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MGB MGB Performance

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Jedi Warrior
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Aloha,

So...I'm quite uninformed on the performance capabilities of the MGB. Aside from wedging a small block Chevy in there...what can be done for performance? All I know is what I've seen in the Moss Motors catalogue.

cheers.gif
 
i am thinking toyota v6 in my midget.
 
chevy 60 deg v6& 5 speed

[ 06-09-2003: Message edited by: Chuck Cougill ]</p>
 
I get the impression you're talking about changing performance without changing to a different type of engine... if so, there are several mods for the 1.8L engine available, including boring it out to just under 2L, installing cross-flow performance heads, larger intake SU carbs, free flow exhaust systems, and turbo or superchargers.
 
Aloha Scott,

Yes, I'm a bit of a purist no matter what type of automobile I am playing with.

I'd rather use the MGB's engine as a platform for performance rather than shoehorning a SBC into one. I had seen the cross-flow heads and Peco exhaust system and DCOE's in the Moss Motors catalogue, but was wondering if anyone had gotten any results from this combo. Or, if anyone had some other recipe for MGB performance.

Mahalos!

cheers.gif
 
This month's "British Motoring" (free from Moss Motors, if you buy stuff from them) featured two hopped up MGBs.
One had standard engine bored/stroked to 2.1 liters. Sounded expensive...the owner wanted good performance with stock appearance. 0-60 MPH time was 9 seconds. No HP figures given.
The other had the new Moss supercharger kit on a stock 1.8 liter enigne. Stock rear wheel HP on a B is about 50. The boosted car had 95. No performance specs were given but they implied that it would hold it's own against a Miata.
 
Hi Nial,

Yes, I received that magazine the other week. That's what prompted my interest in MGB's. I didn't know there was much of a performance market for them until that article.

cheers.gif
 
As a wise old man told me, early in my racing days."Son, it costs money to go fast. How fast do you want to go?".
Bugeye58
 
Here's a picture of a nice engine setup - not sure if he bored it out or kept it stock though (car is a 1980 MGB):

engine-480.JPG

<ul type="square">[*]Dual 1.75" HS6 SU Carbs w/K&N Filters[*]Aluminum Cross-Flow Head[*]Enlarged Inlet Valves[*]Performance Camshaft[*]Jacobs Electronic Ignition[*]3-Branch Exhaust Manifold w/2" Free-Flow Pipes[*]Lightened Alloy Flywheel[/list]
 
I was thinking about going with the V6 or V8 option down the road at some point. But now I am waiting to see what happens with the Supercharger from MOSS Motors. At about three grand a pop it seems more than comparable with the other choices available.

My only problem is that it has got to be “emissions certified” for use in California on the later 75-80 Smog equipment laden cars. If not I’ll have to rethink the engine transplant again if I want more ponies.

cheers.gif
 
Chevy made a V-6 starting, I believe, in the 70's for the S-10 pick-ups and others that was a 60deg V-6 rather than a 90 deg. It went up to around 3.1 liters, and over 200 HP. I often thought this would be a much better fit in the MG coupled with a 5 speed gear box. The engine is much narrower than the 90 deg. and might fit better under the MG bonnet. I know it was offered in the 96 camaro as the smallest V6 although most of the one's you see are the 3.8 liter 90 deg V6.
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by mrbassman:
Chevy made a V-6 starting, I believe, in the 70's for the S-10 pick-ups and others that was a 60deg V-6 rather than a 90 deg. It went up to around 3.1 liters, and over 200 HP. I often thought this would be a much better fit in the MG coupled with a 5 speed gear box. The engine is much narrower than the 90 deg. and might fit better under the MG bonnet. I know it was offered in the 96 camaro as the smallest V6 although most of the one's you see are the 3.8 liter 90 deg V6.<hr></blockquote>

1980 in GM X-bodies, 1982 in S trucks, up to 3.4L in F bodies (Camaros and Firebirds) as the base model through 1996 I think. The 3.8L and 3.4L were never offered at the same time.

and yes, it makes a fine engine for the MGB, it's been done numerous times and there are kits available.
 
There's also at least one Miata-engine conversion around and has been on the 'net. That engine swap gives you a modern 4-Cyl straight-4 1.8L FI engine that fits about the way the original engine did but with 140ish HP to play with (190HP if you want for the turbo Miata package to come out this winter).

Not sure how that's going to work moneywise or conveniencewise though - I should think a longblock from Mazda would be a bit of change, plus the work involved.
 
If you want Miata performance why don't you just take the $3000 that you would need to spend to make the MG that fast and buy an older one? I have both and each has it's place in my driving needs. My "B" is a little more fun to drive, sounds better and gets more attention but the Miata is dead reliable, faster, and gets better fuel mileage (not to mention great weather protection). Which is the car of the day depends on where I'm going and how fast I have to get there. Bob
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Bob Claffie:
If you want Miata performance why don't you just take the $3000 that you would need to spend to make the MG that fast and buy an older one? <<SNIP>> Bob<hr></blockquote>

Good question Bob.

I don’t know about everybody else, but I just don’t get a warm fuzzy from the Manta and never have. Please don’t take this the wrong way, nor am I trying to start a debate. But while I might feel that the Manta is a fine product, it isn’t something I would want in my garage. Like you I have my daily driver and my 78B for tinkering with on the weekends & tooling around the back roads. Although both would out shine my Dodge Intrepid on the really twisty roads, all things being equal my daily driver is far more functional and indeed much faster than any stock MGB or Manta for that matter. But it’s just not as fun to work on or drive as the old B.

But regardless – I don’t think that going toe to toe with a “Manta” is really what trying to put more ponies under the Bonnet is really all about. For some maybe this is the case, but for me it’s just a matter of improving on a good thing without going off the deep-end like some folks do. Case in point it the thread called “What A Crying Shame” currently running in our MG forum. In those cases it’s a matter of over done and really bad taste.

To me this is kind’a like that old argument about why some folks own Harleys and some swear by Japanese bikes. Because lets fact it if it was all about performance and reliability there wouldn’t be any American bike manufactures left. Why else would the Nippon bikes companies be blatantly copying the famous Cruiser V-twin design?

cheers.gif
 
Aloha,

So...it seems that many MGB owners are irate with Miatas. Have any of you MG guys ever tuned your B's to compete with Miatas WITHOUT opting for non-MGB power?

Call me a purist, but I believe in working with what you have.
 
Yeah, I can understand the desire to give the B more performance. I just can't see trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear. I love my B but I also respect it's short comings and weaknesses. I enjoy working on it (most of the time) but also enjoy the Miata which NEVER needs working on. Took the MG on a uneventful 90 mile trip today BUT I was in no particular hurry and 55/60 MPH was just fine. I drive my B about 20% of the time and spread the remainder of my miles amongst the rest of the fleet. Bob
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Joel Simmons:
So...it seems that many MGB owners are irate with Miatas. Have any of you MG guys ever tuned your B's to compete with Miatas WITHOUT opting for non-MGB power?
<hr></blockquote>

(What's a "Manta" anyway?)

Joel, with a few exceptions I don't know anyone who is trying to compete with Miatas with their MGs - unless you're talking about on-the-track where everyone is competing against everyone else anyway.

A stock MGB 18V engine runs the car nicely and will provide smooth highway-speed driving without difficulty but can be changed with some of the basic changes outlined in both the original factory MGB workshop manual (IE: "Special Tuning") and the more modern available upgrades listed in the book mentioned earlier.

[ 06-11-2003: Message edited by: aerog ]</p>
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Bob Claffie:
Yeah, I can understand the desire to give the B more performance. I just can't see trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear. I love my B but I also respect it's short comings and weaknesses. I enjoy working on it (most of the time) but also enjoy the Miata which NEVER needs working on. <<SNIP>> Bob<hr></blockquote>


Ah, But that’s what some of us like to call “character building”. And there in lies the major difference behind the mindset of owning a more modern car like a Manta (or a Intrepid), and the ethos shared by most of us who own, love & care for our older cars.

Fact is – NOT everybody could or even should drive a MG, but ANYBODY can drive a Manta. To truly appreciate & claim ownership of any car (new or old) you need to be willing to do more than just put petrol in it and take it down to the dealer or your local garage to be maintained.

Oh sure I’ve cracked my share of knuckles and cussed my MG more often than I’d like to bring to mind (Who hasn’t?). But unlike my other newer vehicles I maintain – I have a bond with my B that neither my wife’s modern SUV or my 2000 Dodge can remotely come close to.

cheers.gif
 
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