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jcnz

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Hi all,
I have owned my 77 MGB for 10 years, since I was 17. For seven of those years the car has been sitting in storage because of a blowup of the original radiator that ruined a lot of the parts on the original engine. I am now ready to trade up to a chevy 3.1 v6 EFI hopefully a 92 and a T5 tranny to match. I am not a mechanic. I live near K.C. and was hoping someone could give me an idea as to how I should approach someone to get the work done. Everything else on the car is fair to good. A little rust on the rocker panels it's just the engine. In fact the transmission was rebuilt just prior to the blowup, a swap possibly? Everything else on the car, shocks muffler etc. are all fine just sitting for a long while. Should I go to a place that specializes in British car work and have them drop in the engine and do the work or should I go to a place that I will be sure that they will get the engine and tranny working correctly? I want this car to be reliable above all other things. Performance I can add to later. Any ideas on cost? I don't have to have a remanufactured engine but I do want one with reasonable mileage that will be likely to run well for a long time. Labor for such a job? If anyone else has been through this and has pointers please I am open to suggestions. I have done a considerable amount of research and I am ready to take on the task and hopeluffy learn enough so that I won't need a mechanic in this regard in the future. BTW I have seen the killer B and cc websites and I am looking for alternatives that may be a little cheaper. Thank you all very much in advance for your help.
 
This observation from one who neither has an MG nor has done an engine swap in a British car: My concern would be that a drive train swap would be a tricky undertaking to hire out.

So many aspects of the finished product require sorting out -- time consuming but fun for the hobbiest, potentially expensive and frustrating when being done by a third party.

I would want a lot of faith in that 3rd party to enter into such a project -- I haven't met many mechanics I would have that sort of confidence in. OTOH -- it has been a long time since I was 27 and I may be too practical for my own good.
 
jcnz, check out sites for engine conversions, such as John's Cars in Texas or join and talk to some British car clubs in your area, I bet you fine one or two that have done what you are trying. The best part about spending the money on a conversion kit in your case would be you having to pay someone to make all the little bit and peices that make a transplant one big old SOB would burn your a.. Why don't you think the 'B' engine is reliable, with updates and the new fuel injection system it should last a long time. Wayne
 
jcnz, take a look at the Jag forum under rookie and get some good ideas and sites. Wayne
 
Tried to answer this just as the forum went down.

Leaning toward a more purist side, I hate to see a V anything go into an 1977 MGB. I would guess it would decrease the value if that is of any concern. I would also think putting an MGB engine back in might be less expensive that a V6 conversion.

Bruce
 
JCNZ, I am in the midst of a V6 conversion on a 75 MGB. I would advise you as above to hook up with a local MG or Brit car group to find out who locally can rebuild or install a rebuilt B engine in your car. Add a mild cam and a Weber outlaw carb and enjoy your car. This will cost far less than a conversion, be most reliable, and won't detract from the car's value.
Adam Housely posts here and on MGBE board and is a teen who did a V6 conversion for under $2,000 BUT, he did ALL the work himself which would have cost several thousand if farmed out. You should be able to get a rebuilt installed and running for under $3,000. Good luck.
 
The next best thing to having a "B" is having 2. IF YOU MUST have a V6, then find a pro street rod shop in the KC area. Go and speak to them about the conversion. They are used to fabricating and can get the job done, but it may be costly. Depends on how right you want the job done. I have a red "B" with a 4 banger that I love, and being the horsepower junkie that I am, also have another red "B" that I am dropping a chevy V8 with a automatic in. The biggest problems that I incured was the position of the engine & tranny mounts, and the coil springs for the front suspension. When I am done, I will have 2 similar Red "B"s and the public will have to decide which is driven for the day, a economy 4 banger, when I could have had a V8, or vice-versa. Carpe' Deim I say! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
Back in '87, I blew up the engine in my GT, I replaced
it with another 1.8, which promptly blew up as well, I
decided to put a V6 into it, as I had bought a $400 Capri
with a V6 and 4 speed as a run-around-town car, I liked
the power, the physical size of the engine and the fact
it would fit without to much BFH work. It's been running
for nearly 100K miles, with regular maintenance... I've
got the car in pieces now, mainly because of the bodies
condition, nothing mechanical is wrong with it, other than
being a little on the soft side...

Just remember, *YOU* own the car, and can do as you darn
well please...
 
Thank you all for your replies. I was at one time determined to stay traditional with this car but after having gone through two stock engines I have decided to go a different route. We are supposed to learn from our mistakes right? Well I have learned that the British have had serious concerns when it comes to the mechanical side of automaking. I loved being able to work on my B because of its simplicity but I have had just about enough when it comes to the darn thing shooting oil, coolant, gasoline or any other fluid for that matter. I will certainly take some pics and keep everyone updated and once again thank you all very much for your responses.
 
I dunno... my '65 B has driven 310,000 miles with only two engine rebuilds. Doesn't spray any fluids or leave sizeable oil spots on the ground. A properly built and maintained stock MGB is a very reliable machine. But as said, it's your car, do what pleases you.
 
Here are some examples of Brit-car engine swaps:

https://britishv8.org/swaps/examples.htm

For the record, I'd stay with the MG engine (especially if you're paying someone else to do the work).....a properly re-built 1800 engine will last for many years and will likely add to the resale value.
But as others have said, it's your car.....
 
Hello Jcnz,

This is not going to help with your problem, but being British I cannot see the justification in your remark

"Well I have learned that the British have had serious concerns when it comes to the mechanical side of automaking"

You may not be aware of Formula One motor racing, but virtually all teams use the British expertise in "Automaking", even Mercedes Benz's engines were designed and built in Britain. Are you old enough to know about the British influence in your Indianapolis 500 race?

How a car runs is fundamentally how it is maintained and driven.

Alec
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hello Jcnz,

This is not going to help with your problem, but being British I cannot see the justification in your remark

"Well I have learned that the British have had serious concerns when it comes to the mechanical side of automaking"

You may not be aware of Formula One motor racing, but virtually all teams use the British expertise in "Automaking", even Mercedes Benz's engines were designed and built in Britain. Are you old enough to know about the British influence in your Indianapolis 500 race?

How a car runs is fundamentally how it is maintained and driven.

Alec

[/ QUOTE ]

No disrespect intented, the british are fantastic at building engines when it comes to high performance car, jet and trains, however when it comes to the later 20th century auto engines I might disagree a bit. I am the last person to say that I know everything about what goes on underneath the bonnet however, I do know that when I replace an original part it fails. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif I am beginning to think that this is a big conspiracy. Only joking of course /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif
 
The problem is not the original part, it is the modern replacement. There are cheap parts and high quality ones. If you use the cheap ones then you risk them failing. Granted, not all parts on a 27-year-old car will be available in high-quality versions, but replacing the engine will not solve this problem. Cheap parts will break down on that engine as well. Mechanically speaking, a B-series engine in good order will be as reliable if not moreso than many modern units. It is a very robust piece of machinery! Failures of the basic engine are nearly always due to poorly-made repairs. I know this first hand since I've caused most of the problems my cars have had in the 16 years of owning them!

To make a B as reliable overall as a modern car does take some doing but most of the modification takes place outside of the engine, namely in the electrical system. Put modern technology in it and you can stop worrying about corroding connectors and water in the dizzy.
 
Hello all,
one aspect of reliability is how often the car is used. A car that stands for long periods and is used occasionally will be less reliable, particularly electrically, than one used everyday.
I drive a 1968 Triumph 2.5 saloon and my wife a Morris Traveller of the same year, day in day out. All they get is routine maintenance, I'm not tinkering with them every weekend, we just drive them.

Alec
 
JCNZ,

I have an '80 B with about 100,000 miles on it. It does not pee any fluids. It starts easily at freezing. The sole mod I have is electronic ignition. These engines are very tough. The design is sound but ancient. I have found it a pleasure to drive. If you want to do a mod might I suggest a rebuilt B engine with a turbo from Moss. The only things I make sure of are regular fluid changes and valve adjustments.

It is your car tho'

Brian
 
I live in the KC area and can give you the name of a guy/shop who might put your engine in and reinforce it where necessary. He just did a Buick V6 in a MGB GT-- Quite a beast. Would likely be expensive. I have owned 5 MGB's in my life, however and the least of the problems were the engine. Drove one as my daily driver for 7 years and it never failed-- had to get a car with a back seat!
 
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