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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGB Technical - Limited Slip Installation

Does anyone have experience installing an aftermarket LSD in a B (like the one from Moss and others)? I'm particularly curious if it is an opportunity to eliminate rear end clunk and perform additional service to extend the life of the unit. As an aside, has anyone ever welded their rear end (permanently locked) and what were the effects like? By the way, this is for an autocrossed B that now is only driven for pleasure every now and then. Thanks, Dean
Dean Lake

Dean, I had a Quaife put in. Works _great_. I think they charged me $80 to put in the Quaife and clean things up, with new thrust washers and so on. Doesn't clunk or whine in the least.

With all due respect, I think that welding your rear end for autocross is, well, a truly horrific idea! It would work if you drag raced the car. You're talking tight turns, and that dog just won't hunt! I think you'd either break an axle or the diff itself, or go through tires so fast you'd have to go out and acquire Firestone Corporation to supply your rubber needs.

Oh, if you get the Quaife unit, you can save a huge amount by ordering it from the UK and having it sent over ... the Moss markup is unbelievably high.

David

Dean, I haven't tried an LSD in an MG but I contacted a friend that autocrosses. He has a Rotus, a Lotus 7 type chassis with a race tuned RX 7 rotary, it uses a Toyota Supra rear with a LSD. He also has a TR 8 that he has autocrossed and it has a LSD. He feels the locked spiders would not turn on a tight autocross course as Steve mentioned. My son has a Legends race car, he runs circle track and ran a series on a road course at Lowes Motor Speedway. Legend rules require a locked rear either welded or with a spool. He has recently bought the car and we are having a tough time trying to sort the handling because of the locked gears. Good luck, Clifton
Clifton Gordon

Dean-
David is right about getting the Quaife unit direct from the UK. No need to pay Moss Motors or anybody else a fat markup when you can get it direct from the manufacturer. I have one of these wonderful things inside my rear axle and can testify to how good they are. Because it's an Automatic Torque Biasing design, it transfers power from the wheel that slips to the whell that grips, so snow, ice, and wet will not be the problem that it once was. You can also get on the power significantly earlier when coming out of a turn. For performance driving, it gives a substantial edge. For fooling around on a winding mountain road, it'll have you grinning from ear to ear. It's the perfect partner for a Panhard rod.

I also have to agree with Dave about welding your rear axle: Bad Idea.
Steve S.

David & Steve, My apology for getting your names mixed up regarding David's comment. Regards, Clifton
Clifton Gordon

Sadly Rod Quaife the founder of the company died last month. However the business is thriving and being run by his kids Sharon & Mike.

Here's the URL:-

http://www.quaife.co.uk/index2.htm

The various MG offerings are, with part numbers:-

MG midget (A Series) QDF5K2MG
MGA/MGB (Banjo axle) QDF15K
MGB (Salisbury axle) QDF6KB
MGB V8/MGC QDF6KC

If you want a 6 speed gearbox for your B how about:-

"The QUAIFE sequential gearchange for the Sierra 5-speed gearbox available complete 4, 5 or 6-speed gearbox or conversion

dog engagement or heavy-duty synchromesh gears

uses modified Ford maincase with QUAIFE bearing plate and tail case

same overall dimensions as original Ford gearbox

save money by using existing QUAIFE unit as donor
compact drum design of sequential mechanism allows unit to be fitted to Caterhams and kit cars using Sierra or Rocket gearbox

no modifications needed to transmission tunnel

optional digital gear indicator available

open face dog gears allow quicker and more positive gearchange

very competitive price "

Interesting !

Nigel
Nigel Steward

Greetings all,

FWIW,

The Quaife USA site (linked from the main Quaife site) lists the MGB unit at $1145. My Brit-tek Winter Sale flyer shows $ 1300 'sale' price. How much are the other vendors asking for this unit?

Steve
Steve

I think you can get one for about $700 from the UK. You don't have to pay VAT, which in and of itself more than pays for shipping. It's worth it. The quality is damned impressive, and it's a wonderful design.
Ted

Thanks everyone - Quaife it is, then. I noticed the MGOC price was seemingly low. That looks like the source to go with. I had already even emailed them for shipping cost information.
I kind of figured the welded rear end would walk all over. Heck, if my Jeep gets temporarily stuck in 4 Lock mode coming back on to the paved road it bucks like a mule. I've seen some off roaders with locked diffs have trouble even on loose stuff. It's funny how many folks have suggested it as an option though - it must be a better move for road racers.
Thanks again, Dean
Dean Lake

Dean,
How about the rules to changing your differential and rear brakes alltogether?

I dont recall our local laws or the SCCA SoloII rules, but if it is allowable in your class, You could change over to a GM or Ford rear axle...
The GM units that I have altered before were less then $2,000 finished and had the choices of 4.10, 3.73, 3.42, 3.23, 3.08 and so many other choices above and below that... With an aftermarket LSD installed and DISC BRAKES!!! A bias valve was needed, or should I say we never tried the rear axle without it. Drum brakes are the best way to go if you plan to stay with the stock wheel.

The four big issues anyone with the need for speed in an MG has:
How can I change gear ratios, is thier a higher/lower rear end I can use?
*How do I upgrade brakes affordably?
*A $1300.00 LSD??? What are you out of your mind?- (What you would say after looking at the unit for a Camaro rear end) You get them new for most US vehicles for around $300.00 from Summit, Jegs and numorous other companies!
*If I alter the car, can I put it back to "the way the factory did it"?
Answers:
Yes, Yup, uhh huhh, You betcha.
There are numorous shops willing to do the work if you are willing to search them out.

Just food for thought. Hope the sharks dont eat me alve now!!! Remember, I said it can be done without damaging your cars originality!

Ohh, umm, did I mention you can CHANGE THE WIDTH at the same time to your liking???

-Brian Mc Cullough.
http://bmcmcc.netfirms.com
BMC Brian McCullough

Brian,
As it just so happens this car will run this year in a class that allows any rear end. Hmmmm....on to the V-8 archives for a look see.
Dean
Dean Lake

Dean,
Everyone has thier reason for the axle they choose... For numorus reasons, I like the GM rear end... At least here in North America its plentiful and lots of options to it. Not to mention the gear ratios I wrote out are availible at just about every salvage yard around...
Several people have units setup and ready to go.. Of course one item that I forgot to mention, you'll need to fabricate a hybird driveshaft, but isnt that big of deal.

-Now I need to see if our club rules are so loose for the street prepared class and if so, can I convince my Dad to at least have me build that axle for him.... He still will not allow the V6- would put him in modified class against purpose built single seaters!! :-)

-BMC.
BMC Brian McCullough

Brian,

The car isn't running in F-Street Prepared anymore - I finally decided to run my strongest (and most built) engine. It puts her in the new Street Modified 2 class which allows any MG engine and any drivetrain going back regardless of manufacture. I actually don't think the car will be as competitive in SM2 as in FSP, but these are mods that I wanted to do to simply enjoy the car more.

Dean
Dean Lake


"...but these are mods that I wanted to do to simply enjoy the car more."


-Welcome to the dark side.
-BMC.




OK, I really love original cars too people. Most of what I do to MGs and other British cars are to as close to original spec as possible... But on the BBS, my favourite subject is "the dark side"...


























-Conversions.
BMC Brian McCullough

OK, Darth. I suppose next you'll be telling me you're my father, too. I have a light sabre and I'm not afraid to use it! Luke
Dean Lake

Well, I'm only 27 and both of our children are girls, so the likelyhood that I am your father isnt very good.

One other less expensive option is the phantom grip (something like phantomgrip.com) make a universal unit for around $350, but I dont know how compatable they are with MG Bs, but I thought they did something for these.

But if you have to take your axle apart and still have everything else the same, the only benifit is um, well.. Time and money.

-BMC.
BMC Brian McCullough

This thread was discussed between 10/02/2003 and 14/02/2003

MG MGB Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGB Technical BBS is active now.