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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - Advice for an older-MGB-enthusiast (or a kna***red

I’m 60 years old and looking ahead (not forward) to the time when driving my 1978 MGBGT, with its old Rover V8 and MGB overdrive gearbox, becomes too difficult to be enjoyable. I’m wondering what changes I can incorporate into the car in the near future (while I can) to make life easier later on (when, perhaps, I won’t be able to).

One obvious option would be to use an automatic gearbox. Perhaps put the 4-speed ZF autobox, used on Range Rovers or Discoverys, into the MG when the highly-stressed MG gearbox fails. Maybe the MGOC’s power steering package would also help? Another thing might be to improve the seating to ease the strain on my ageing back!

I appreciate that these concepts would not appeal to the purists but I would welcome the views of anybody who’d like to comment – experience, ideas or just plain old-fashioned prejudices!

Regards

Peter
P L Hills

Peter, let me be the first to offer advice and help with htis matter, even though i am in the states i sure i can help. Save your back now before its too late. Also don't cobble up this wonderful car and take the chance of agitating the purists that are around every corner. You would be best served by driving a comfy sedan, maybe a ford midsized or possibly a vw passat if they have them over there, i wil gladly help out and take this mg off your hands for a couple thousand pounds thus saving you harm to your body and also abuse mental anguish
jim m

Pete
You do what ever you want, as long as it makes you smile when you drive it - sod the purist.
I went to the Bristol Classic Car Show and I saw some lovely padded leather seats on the Moss stand (probably v expensive) although its surprising what you can get done by a custom uphoslster. For my conversion I bought a SD1 which was automatic. I can't see why the box wouldn't go in although just as for the 5 speed I have you will probably need a transmission tunnel mod and a new propshaft. You either do it, or pay for it but its not that difficult if you have the time to spare.

Good luck
Pete
Pete H

I've seen a couple of B's with rover automatics in them.
I also remember reading a comment from a guy in Sydney Australia that one of the rover auto gearboxes fits in without any mods to the tunnel. Sorry I can't be more specific but it will be somewhere in the archives.
Peter

The factory produced the B with the BW35 auto box of course, so these would go right in. I occasionally see one for sale, but it would be the 4-pot of course. Probably preferable to get a BW35 (common) and mate it to your V8 rather than butcher a genuine rare auto. I'd want to try the power steering first, it might ruin the driving experience. Personally I'm more comfortable in either of my Bs than an 89 Celica, but maybe my back has just grown that way after a lifetime driving BL cars! Have you tried the ZS or a TF yet? I can vouch for the brilliant driving experience of the former.
Paul Hunt

Peter, the V8 version of the BW35 will not fit in the tx tunnel of an MGB without major surgery. The BW65 or BW66 will.They're only 3 speed , but with your diff. ratio, they'd be quite adequate. Whether the later 4 speeds will fit ,I don't know. I've been using an auto (BW65) for the last 5 years & I'm more than happy with the result. You can always use the shifter like a manual if you want to burn some boy racer off at the lights.
I'm not a purist by a long shot, but my feelings on your situation are ,to sell the original car as is & do your stuff on a converted car. Ther's no end to the mods you can do. I've fitted remote control central locking, cruise control,delayed wipers,CD player to name a few. I don't think power steering is necesary with the later steering rack & the right tyres.Good luck. Barrie E
Barrie Egerton

Barrie,
What type of surgery did you have to do to your car?
I bought a "project" with an auto in it and there where no mods. It's an auto from a US spec Rover 3500 which is the BWt35.
I saved it for my next GT project. Want to do the spirited easy ride with A/C for the wife.

Kelly
Kelly Combes

The export Rover SD1 US and Australian market [we were dammed to having the same emission controls]had Borg Warner 65 from 1977 to mid 1980 , BW 66 till mid 1983 then GM180 till the end of production -All Vandenplas 1981-87 had the GM180
Russell

Hi folks,

Many thanks for your range of comments. Does anybody know anything abouit putting Mazda MX5/Miata seats into an MGBGT?

Barrie, by the way, my car is a 1978 rubber bumpered car originally gitted with an 1800cc I4 engine; it now has a very old, 1967 Rover P5B V8 that was first used by Costello in an MGBGT in 1972. Thanks for your views on the BW65. That would seem the simplest way to go; I was wondering whether there would be any advantages in using the later 4-speed autobox. Maybe I just need a bigger (3.9L?) engine to make up for any differences the earlier autobox might cause.

Regards

Peter
P L Hills

Miata seats are an easy swap & much more comfortable than the originals. They come in both cloth & tan leather, some have speakers in the head rests. I have done 3 cars with them, including 2 GTs.

Modifying the seat tracks is not that difficult. The front mounting holes will work with a bit of "egging". To make the rear mounts work, drill out the rivets that hold the foot to the track. install the loose foot onto the original mounting hole in the floor & see where it will attach to the slide. Weld or bolt in place. Judicious use of a tape measure & carpenter square is a good idea. I bolted mine up, installed the seat, making minor corrections, then removed & welded.

The holes in the Miata track are quite large & I used double fender washers under a new, longer grade 8 bolts.




Jim Stuart

Peter, sorry, for some reason I thought your car was an original V8.The year should have told me differently. The down side with the BW65 is the top gear is 1/1 ratio so you need a taller diff than the original 3.9.
Kelly, I didn't use the BW35 because it fouled on the tunnel walls & there was no way the bands could be adjusted with the auto in situ. Plus it's an ancient trans. & is very "clunky" when changing gear. The downside on the BW65/66 is the inhibitor switch. It's very fragile & falls to bits very easily.My advise is, don't try to pull the wires off. Leave them in situ & cut leads ,then resplice them. The switches are expensive to replace. Barrie E
Barrie Egerton

Barrie,

Thanks - fortunately I have the original, ex-Costello, MGC rear axle - 3.07:1 - so I'm not too badly undergeared. However, the BW65 would not give me the same top gear as thye MGB overdrive unit. Maybe I need a higher rear axle ratio if using an autobox?

Regards

Peter
P L Hills

Peter, I'm over 60 and running an MGA, "factory" B GTV8 (with a John Eales engine), and an RV8.

In your post of 12th February you said "Maybe I just need a bigger (3.9L?) engine to make up for any differences the earlier autobox might cause."

I would go for that - new cross bolted 4.6l engines are still available at reasonable prices with all new ancilliaries.

Start by talking to John Eales who will build you an engine from new parts to your specification - up to 5.2 litres if you want!

http://www.rover-v8.com/

Have a look at DJE too, although I prefer John:-

http://www.djev8.com/

Ashcroft can supply a reconditioned ZF 4 speed automatic gearbox (ZF4HP22) plus all the fitting kit

http://www.ashcroft-transmissions.co.uk/

I haven't seen this box in a B; but I believe its fairly straightforward, and certainly woth investigating.

Good luck

Nigel


Nigel Steward

This thread was discussed between 10/02/2004 and 13/02/2004

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