MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

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 - range rover engine

Hello all from down under!

I am currently researching an MGB v8 conversion...and have sourced a range rover 3.9 litre v8...is this the same engine as the landrover...ie will it be suitable to transplant into my engine bay?

I have a 1978 MGB.

thanks...look forward to hearing back.

Marcus
Marcus

Hi Marcus. I'd suggest that you post your question on the "MGB engine conversions" as well as here.I'm sure you'll get more responses.

3.5, 3.9, 4.0, 4.6 are all equally suitable for a 'B conversion. Bigger is always better.

TTFN from the Great White North

Derek Nicholson

Yes Marcus, that’s what I've got in my '75. I'm using a Toyota supra gearbox. Dellow Automotive in Sydney sell the bell housings and the reco’ supra gearboxes. They ship world wide. You don’t have to alter the transmission tunnel with a Toyota box. Diff' is standard MGB. I am using the 'through the guards' RV8 style of exhaust extractor which adds horsepower and substantially cools the engine compartment. AA Automotive in Adelaide sell the extractors .
All the Range rover engines have the same exterior dimensions. As you are probably aware the 3.5 was fitted to the MGB GT in the '70's and the 3.9 was fitted to the Rover MGB RV8 in the '90's.
The 3.9 is a big improvement over the 3.5 motor. They added in all sorts of reinforcing to the block preparatory to stroking it out to the larger engines.
The 3.5 blocks were prone to cracking around the crank shaft, here in Australia at least. I looked at least half a dozen 3.5 blocks and did not see one that wasn't cracked.
What you will need to change, is the front cover. All Rover and range rover Front covers are readily interchangeable. There is a need to add a simple spacer to the balancer with the 4.0 and 4.6's.
The 3.9 front has a different oil pump to the 3.5's. You need a 3.5 pump. This pump is split into two halves having a top and a pump base that incorporates the oil filter attachment. This allows you to unbolt the bottom half and bolt on the Rover RV8 remote oil filter pump base. Doing this allows you to fit the engine into the car. Other wise the standard oil filter and the steering rack both want to occupy the same location. You cant shift the rack with out mucking up the steering geometry.
The 3.5 fronts are readily available and not particularly expensive, but the pump bases are at around $400 ! This is an unavoidable expense no matter what rover motor you use.
The 3.9 front covers are worth quite a bit more than the 3.5 fronts so I suggest you sell your 3.9 front to off set the cost of the pump base. I used my 3.9 distributor on the 3.5 cover no problems.
You could adapt a 3.9 front cover, but it would probably cost more than the usual RV8 approach.

Fuel injection- You will need to get the air intake machined unless you want a bulge in the bonnet, like the RV8. It will cost less than $100. You get a machine shop to weld up the vacuum take offs on the trumpet tray (middle part of the air intake manifold) and then machine up to 16mm off the bottom and up to 12mm off the top of the tray. If you are in Melbourne Engine improvements opposite the stKilda town hall did mine. There is currently a thread called 'MGB Fuel tank EFI' with a variety of approaches for supplying fuel to your mighty V8.
The only draw back with a 3.9 compared to the 3.5 is that the roadworthy engineer might require you to fit a brake up grade. This is not necessary I believe (the car gets lighter, not heavier) but some of them get insistent, and it probably doesn’t hurt at all. Volvo brakes with ventilated disks can be adapted to fit. mg workshops in Melbourne can sell you the necessary adaptor hoses with an ADR number on them (legal necessity), or even the whole kit if you don’t want to adapt the brakes your self. They work very well I must say.
P.N. Sherman

A nissan pintara radiator hose fits very well by the way.
P.N. Sherman

Thanks for your replies...I am in Brizzy, but will definately follow up on your leads...thanks...

I was considering removing the EFI and feeding her with a holley 4 barrel, but i'm fairly certain that I will need an MGC bonnet to do this?!?

I'm also exploring a CAPA supercharger kit at present, to bring power up another 60kw. Think i will definately need the brake upgrade though!

thanks again!

Marcus

Marcus, you might find this useful:-

http://www.bmcno.org/manuals/Rover%20V8%20Engine%20Overhaul%20Manual.pdf

Derek Nicholson

This thread was discussed between 28/11/2006 and 29/11/2006

MG MGB Technical index

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