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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - v8 conversion for a 1964 MGB Roadster

Can any one give me an idea of the cost and work to convert the car to a Buick v8? I am interested in only a nice street conversion and nothing to race or rally. I am concerned about cost. Thanks, Dave
David

David
in short the answer to your question is how long is a piece of srting?
it depends on what you realy want to do. Do you want to change the interior? do you want to rebuild the engine? how far do you want to go with tranny mods? how far do you want to go with suspention mods?

at a first stab i would try looking in the archives..or wait a bit and someone may beable to help but usually they find a bargain to help keep prices down.
Have you already got a car then?
Ken

David,

A good place to find that kind of info is in the British V8 Newsletter.

http://www.BritishV8.org
Dan Masters

David
The mark 1 (63-67) cars are the most difficult to convert. It can be done but they require more mods to the tunnel, firewall etc, thus more cost and time. If you a good fabricator with sheet metal you can do a lot of the work yourself and save $$$. The 75-80 cars are by far the easiest, its almost a bolt in job. 68-74 cars require some fabrication work but not as much as the mark 1 cars.
Bill
bill jacobson

David-
If you're concerned about cost, then you should tell us what the upper limit is of what you'll spend. Then we can tell you if it could be done at all for that price.

You'll have to replace the OE transmission because the early 3-synchro model just won't handle the power of the V8 for long. You'll also need to replace that tired OE Hardy-Spicer Banjo Axle with a freshly-rebuilt (not overhauled) Salisbury tube-type axle from a MkII MGB. You'll need to remove the stock motor mounts and weld in ones from a Rubber Bumper Model. You'll also need the radiator diaphram from a Rubber Bumper model. You'll have to do a bunch of changes to the sheetmetal of the engine compartment and transmission tunnel. Of course, there's that custom driveshaft, too. Cost? Well, at today's prices, to do it really right on a 1964 model (including the suspension modifications to properly handle the extra torque) I'd guesstimate about, oh, $8,000. That's if you do almost all of the work yourself. Ready?
Steve S.

David,

For a regular driver to a fast early model MG B, look at the V6 conversion. The motor is almost a drop in job. Remove the motor mounts with a hack saw and install the new prefabricated mounts that bolt to the subframe. The headers drop down along side the motor and require NO CUTTING of the inner fenders to fit. We use stock MG B radiators without overheating problems because these motors cool themselves very well and the engine bay has lots of room to work around without trapping the heat. The motors we use are all cast iron and weigh in fully decked out trim ready to install with a 5 speed gearbox weigh LESS then the MG B motor and overdrive gearbox. The worst setup I could see someone build would have 130BHP and 150 for Tq. The normal builds for these are 150-220 BHP and 160-220 Tq for streetable motors. More can be built, but at a price that a person on a tight budget might want to think of later.
BTW: With the exception of a Mc Loed bearing and the conversion kit, the rest of the components can be purchased at EVERY local salvage yard or through us.
Price? The most I have heard to this point someone spending in parts was $7,000.00 for a fairly tricked out model and the least was $2,000.00
If I was going to build myself one, I would expect about $4,500.00 as average in parts.
OK, not a V8, but....
http://www.drive.to/bmc.com

No, the factory didn't build these, but if the technology would have been availible.................

Good luck,
-BMC.

(Ohh, Yes. Very Dependable.)
Brian Mc Cullough

I have just finished converting my 1964 car to a Rover V8 and of course had to do all the firewall cutting etc. I was fortunate enough to buy a damaged body shell from a later rubber bumper car. It was very badly damaged and I cut out all the shapes to make the engine bay on my car look like the later car and give me all the engine room which the factory V8 cars had. My car looks like a standard 4 cylinder MGB except for the stronger MGC wire wheels and a larger exhaust. I am very pleased with the result. I find the early car with the narrow transmission tunnel has more leg room which is important to me as I am 6'4".
I recommend you obtain a copy of a book written by Roger Williams 'HOW TO GIVE YOUR MGB V-8 POWER'. It is a Speedpro series book IBSN no 1 874105 40 5. This publication discusses most af the options and in particular bodyshell modifications. In the US you will have more gearbox options than described in the book which only discusses Rover and MG gearboxes. In Australia many people use Supra gearboxes and bell housing etc are available.

This book is far from perfect as there are so many options, but is in my view an essential starting point especially if you wish to maintain an 'MG theme' to the conversion.

Good Luck

Ian Buckley
Ian Buckley

Thanks to all of you for the very worthwhile information on the V8 conversion for a 1964 MGB. I failed to mention that I also have a 1980 roadster that was restored by a shop to be a nice street version but not show quality. It has a slight bore, a mild cam, headers, Weber side draft 45, electric fan and electric overdrive. I would not wish to fool with this car even if it better lends itself to the V8 conversion. I am interested in the concept of the V6 conversion for the 1964 roadster. I would be interested in finding out more of a guide to this process if anyone knows of good contact, the V6 to use, etc.. Thanks again for all the information. By- the-way, I do have a fair amount of 65 through 73 MGB used parts and an nos right front fender as well as both sides rear half qtr. panels. Also two good roll bars with cross members. Dave
Dave

please convert the '80, NOT the '64!!! A lot of us want an early car, less want a rubber bumper, and there are much more rubbers than early B's, so why ruin a true collectible classic instead of a 'more common' one? (I really don't mean to offend rubber bumper drivers here!!! I hope you se my point)
?

David,
We have just completed a total overhaul of the website about 5 pm last night. Check out the site again and look at the "MG B V6 conversions" and well as "Links" for more of what you want. I can also refer you to a few other people who have completed/ are completing their conversions.
http://www.drive.to/bmc.com

I think that people will be able to have a better comparison of prices and what it takes as we have spent along time setting up pricing on my site as well. Quite a number of items are availible at any salvage yard, such as bell housings, motors, gearboxes and so on, but since we sell complete packages as well, there was a need to give a list of everything that could be thought of.

If your in town, stop by and if i have a car undergoing proccess, i will be glad to show you what there is to see.
Good luck,
-BMC.
Brian Mc Cullough

Here’s a site that doesn’t answer the question of cost, but does give a good overview of the project with clear differences based on model years.
http://www.british-cars.org.uk/kimber/v8_conversions/rogv8.html
Looking at this you can determine what you can do yourself and what you would have to have done. You can start looking at sources for parts after you decide which parts are needed based on how you want to do the job. We know only three things about your proposed project; you live in the US, you have a ’64 MGB and you want to use a Buick V8. Those three things do affect the total cost, but so do many other things such as the transmission you choose, whether you buy a radiator or have one built and if you can weld. You could keep cost down by retaining the back axle or spend up to a couple of thousand dollars buying a modified replacement. Some expenses would be difficult to say if they are related to the conversion such as painting that may or may not be required (almost certainly the engine compartment will need painting after all the modifications.)
George Champion

This thread was discussed between 30/03/2002 and 04/04/2002

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