New 1979 Pro Touring Project

I was so happy the other day when I found this forum web site. I have rebuilt several Classic Chevelles and the forum I was part of was a great help.

I am in the Military, stationed in Germany. Before I left El Paso Tx, I spotted a 1979 MG in back of a garage, I bugged the owner till he sold it to me for $300. This car has no rust anywhere, and the engine had 73,000 miles! From sitting in the El Paso heat for 10 years all cloth and rubber need replaced, but I didn’t care, I wanted a straight rust free car to start my project from. The car is in storage in El Paso; I will pick up the car summer 2007 and start the work. Currently, I am saving $$$, ordering parts for the interior and developing a plan for my pro touring 79 MG. I would like to hear if anyone notices any issues with any of this, as you guys seem to know everything, and have tried everything.

I intend to put in a chevy crate engine, 3.8L 3800 Supercharged V6.

The trans will be a Richmond 6 speed.

Suspension will come from MG Classic Conversions. Both front and rear, Bill Guzman told me he would have a rear suspension with rear end ready by next summer. The engine kit will also come from MG Classic Conversions. This will also give me 4 wheel disc brakes.

I want to keep a stock looking interior, but intend to put in Mazda Miata seats and chrome roll bar from a Miata as well.

I intend to put the chrome bumper kit on from Moss Motors. The rubber ones on now are shot, I like the chrome, and it is cheaper.

I have just started to research Headers, steering, size of wheels, and I saw a hood on this site which looks like stock, it has a closed scoop, liked the way it looked. I have also been struggling with instrument gauges. I have a complete dash in my basement, want to keep the stock look, but with after market gauges, not so easy to figure out.

Any suggestions will be welcomed, I want a pro touring type vehicle, and honestly I am not real smart yet on a MG set up. But this site will help tremendously!

You do know that since the 3.8 is a 90 degree v6 you will have to do some sheet metal modification for the exhaust routing. I have seen cars with a 3.8 engine in them so it can be done, but I have never seen one with a supercharger. I am not familiar with these engines but I think you may run into some problems with overall engine height with a supercharger unless you buy/make a modified hood/bonnet.

As for the six speed I recall an earlier discussion on this board where I believed it was said that this transmission would be too large for the transmission tunnel. I have seen this trans up close next to a t-5. There is a good bit of difference and since the t-5 is a little tight in some areas a 6 speed may require a little bit of sheet metal modification.

I think this combination is possible, but will require more time and money. I am sure others will chime in with information on the 60 degree v6 and t-5 conversion that is one of the more common conversions. This combination has produced some very fun cars that can have above 200hp.

It sounds like you have a good car to start with and are on the right path with your research. There is alot of good people and information on this board, so with a little reading of past and present posts you will learn alot.

Good luck with what ever path you take with the car.

The six speed sounds great but when you start to calculate the need for a different rear axle, limited slip and other items, a 5 speed with a good rear axle will give better performance for a car with even 40 BHP and Tq less.

Also, I think you'll need a bit of a bulge for the charger unless you put it off to the side.

-BMC.

You guys have helped me more then you know. The trans information is something I did not know.

The 3800 supercharged crate engine I want to put in is at this link below. I have seen V-8's in MGs, I didn't think I would have an issue with this engine, has no one tried this before?

http://www.sdpc2000.com/catalog/120/products/228944/38L-3800-Series-III-Supercharged-V6-Crate-Engine.htm

rpm66

The picture of the motor you are planning to use will need lots of work to fit. Lots of components to remove, lots of time to reconfigure belt routing to clear the frame, time for mounts, time for intake system (manifold can NOT be turned around with that style supercharger most likely), heater will have to go for room for the intake and lots of specialty items to make it all fit including a good possibility of hundreds of hours tuning a aftermarket ECU or some kind of generic system.

OVerall cost for the end result- from what i am seeing, pretty high, but not terrible.

-BMC.

You need to buy the books that have been written on engine swaps for the MGB. There are 2 on the swap itself and 2 or 3 on modifying the Rover V8. The engine books have from street to ful race engines described. All the books are well worth the money.

While the crate motor looks cool, you will have to cut the hood, firewall and tunnel to put it in a B.

Bottom line is that if I or someother guy pulled up next to you with our high-performance aluminum engine/trans that weighs less than the stock setup, we are going to embarrass you.

I'm glad I started this process as early as I have. This is good information.

I have no desire to race anyone wit this car, I want to increase the horsepower enough t make it fun to drive. Having said that, I am probably looking at the 3.4L.

I also have seen a Ecotec 2.2L fuel injected 4 cyl crate engine. It is brand new, and has 140hp. Has anyone attempted this kind of set up. I know it is a 4 cyl for a 4 cyl, but I believe it is still better performance then the stock engine.

I dont know of anyone doing the ecotec yet.

If I switched to a new series of motor, it would be after 2009 when the new MG TF shows itsself. Using that motor (presumably the K series) would alow a person to claim that they installed an MG motor back into their car. In some racing series, this would be installing the OEM motor in your car and would be in a modified class, but against cars that would be less then all out purpose built racers. Also, the K series is quite an interesting motor according to what i understood.

-BMC.

"I want to keep a stock looking interior, but intend to put in Mazda Miata seats and chrome roll bar from a Miata as well."

Miata seats are a easy fit. They're comfy and don't look out of place in an MGB. Headrest speakers are pretty nice too!

But....forget about the Miata roll bar (most of which are "style" bars anyway). The "shelf" behind the Miata seats is much higher than the MG. If you bolted a Miata roll bar onto an MGB rear shelf you probably wouldn't be able to see it :D