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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - Jag Suspension Pieces

I was wondering if any of you are running the Jag IRS rear cage and if you are, where and how much did it cost? Thanks.
Jarrod Hills

Jarrod, several articles exist on this swap. Here is a web site to start with [http://www.mgbv8.co.uk/]. Also many years ago Petersons books had a story on another similar setup. Have the article somewhere if you want it. Can scan ands email to you.
regards
mark
mark mathiesen

Try this link

http://www.mgbv8.co.uk/

Nick Smallwood

Jarrod,The easiest way to install the Jag irs is to use the complete series 1(pre 68-9 6cyl)assembly,cage and all.That way there are no major modifications to be made to the body or the cage.The hub to hub measurement is only 5/8 in per side wider than we need(approx. 52in).I narrowed mine to match the MG rear so the wheel offset won't look strange.
Dave Deerson

Mark, during the process of narrowing your Jag IRS cage etc- did you cut and then re-weld the drive shafts of the unit plus the radius arms or were you able to accomodate the 5/8" difference of the Ser. I's hub->hub measurement to the MGB's by modifying the outer spindles of the rear hubs and the flanges of the drive shafts?
There's plenty of Ser. II(3.31) and Ser.III(2.88)Jag rear ends around here but few Ser.I's. XKE IRS units are too scarce here and the rodders with deep pockets mostly get those it seems. Did you have to change the 4 coil springs for a different rate of spring?
Thanks, AJM
Anthony Morgan

Totally out in left field, but could you adapt an IRS setup from the Ford Thunderbird SC, as did the folks at Factory Five racing (www.factoryfive.com)for their IRS Cobra kit car setup. Its got the advantage of being cheaper and underutilized.
Brian Corrigan

Anthony,I put the Jag unit in,not Mark.I would like to say that no matter how inexpensive another option for a rear set-up might seem,by the time it is modified,and re-engineered correctly to fit in a B,it will be expensive.I don't think it could be done for less than $2-3000.
I had CWI narrow some spare XJ6 lower arms.They have a service where the will narow your lower arms to your spec. and fabricate matching half-shafts.I opted for the extra re-inforcements so my cost was $680 for the set.I am trying to tell you guys that that the reason I am using the "more expensive" series 1 rear is that it goes in with the least amound of modifications to the cage OR the body.Sure you can use the later "cheaper" units such as Nick Smallwood did,but the amount of fabrication and modification needed seems too extensive to me.Machine/fabrication shop time is VERY expensive.I wish you guys could see my set-up,it looks like it belongs there.The car is far from completion due to other projects that came up this past year,But the rear is physically in the car and lined up with my lazer-alignment rack to square it up in the chassis(don't forget to do this important step or the car will handle worse than the original rear)
Installing ANY IRS in a B is a very expensive project and requires alot of planning and engineering to achieve desired results.I did this not really for the marginal handling and ride inprovements,but for the look and gee-wiz factor at shows.
Dave Deerson

This thread was discussed between 06/11/2001 and 07/11/2001

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