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MGB MGB V8 Q&A.

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vagt6

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Hello, friends from the MG forum! What can those of you with experience in MGB V8 cars tell me about them? I think the MG V8s were manufactured from '73-'76 with the Rover V8 engine. After a ride in one recently, I think it's a fine GT car for the money.

Any input regarding the car would be welcome. For example, compared to the MGB is the V8 version easier or harder to repair & maintain? What are the handling characteristics? What's it like on the road? How hard are they to locate for purchase, etc., etc.?

And the biggie, what's the going price for a decent, running example without rust?

Thanks, great gurus of MG-dom!
 
There's one on eBay right now, a rubber-bumper model in blue......right-hooker, of course.

The V8 is a great grand tourer, handling is very much like the standard MGB, as the alloy V8 is about the same weight as the standard four-banger, maybe even a little lighter?

Only GTs came from the factory with the V8. It's a very reliable unit, easy enough to work on. They do not like being low on coolant or oil, by the way, and the coolant has to have been the right stuff, plain water is a bad thing. As it was originally a Buick engine, and in production for a long time in various other vehicles, you can get parts and performance upgrades for them easily enough over here.
 
Thanks for the info, Steve and lawguy. There's a wealth of info about the Rover V8 and the MBBGT V8 on the web. Much is devoted to converting the 4 banger to a V8 (and, of course, most of this is from England).

Does anyone here have a MGV8??? Mind if I ask a few probing questions about the car?

Thanks in advance for the replies.
 
There are a lot of conversions here in the States, using both the BOPR V8 and the Ford 302. I have a 1974.5 MGB/GT woth a stroker 3.9l Rover (not yet road-worthy).

Very few authentic factory V8s...a couple of clones.

Caveat Emptor.
 
Rick, if possible, could you share the names or websites of companies/garages that perform the conversions in the U.S.?

Thanks for the info!
 
Most conversions are done by the owner.

I do have a friend that is now in the business of doing these conversions...he's located in central Illinois.

Pete Mantell of Mantell Motorsports.

See https://www.mantellmotorsport.com

There may be others...Bill Guzman out in California does V6 conversions....Dan Wade down in Tennessee does V6 conversions....I believe there is a firm up in Minnesota doing them as well.

Might I suggest that you venture over to the MGB Experience website and make a post on there....a wealth of knowledge...

See https://www.mgexperience.net/phorum/list.php?40

Another great website is https://www.britishv8.org . Check it out.

You might also consider attending the V8 Convension near Cleveland in August.

Good luck!
 
Rick,

I guess that, after reading your stable list, touting the virtues of the 1800 cc would fall on deaf ears... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif

Sooo.... 60 mph at 3200 rpm is not good enough for ya' /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif
 
The engine used in these factory V-8s was detuned to 135 BHP, less than the MGC.

Just like the TR8, they were a bit disappointing to those that expect a Tiger clone.

Much more is available from the engines, although they are old technology unless you get a more current Rover version, and the weight of the GM V-6 of the same displacement is so close it makes no difference to the balance of the car if you are doing a swap.

Original MG V8 cars are scarce, expensive and slower than one would like.
 
ronzet said:
Rick,

I guess that, after reading your stable list, touting the virtues of the 1800 cc would fall on deaf ears... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif

Sooo.... 60 mph at 3200 rpm is not good enough for ya' /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif
Click to expand...

Actually, I really like my 1978 4-banger MGB! (So does my wife)...I'm taking 5 weeks off this summer and one of her "honey-do's" is to pull the engine in the B and replace it with the "new" one that I picked up last fall (complete with O/D). We may well take it to Grand Rapids for the UML Summer Party rather than one of the C's...(I know the V8 won't be ready).

Cheers!
 
Rick,

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]Actually, I really like my 1978 4-banger MGB! (So does my wife)... [/QUOTE]

'Tis a fun little, bullet proof engine... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbsup.gif

My B still runs with very little oil pressure... Ok, Ok, Ok... need to rebuild it but my 'A' is the chosen child right now... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

Sounds like a great trip... Let us know the details. OD is the ONLY way to go... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif
 
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