Greetings from Gulfport, MS - MGB w/ 2.8L Chevy

[mrtappan]

I must have registered with the forums quite awhile ago. I bought a 1975 MGB roadster for my wife earlier in the summer of 2008. After driving it awhile, she decided she really liked it and wanted to keep it. We frequently buy and sell antique cars so usually we don't keep one but maybe about a year or so. After she decided she wanted to keep it, I noticed it had some serious "daily driver" problems.

I have never owned a British car before but my father has a good bit of experience with Sunbeam Tigers. He owned a 1966 (I think) and sold it long ago. After talking with him I realized that the four speed/four cylinder engine would just not do. After a good bit of research I opted to do the Chevrolet 2.8L V6 conversion. I am not a car "collector" and have no interest in keeping things "original." So, I did some research and purchased a V6 swap kit from Classis Conversions and began building a new engine.

I found the cost of the conversion was slightly more than I expected due to the hydraulic throw-out bearing and a few other things that caught me off guard. For the money though, it still was not a very expensive conversion and I believe it will make the car significantly more fun to drive and that 5th gear will be the icing on the cake.

Currently the MGB is laid up waiting on the hydraulic throw-out bearing and a carb but pretty much everything else is there excluding the driveshaft and exhaust. I test fitted the engine/transmission last week and it fits nice with more room than I expected. For those wondering, I used the following setup:

2.8L V6 from a 1990's model S10
Fresh engine rebuild (bored, ground crank, etc.)
Comp Cams camshaft (nothing wild, just better than stock)
2BL intake from a early 1980's Jeep Commanche
Distributor/Ignition from a 1982/3 S10
Weber 390cfm carb
Stock Camaro clutch
Rebuilt non-world class T5 transmission from a Camaro
Howe Racing throw-out bearing
V-belt setup from a 1980's model Camaro
Radiator from a 1966 Mustang
Complete rewiring of vehicle using new ATC fuse block

Here are a couple of pics as the car sits right now waiting on the bearing and carb......

 

[Basil]

Welcome to the forum (again). I was twice stationed in Biloxi when I was in the AF so am pretty familiar with your area.

Basil

 

[mrtappan]

It has not changed much since 1980 except for the casinos. Remeber the railroad tracks that ran just south of Keesler AFB? Pretty much everything south of the tracks state line to state line is gone. Luckily my house is almost 100 years old and has survived every hurricane to strike the coast since it's construction. They built them a little tougher back in the day I suppose. In three years there has only been marginal rebuilding. Most folks can't afford the insurance on a house there so most of the new rebuilding is businesses.

 

[tony barnhill]

Welcome....while you've got that engine out, you might think about painting the engine compartment the same color as the body.....come on over to the MG Forum & we'll discuss it!

 

[7399MGM]

looking for ideas for the motor mounts 2.8L V6 to frame of '73 MGB

 

[Basil]

Welcome to the BCF! You posted a reply to a very old thread. I'd recommend you post a NEW TOPIC in the the MG forum for best results.

 

[Editor_Reid]

Congrats on your first post 7399MGM! Mind if I call you MGM for short?

Anyway, Basil's got the right idea with opening a new thread, and in the MG Forum. You've come to the right place (just not the idea forum within the right place!).

Good luck.