a bit, one of the most powerful 1800cc MGB ever built for a street MGB, was purpose built 18V Supercahrger to go in a show winning 1980 MGB LE, the engine was built by me, no expense spared, big bore custom pistons ,Yella Terra roller rocker arm system, extensively ported head with big valves, special Hans Peterson supercharger cam, custom JE piston custom SC pistons with Total Seal gapless rings, aluminum flywheel, lighten, balanced 18V rods, ported Moss SC, and Hans Peterson 12 psi boost serpetine pulley set up. This car puts out as much HP as most of our full prep MG race engines, yet you can drive it to the grocery store, if you want.

nthego: