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Turbo My B????

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MGcracker

MGcracker

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Hello to all...
I just purchased my 2nd MGB and absolutely love it. I love tinkering with my vehicles and have somehow come up with the stupid idea of turbo charging my carbureted engine. What do you think, have you done this, and what things might I look out for when doing this??? Thanks so much,

-The moron trying to turbo his B
 
Turbo charging is possible, but you're on your own to engineer and refine the system. Supercharging for MGBs has been around since the 60's and is a proven technology. It would be easier, and possibly cheaper in the long run, to buy a supercharger kit from Moss. It comes with everything you need and installs in a short weekend.
 
A few years ago, I saw a turbo-ed MGB at a car show in Townsend, TN....he used a HarleyDavidson carb.....thought I had a photo but can't find it.
 
Turbo is actually a good way to go on an MGB. It works well (as does any other form of forced induction) with engines like thtis that have, shall we say, compromised breathing ability. Basically, when you can't get them to suck any more without taking heroic and very expensive measures (ever cost out a full deal SCCA head?) you can just opt to grab the mixture with both hands, as it were, and cram it in there.

And the MGB has all the ports on the same side, which works out pretty well - exhaust out to turbo, and compression side of turbo back into intake. Should be room to do it all.

Problems to solve - sizing of turbo, creating exhaust manifold, creating intake, deciding on suck-through or blow-through system (former is easier as you don't have to pressurise the carb), ancillaries like knock sensor and timing control etc.

You could do some of this by studying a similar kit for a like sized engine and borrowing, but Steve is correct, while supercharging has been developed, you'd be the guy doing the development for a turbo.

Once it has been done though, it should have a market out there. The same sort of pressure (c. 7-8 psi) as used in supercharging would be appropriate.

I would suggest that a kit that used a commonly available carb, probably an SU just to keep it British would be a good idea. I'd nominate either an HS-8 off a Rover 2000TC (early models used the fixed float HD-8 which limits the angle you can mount the carb at while the later HS-8 had a flex jet like an MGB HS8 and is easier to adjust angles, but either would probably work).

I say go for it!
 
Hey,
Thanks for the inspirational tips. I AM doing it and will photo-document every step for the forum family to see... I am very mechanically inclined, I can pretty much rig anything up, but not the kind of rig that would be crappy and break easily. I have much experience with a welder so the exhaust manifold should not be a problem... I am going through with a Blow-through style turbo setup.

Small Problems to work around:

- Vacuum lines... I'll have to move them to a location before the turbo, correct?

- exhaust manifold... You'll see what i've got in mind.

- intake... It'll be some sort of thick rubber to fit around the mouth of my carb...

- Tuning..., does anyone have any advice as of what to do with carb adjustments or just wing it and mess with it once it's all setup?

- Oil supply... where the heck should I get my oil from to run through the turbo unit itself... I was thinking of splicing into the large line just outside of the motor right where it exits the oil filter... While doing this I might as well install an oil cooler.

So, where should vacuum lines go, how do i tune this sucker, and where the heck do I get my oil from?

Thanks so much,
-Mark
 
I suggest that you do a lot more research before starting the project. An SU carb would be a particularly bad choice for a blow through. The operation of it's air valve/piston is totally dependent on engine vacuum. If this could be solved, the float chamber still needs to be pressurized from the compressor outlet.

Fuel supply pressure needs to be proportional to boost pressure. Fuel mixture & ignition timing need to be precisely controlled & tailored to the engine needs. Major damage comes quickly if anything is not perfect. You don't have the option to "just wing it and mess with it once it's all setup?"

Mechanical condition & strength of the engine parts are very critical. There is no particular advantage to turbo charging over super charging unless you are looking for boost pressures over 10 psi.

I successfully turbo charged an engine to over 20 psig but it took considerable development time & very large sums of money.

I agree with Steve, if you are serious about the project, go with a supercharger kit.
D
 
SU is a great choice for suck-though, though, and suck-through brings the considerable advantage of charge cooling.
Why do you prefer blow-through? Surely it's more complex?
 
Roger said:
SU is a great choice for suck-though, though, and suck-through brings the considerable advantage of charge cooling.
Why do you prefer blow-through? Surely it's more complex?
Click to expand...

I agree - that's what I had in mind with the single HS8. I wouldn't even consider a blow through.

And I would definitely incorporate a knock sensor and timing control.
 
A couple yrs ago I was fortunate to be in a situation where the stars lined up where I could have a motor built by Kent Prather for a Moss SC. He does MG SC motors all the time, but not the A series motor. Anyway, after you get by the expense, it is a blast to drive. Instant power at even a low rpm. The BE can pull a steep hill in 5th even from 50 mph. Now, after about 6,000 miles of driving it, it is money well spent.
 
I rode in that little pocket rocket out in Missouri...everybody should do one!
 
I did as well and it was..................Wow!
 
Alright boys, ya'll have definitely been big help, yes, even the negative feedback. It's good to know when you're about make a stupid move. So, I have decided to go with a "Draw-through" setup, I'll have to make an adapter from intake manifold to turbo, and another from turbo to carb... shouldn't be too hard, but will this looong distance from carb to intake port make it hard for fuel to reach the engine, and also what about a cold start, will the fuel evaporate and make the car hard to start?... and still no reply on where to get oil from...
thanks guys, all input appreciated,
-Mark
 
Hey, Tim, did'ya ever get a chance to do anything with those taillights I sent?
 
So, Tim, would the fuel have to travel that far before reaching the intake... was it a fuel injected truck or something...?
 
MGcracker said:
So, Tim, would the fuel have to travel that far before reaching the intake... was it a fuel injected truck or something...?
Click to expand...

No, turbo was under the bed of the truck, so just the air had to get blown back up. The air filter was under there, too!


tony - the first on stuck a little, and it's a really tight fit (I really wasn't that happy with the results. I actually packed it up when I moved and they are sitting by the B now. Let me see if I can make a pair this weekend and send them to you.
 
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