$2009 MGB project

The car: 1969 MGB, $400, 53k miles, engine condition unknown.

The plan: RAF fighter theme, brooklands racing screens, stripped down, 1.6L miata engine, possible turbo.

I love it. That's exactly what I'd do, too.

How easy does the Miata lump fit in a B?

Also, that hardtop is gotta be worth something, right.

The 1.6 fits easily, the 1.8 takes a bit more work (from what I have read), GRM put a 1.8 in a MGB and I have been reading the articles on it.

I haven't looked at too many prices for hardtops yet but I assume I can recoup at least half my purchase price if not all by selling it.

For whatever it's worth, if I were doing a swap on a B, I'd go for a V6 or V8 over a miata motor. It's an easier swap, and you'll get more power, and if you do it well the balance will be about the same (B engines are heavy).

Is the 302 swap really easier than the miata? From what I saw in the magazine it looked like the miata engine would fit much easier.

Well, if you use a domestic motor you'd more closely resemble the theme you're going for, plus a V8 in the front of a 'B is just cooler.

A Buick/Rover V8 powered MGBGT is still on my list of things to own/drive someday.

On a chrome bumper B, use the later (more forward) Radiator surround and radiator, and give the fenderwells a few taps to massage 'em a little (on rubber bumper Bs, you don't even have to do those things). Exhaust will need to either fit very snugly or go through the fenderwells. Factory did it both ways, depending on the variant. Use a T5 for the transmission.

Biggest issue would probably be FI. Of course, if you go with a carb it gets stupid easy.

V6 is even easier, of course, cause you don't have to move the radiator forward or anything. Remember, they put the 215 in there, and it's really about as big as a 302 on external dimensions.

Hmm...the v8 option is starting to sound more appealing. I will have to do some more research into that.

Check out Britishv8.com. Lots of pics and build stories.

I have a very similar hardtop for my MGB. Bought it for $100 in local classifieds. The "factory" hardtops -- with rear 1/4 windows and a smooth finish -- are worth a lot more.

Looks like a nice car.

302 is the answer. Where it is gonna get tough is the headers. Even building your own cost a bit.

The cheap way out of this is to reverse the manifolds and run the exhaust out the front area and back under; not real pretty but I have seen it a few times and it works. Good time to bolt a couple of turbos on if you have the budget!

Need a rad out of a early mustang. Since everydollar counts, I would look for a 302 with an auto out of a big land yacht and snag all the electronics from that. You can get whole running cars for free if you look hard.

I have given a lot of thought to just this swap. I have the mgb shell left over from past projects, a 302 with auto and all electronics from a crown vic and a 8" out of a vega.

The V8 swap exhaust problem gets a lot better if you scoot the engine back some, say 4 inches or so. That involves some firewall cutting and you'd lose the heater, but the frame is wider at the rear of the engine compartment meaning more exhaust outlet room and the engine being moved back improves the front/rear weight distribution. Moving the engine back will also make installing a radiator a lot simpler.

If you get industrious and don't mind the extra fabrication time, you can use a Spitfire heater (or similar) inside so you'll still have heat, assuming that you want to make it streetable.

Why not just run the exhaust out the fenderwells? That's what MG did for the RV8.

Yeah, I know that's the way MG did it but it just looks Mickey Mouse to me. Call me anal or whatever, I like swaps to look neat and clean and like they grew there in the first place and to me fenderwell headers just don't cut it. As always, YMMV.

You're worrying about mickey mouse for a Challenge car? I like the flip the manifolds and throw turbos on it idea.

Well I wasn't planning on running a heater anyway so moving it back is an option, I saw some pictures on britishv8 of someone who did that and used block huggers to fit in the fenders.

Yeah it does seem odd to worry about Mickey Mouse on a Challenge car. But like I said, I'm weird that way.

Patriot makes some pretty reasonably priced blockhuggers. These are about $140.00 in plain finish.

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/p/3822,1198_Small-Block-Ford-Tight-Fit-Headers.html?itemNo=ford%20headers

Ya know what I always thought would be a cool swap in a B? A supercharged L67 3800 and a T56 or similar. Maybe even one of those T Bird supercoupe 3.8's.

Jensenman, I agree. I know both the Ford and GM V6s go in pretty easily. Not sure about clearance for the 'charger, but I suspect it'd fit.

Nice buy. Well found. Hard top is worth a bit. Nice to have wires, too. Don't be too hard on it, now.

Hint for a cheap rear axle upgrade: the square body S10 Chevy pickup rear axle is real close to the length of a MG or Jensen Healey rear axle and they are dirt cheap in the boneyards. Then you can run all sorts of cheapie wheels as well.

Never tried it, but I understand the front knuckles on a S10 are also close to MGB size. You'd have to do some fab work but there's a cheap easy brake upgrade and you now have the Chebby bolt pattern up front too.

go rotary!
check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGnBXk-9B90

Well I had a Buick with the 3800, non supercharged and it was very reliable. With a supercharger it could make decent power but it wouldn't have the same sound that a v8 would, and that is part of why I want the v8.

Hey Jensenman, MGs already have the Chevy bolt pattern... it's just the old Chevy 4-bolt pattern!

By George, you are right.

What bellhousing could I use on the 3800 to adapt a T5?