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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - Can I fit a 4.2 from a Range Rover?

Hi

I have the opportunity to buy a complete 4.2 V8 with 46,000 from a breakers with a warranty, for a good price. I expect this is from a Range Rover, and not the Discovery.

I expect it is from an auto as most of them are so will need flywheel/clutch/spigot bearing.

Apart from the water pump & crank pulley, are there any other parts I will need to change to fit it to my MGB? ie sump etc?

Would I be able to change this to a four barrel carb quite easily? Does it still have a dizzy or is everything controlled by the ECU? Might be easier than sorting out the injection as I expect the ECU will be coded with immobilsers, alarms etc. Plus a four barrel Weber would sound great!

If it is suitable I want to buy this engine asap as I don't want to miss out on it, so any help would be very much appreciated. Many thanks.

Paul
Paul Grundy

Me agin. Found some info in the archives. Will need SD1 front cover, new water pump, pulley, possibly alternator. If that is it then I will go ahead. My main concern is the injection to carb issue. Then again, if the injection is complete I could just keep it. Will have to check on that.

Paul
Paul Grundy

What year Rangie is it? There's a new fuel injection out in the very late cars. The conventional Plenum and injection can be made to work well with Megasquirt for minimal cost (check other posts). Just use this with the SD1 front cover. You need a P5B short water pump and crank pulley two but these have been reproduced and are readily available on Ebay. Check also the Mallory Uniliet distributer with electronic ignition built in (Again £250 on Ebay)
Stuart Robson

"crank pulley too" even
Stuart Robson

Paul
You also need to think about a gearbox. Either LT77 or the better R380. Also go for RV8 exhaust manifolds they flow much better and help keep the engine bay temperature down.
For about £500 you can get a Carb and manifold kit(edelbrock) that just bolts on. See RPI or v8tuner.co.uk.
You might need to use a smaller alternator.
If you need any pics let me know.

Mark

Mark

Hi Paul,
I have just put a 4.2 in my 74 B. The 4.2 used serpentine pulleys an a different oil pump
You will need:
Earlier front (timing) cover and water pump
Harmonic balancer and pulley.
An earlier distributor to mate with the oil pump on the earlier cover.
The hot wire EFI only drives the injectors, it doesn't touch the ignition like the later "Gems" system on the 4.0 and above after 1995.
In the USA, I am using a transmission from a Camato, a T-5 world class. With this transmission, as the tail shaft on the 4.2 is slitely longer than earlier engines I also have a 3/8th's inch spacer between the engine and the bell housing
Regards
Tony

Tony Bates

The 4.2 will definitely fit. I had one in my last BGT, & it is a great engine.

There is a lot of info in the archives regarding FI in a MGB, most of the problems are in regard to machining the intake for hood(bonnet) clearance which is really the only hurdle.

You can use the original front cover & serpentine drive if you are willing to modify the steering rack frame mounts & shorten the steering shaft. The radiator will have to be moved forward until it touches the slam panel, not a big job.

I have fuel injection on a 3.5 using the serpentine drive front cover from the 4.2 in a 1978 body, having machined the plenham per Roger Parker's instructions, & would never go back to carbs again. All the external dimensions are the same as the 4.2.

I will try to find a picture or 2 to send you.
Jim Stuart

Thank you all very much for your help and advice, it is very much appreciated. I will be using a Rover LT77 box, and was also planning on using the RV8 manifolds to help cooling, plus they give a bit more power!

I am going to wait for a few more responses from the parts request I did on the web, just to see how the prices compare and to see what else is available. Atleast now I know what additional parts I need to budget for on top of the cost of the engine. I hope to get an engine in the next week or two so I will keep you all updated. Thanks again.

Paul
Paul Grundy

Paul,

You could well be reaching the torque limits of the LT77 box, better to consider the R380 box as it can handle more power.

Mike
Michael barnfather

Hallo everybody

Reading all that above, I have a question.
My engine is a 4.6 l Rover V8 with SD1 timingcover.
My water pump has a holder for the pulleye which stands very far forwards, about 2 or 3 inch over the pulley.
The pulleys of other cars (Morgan, Rover P5 etc.) are smaller than mine probably also SD1. Do I need another pulley? Which diameter is right?

Greetings

Joerg
Joerg Huesken

Joerg
You need the short nose P5 waterpump.
Measure from the pulley mounting face to the front, should be in the region of 60mm. If its more you have the wrong pump.

Mark
Mark

This thread was discussed between 25/11/2004 and 26/11/2004

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