• Notice: If you're posting to get rid of the little man (Lucas), please post A NEW TOPIC with something meaningful. Tell us about yourself and your interest in British cars. You need not share anything too personal. NOTE: this New Member's Forum is only to introduce yourself. If you have specific questions about your little British car, please post those in the appropriate marque-related forum.
    Thanks and welcome to BCF!
    Basil
  • Hi Guest!
    You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

new member here with a question

Share this page

1

1cleanMGB

Freshman Member
Offline
Hey guys,
I just wanted to introduce myself.
I recently inherited my grandfather’s 75 MGB. The body is in great condition; the engine on the other hand is seized and needs replacing. I plan on dropping a 2jz-gte motor and transmission out of a turbo supra in to the B. With the increase in power and torque with the 2jz what precautions do I need to take with the factory front and rear suspension? Do I need to replace it with another car’s (say a Honda s2000 or a 350z) setup?
driversside-front.jpg
 
1cleanMGB:
First off, Let me welcome you to the Forum. You are going to get varried opinions on changing out your MGB engine i`m sure.
Here is mine:
Personally I think it would be a shame to ADULTERATE such a nice specimin of an MGB.
Secondly it will depreciate the value of such a collector car dramatically.
The MGB guru`s here can most likely telll you how to modify the original engine to go fast. {sounds to me like that is what you are looking for} for about the same or less money than all the changes of converting to another powertrain.
Were it me, I would NOT butcher such a nice car.
Just my opinion ....... welcome aboard!
 
Welcome, aboard...come on over to the MG Forum & let's discuss that car....& your options.
 
Hi There 1cleanMGB;

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/iagree.gif with Aweman: Don`t chop it up! These "Bees" will become a collectors item at some point in time: Right now they are considered an "Entry Level" Brit Car Enthusiasts Dream!

Since you inherited this car from your Grandpa /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbsup.gif One would think you would like to keep it as stock as possible? I`m sure your Grandpa would have wanted that as well: /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif But, To ea. his own: One thing for sure is: Should you drop another engine into her besides an "MGB" engine; You`ll find that the "Re-Sale" value of the car will drop dramatically:

Have Fun regardless of what you do & visit the "MG Forum" for more opinions: I suspect you`ll find the majority will overrule any Toyota, Honda, Subaru etc engine! It`s not a Good Idea: /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/pukeface.gif

Russ /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banana.gif
 
Welcome from the Los Angeles area! I LOVE that color! It's so 70's! I'm looking for a BGT right now and I'd kill for a car that nice in that color!

As far as motor swaps go, I kinda agree with the others but, if you do want to do it, this guy does beautiful V6 swaps and he sells his conversion kits. I've seen his cars and they are stunning! He also seems to be a nice guy! The web site has a lot of detailed information on what's involved.

https://www.classicconversionseng.com/

Whatever you do, keep him well maintained and drive the heck out him!

Adam
 
Welcome to the best forum on the web. What a gorgeous looking car, complete with a hard top that also looks to be in pristine condition.

To echo the others, you will indeed get a variety of opinions regarding the engine replacement. (Although they don't seem that varied as of yet....) Moss Motors sells upgrades such as a 5 speed transmission, overdrive systems, stuff like that. The one thing I would suggest, regardless of which way you decide to go, is upgrade your braking system! You feel much less cool in a fast car when you're sitting in the middle of a field with a stop sign bent over your hood. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif

Again, whichever you decide to do, enjoy that sweet ride!
 
You can do amazing things with that little power plant.

It's not that hard to get 125 hp out of it and your car will be a blast to drive.

I'd of course start with the brakes & suspension.
 
Welcome to the forum

I agree with the above comments. A B with that much family history should remain with its original heart, it will be a collector's car in the future. 125hp in a B is enough to get you into trouble.

I would recommend buying a rice rocket if that is what you desire.

Sorry for my biased opinion and welcome to our klan.

Patrick
 
As Donald Sutherland said in Kelly's Heroes;
"I sense a lot of negativity here."

Hey, don't get me wrong, I like original engines.
I also happen to like conversions. Let's face it, These cars aren't screaming fast. But along with fast, comes responsibility. We don't like cars going 60mph through our neighbourhoods, and the owners of those cars don't like getting new front teeth after hitting a parked car.

Back to business:
Actually there are a lot of conversions and some of them work very well. Some of them are butcher jobs.
Case in point here.

Well as they say, it's easy to modify, hard to return to original / usable. Just be sure you don't go down the wrong path. Make sure the new drivetrain fits without destroying the car's structure before starting, all of it, including a new rear axle. Be sure you have the finances for it. We really hate half-way finished projects. And modify as little as possible of the original sheet metal. (The Rover V8 fits right into that car, as the factory did. I don't think the Supra engine fits well.)

There are many web sites concerning conversions with a wealth of information on what to do - and not do. Like here for example.

OK, enough rambling. Bottom line, it's YOUR car. Whatever you do with it, when it's done it will still be YOUR car.

Best of luck.
 
Back
Top