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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - Just a few questions.....for now.

It's time to get my next project going and it's a 79 MGB. The Wife is all excited about the idea of stuffing a V8 into it and getting it running again. We pretty much decided that a chevy 305 would be our best choice just for the fact that parts are easy to obtain just about anywhere and cost less than a 2.8 or 3.1L V6 parts and 305 blocks are every where around here.
Being an F-body guy for the past 14 years now, I have very little knowledge of the MG. SO I had a few questions about doing this type of swap:

There is a book out there for converting MG to V8s (forget the name of it right now), is this book worth it?

Bonnet is a hood correct?.... Seeing the way it's used in the context it pretty much makes sense but I thought I would ask to just be sure.

Does anyone know of a V8 conversion with a TPI setup instead of carbs, I am pretty sure this means modifying the hood.

Also, the T5 bolts to the block at a 15 or 19 degree angle (can't remember which), but is there room for the shifter pad and the shifter to fit in the tranny tunnel of the 79 MGB or are you guys doing something different?...

Also, I have not seen this anywhere because it pretty much seems that everyone is using the T5 or some other manual tranny, but has anyone installed a THM 700 R4 automatic behind a V8 block in an MGB? Reason why I ask this is because the automatic is a bit larger in size than the T5, and do the fact that the WC T5s are getting harder to find.

Last tranny question, anyone seen a OEM GM T-56 installation?.....This would be a nice choice of the the three knowing that the T-56 can be found for less than a grand these days.


Any info or guidence would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Craig
Craig

>We pretty much decided that a chevy 305 would be our >best choice

?350? Note weight penalty ... if you plop it down in the usual place your handling may suffer. If you're going to stick a SB Chevy in there, you'll be "bushwacking" because there are no conversion guides or lists of parts ... although it has been done beautifully before.

>There is a book out there for converting MG to V8s
>(forget the name of it right now), is this book worth >it?

_How to Convert Your MGB to V8 Power_ -- it's pretty good, perhaps a little outdated -- BTW it strictly deals with BOP/R 215s and is written from a UK point of view.

>Bonnet is a hood correct?

Yep.

>Does anyone know of a V8 conversion with a TPI setup >instead of carbs, I am pretty sure this means >modifying the hood.

Depends on the engine type and how it's situated; most likely you'll need to mod the hood.

>Also, the T5 bolts to the block at a 15 or 19 degree >angle (can't remember which), but is there room for >the shifter pad and the shifter to fit in the tranny >tunnel of the 79 MGB or are you guys doing something >different?...

I didn't think it was at that much of an angle. People who have done this have just had to move the shifter hole and ring. I've seen these installations and they look fine.

>Also, I have not seen this anywhere because it pretty >much seems that everyone is using the T5 or some >other manual tranny, but has anyone installed a THM >700 R4 automatic behind a V8 block in an MGB? Reason >why I ask this is because the automatic is a bit >larger in size than the T5, and do the fact that the >WC T5s are getting harder to find.

Automatic?!? What's that?

>Last tranny question, anyone seen a OEM GM T-56 >installation?.....This would be a nice choice of the >the three knowing that the T-56 can be found for less >than a grand these days.

Sure, this is actually fairly common, you can get a heck of a tall overdrive gear this way.

Harry

Craig
If you decide to go with a SB Chevy,you may want to opp. for some aluminum heads to save weight. I believe an iron headed SB Chevy weights 500 pounds, a 1800 MGB engine is 356 pounds, and a BOP 215 is 320 pounds.
Most converters install the T5 level (not angled as installed in Camaros). This can be done by using a conventional 4 spd. bellhousing, and making an angled trans. to crossmember mount. You will need a T5 from a 88-92 V8 Camaro/Firebird to fit the 4 spd bellhousing.
The draw back with using an auto trany is heat. A V8 in an MG generates a lot of heat, and IMO an auto trans is just another thing to try and keep cooled. But with carefull planing it has been done sucessfully.
Your 79B is one of the "easier" years to convert and there are kits avalible to make the BOP/Rover a bolt in install. With the Chevy you'll find you are making a lot of your own parts. But thats where the fun is!!!
Bill bill_jacobson@hotmail.com

bill jacobson

It’s my understanding that the angled transmission was only used for two years before the Camaro went to a hydraulic clutch. My brother bought one of those bell housings for his with the clutch fork opening and transmission angled down to clear the accelerator pedal area of the floor. Unfortunately for him he never could use it because he could not locate the right transmission (unfortunately for me its still laying around my place). According to the illustrations, the transmission sits upright, as it is identical to the standard transmission except the lugs where it mounts to the bell housing are angled.
George Champion

This thread was discussed between 20/06/2001 and 21/06/2001

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