MGB MGB with Ford V-6

[rick_ingram]

Back on topic...every MGB I've driven that had the Ford V8 transplant understeered real bad....wonder if that one does also?

Tony...have you driven one with a FastCars, Inc crossmember?

 

[tony barnhill]

No, Rick, I've not....they were all V8-powered but had rather stock MGB suspensions.....however, I'm using the Hawk suspension under my V8 car:

 

[bob67bgt]

Rick, Will the car turn sharp with that short rack? I had a Aurora 289 cobra with a shortened MGb rack and it had a terrible turning circle. Bob

 

[rick_ingram]

Rick, Will the car turn sharp with that short rack? I had a Aurora 289 cobra with a shortened MGb rack and it had a terrible turning circle. Bob

Yes...the geometry of this crossmember is based on the BWM M3.

 

[tony barnhill]

Rick, Will the car turn sharp with that short rack? I had a Aurora 289 cobra with a shortened MGb rack and it had a terrible turning circle. Bob

Yes...the geometry of this crossmember is based on the BWM M3.

Rick - it appears that suspension beam is designed for the Ford oil pan only....what's the turning radius of that rack, lock-to-lock?

 

[MGBGT_noob]

I thought about installing the 3.0 V6 and auto transmission from a 2WD Ford Ranger, before I decided to bore the old 18V out to a 19.5V and use a 280ZX gearbox.

Jack:

see if you can find out which V6 this car has. Like their V8s, Ford has several different families of V6:

Cologne: 2.9L or 4.0L
Vulcan: 3.0L or 3.3L
Essex: 3.8L or 4.2L

 

[rick_ingram]

Rick - it appears that suspension beam is designed for the Ford oil pan only....what's the turning radius of that rack, lock-to-lock?

This rack is a bolt in for the MGB and will accomodate BOPR with the stock engine mount positions. Ted has an almost identical crossmember available with engine mounts built-in for the small block Ford.

I'll have to get back to you with the lock-to-lock turning radius.

<span style="font-weight: bold">From FastCars, Inc website:</span>

This unit is in production and available.

Our goal was to build a lightweight racing suspension with state of the art geometry and corrected roll center. We knew this couldn't be done with heavy components borrowed from some passenger car. True geometry meant building our own pieces. Clean design results in an eighty pounds lighter unit that bolts into the MGB without body modification. Most of the weight savings is unsprung weight.

Every piece is custom built to achieve an ideal suspension. We build our own lightweight racing spindles from 4130N chrome moly. The steering rack is built just for our suspension. Our bushings are all machined from Nylatron GS. There is no urethane in our suspension. The specially built components give correct ackerman, anti dive and camber gain. Basic geometry is patterned after the BMW M3. The result is light precise steering and confidence inspiring handling.

Caster and camber are quick and easy to adjust. Carrera adjustable coil over shocks make ride height and spring changes easy.

Brakes are Wilwood 11.75 ventilated discs with Wilwood Dynalite four piston calipers. The difference in stopping is incredible.

The hubs are aluminum alloy and can be had with any wheel stud pattern.

Price of the suspension is $3825. Comes complete as shown plus stainless steel brake lines. Also available is an extra cost option for 302 Ford installations, which includes engine mounts and rear transmission mount.

Unit is available in Right Hand Drive at no additional charge.

Now available in two widths: stock MGB and 2 inches over.

 

[jackq]

OKAY!!!! Back to the subject!!!! The V-6 powered MGB is at the shop. We dollied it there a coupleof hours ago...its in the shop and we're cleaning it out. Very straight...very nice eng/trans installation. Pics tomorrow. Jason...give me a call on my cell tomorrow 575-693-8810...

 

[Jagboy69]

You got it Jack.

That FastCars cross member is a nice piece of hardware. At 3800clams, it's not a cheap investment. I can see the need if your racing, but for general road use, it's a bit pricey. I always thought the 4cyl B suffered from under steer in it's stock form. I can only imagine it must be worse with the extra weight of a V8 in the front.

 

[tony barnhill]

That extra weight is why most people who weren't going to upgrade their suspension stayed with the Rover engine.

Glad I went with the Hawk setup for my street car - it was about half the FastCars setup....here are a couple of the Hawk advertising photos:

 

[jackq]

Shock of shocks...after checking all the fluid levels, installing a new battery and filling the tank, the thing cranked right up. Transmission selected right up in all gears...minor things like wipers, one headlite and a few other things need attention. The brakes are weak..most likely bleeding. It has headers that merge to a single pipe and is quiet but has a nice rumble. Front suspension is stock...but has the after market mounts for the additional front shocks(but no shocks??) anyhow, this car will be stripped and painted but as it is almost perfectly straight, it will need very little body work. after all the bugs are worked out it'll be offered up for sale. We'll keep you posted.

 

[MGBGT_noob]

...I can only imagine it must be worse with the extra weight of a V8 in the front.

You seem have some bad information there. A Ford 302 V8 long block weighs LESS than a BMC B-series L4. With an alloy intake manifold, and tubular headers, the complete V8 would probably come out about the same as the stock motor.

Using an Aluminum block, such as a Buick 215, or a Rover, you'll wind up with a lighter front end than stock.

 

[CurtisJ]

...I can only imagine it must be worse with the extra weight of a V8 in the front.

You seem have some bad information there. A Ford 302 V8 long block weighs LESS than a BMC B-series L4. With an alloy intake manifold, and tubular headers, the complete V8 would probably come out about the same as the stock motor.

It's tough to compare apples to oranges... the weight of an <span style="text-decoration: underline">installed</span> Ford 302 varies based on so many other factors including transmission, flywheel, pressure plate, starter (gear reduction?), alternator, etc. - I've also noticed that folks who install 302 V8's seem more likely to retrofit air conditioning.

According to Pete Mantell at Mantell Motorsports (who specializes in Ford 302 conversions), with aftermarket aluminum heads the Ford 302 engine usually weighs-in about 40 pounds heavier than the MGB engine.

Another way to do the analysis is weigh a bunch of cars! We do exactly that every year at our BritishV8 meets. Here are the weigh-in numbers (including corner weights) for twenty engine conversions: https://www.britishv8.org/Articles/2008-AutocrossResults.htm

Using an Aluminum block, such as a Buick 215, or a Rover, you'll wind up with a lighter front end than stock.

There's something to that! My own Buick 215 powered 71 GT weighs just 2180# (with a full tank of gas)- that's 130# less than original and 247# less than a factory MGB GT V8... the weight distribution is 49/51. (I'm looking at some mods to lighten up the rear.)