Using the original MGB transmission

I am wondering if Dann has made any progress on the Standard MGB transmission to GM V6 mating? And I also want to know how Darrell Levine matched his Buick V6 to the tranny. THis is a followup on a December post.

Thanks.

Kenn,

I had a fellow who used to build a few hot rods, design and fabricate an adapter plate from 1/2 inch aluminum. The flywheel is fom a 2.8 Chev, with weights added to bring it into balance with the Buick 3.8. A aluminum/steel sleeve is fitted unto the input shaft and a GM Roller release bearing rides upon it. I fabricated a stop that works with the original slave(sorta like a Austin Mini has) to adjust when the release bearing activates (and to stop it from riding against the pressure plate. Pressure plate is GM, Driven Clutch is from a Dodge Truck.......it all works!!! I had to sleeve and reduce the inside diameter of the slave so that it would have enough throw to fully release the clutch (changed the inside diameter to 1 inch)
I've got more than 30k miles on this with no problems, shifts smooth as silk, I don't drive it like a teenager, but don't putt around with it either. (more like spirited driving I would call it)
Ratios for the Mgb transmission with overdrive work great with the 3:07 gears I've got installed.

Kenn,
I had a fellow who used to build hot rods design and fabricate an adapter plate from 1/2 inch aluminum. The Pressure plate and Flywheel are 2.8 Chev, the flwheel has weight added to bring it into balance with the 3.8 Buick. I have an aluminum/steel sleeve over the input shaft and a Gm Roller release bearing rides upon it. The clutch disk is from a Dodge truck (Same splines on input shaft)
I fabricated a stop that works with the original slave (like an Austin Mini) that controls the engagement and action of the release bearing (also stops it from constantly riding against the pressure plate)

I had to sleeve and reduce the inside diameter of the original slave to get enough throw to fully disengage the clutch.

I have over 30k miles on this combination!!!!!I don't drive it like a teenager, but I don't just putt around with it either.(more like spirited driving I would call it)

It's a blast to drive, I don't think I could ever go back to a 4 Banger

The OD mgb tranny works great with the 3:07 gears I got installed.

Darrell,

Thanks for writing back. I would think that set up could be a pretty cool kit if you ever wanted to pull the tranny and copy the adaptor plate, etc for others to replicate. I would think some of the 3.8s that are internally balanced would maybe be able to forgo a full flywheel treatment (?). Smarter guys than me (like you) can determine that. I assume you rerouted the steering. Did you keep/relocate the same radiator? Thanks again for answering.
Maybe Dann and Bill could do something similar with an adaptor for the 60 degree engine and sell an additional kit for people who want a low powered v6 alternative for people rebuilding their stock 4 bangers. They would still be able to sell mounts, headers, suspensions, etc. and maybe grow the market for people like me who don't want to redo driveshafts, rethink shifter placement, etc. I recognize the superiority of the t-5 and all that. I think there is a point where I put a certain amount of family money in for a nostalgic car and make it fun and interesting and relive a lot of the memories from my youth. If I want high performance beyond that, I would tend to buy a mustang cobra convertible or hot rod an eclipse convertible or some other newer machine that has all the safety stuff and the rest of the family could buy into. I get the labor of love routine. Heck I have had two pull handle MGBs and I only want another dozen because they get under your skin once you've spent a summer night driving around in one. I just think there is another market out there.... for what it is worth.

Kenn

I didn't touch any of the steering linkage, or the rack. My Car is a 75 rubber bumper and the motor was a simple drop in....crankshaft sits deadcentre 1/2 inch lower than the stock 4banger did. (with clearance of about 1/2 between the bottom pulley and the steering rack) I briefly considered using a t-5 but decided to keep the original tranny to maintain stock shifter location, , stk hydraulic clutch system, stock driveshaft etc.
I have a rad from a 6cyl camaro turned sideways, and slanted forward with dual puller electric fans. Didn't even try it with the stocker, though that may have worked. Headers were custom fabricated and exit through the wings, finished off with dual exhaust.
Kept all the original guages and recalibrated the Smiths Tach, stock appearing inside and out except for dual exhaust and the ''go when you hit the throttle.

Darrell, I can't get over the fact that you didn't have to move the steering to accomodate the engine block. That has always been a concern with the 3.8. How close is the steering to the engine, headers, and frame? What did you use for motor mounts? Do you have pictures? Thank you very much for responding.

Kenn

Kenn, after I spoke to you, curiosity crept up on me and I made a visit to the local breaking yard for a look see at a 3.8 Buick engine which has it's starter on the driver side if it were used as an inline engine. There was a Cadillac 4.9 push rod engine there also. It appeared the two had similar bellhousing bolt patterns and starter locations so I match them up with a bellhousing I had with me that fit a 3.4 60V6. The housing was close on both engines and I was able to get screws in the housing but I couldn't be sure if the center opening for the T5 transmission would be on center.

The reason I did this tour was to see if our exsisting products could be used which would affect the use of the MGB stock transmission with a 60V6 engine or Buick 3.8. After I studied the whole situation I came to a pre-conclusion. Here are the results.

When adapting a MGB transmission to a 60V6 engine several things need to be addressed.

1. There are two different engine to transmission transition plates in the various model MGB's. This means if an adapter plate was made it would have to be a fits all.

2. The starter could be an issue. The FWD starter (on driver side) is the opposite side from the RWD as you know. The most favorable spot, and it appears the only spot, for the starter would be on the drivers side. This is because there will be a conflict with the original mounting for the MGB slave cylinder and the new 60V6 or Buick starter position. It appears that the starter could be placed on the driver side of the RWD by boring and tapping two holes in the boss/flange/ear/whatever. If we did the conversion for the use of a 60V6 mated to a MGB transmission we could loan/rent out a simple but accurate jig fixture that bolts to the engine block for this purpose. There are already fixtures available for this modification from another source that one could purchase.

3. The MGB transmission bellhousing would have to be slightly modified at the starter area. This could be done with common tools around the garage.

4. The condition of the original MGB transmission would have to be excellent to endure. Of course that is up to the driver and his use of the car.

Thanks to Darrell for his input and solutions it's possible we could pull this one off. As I left the machine shop, my friend Marc at TCE had that curious look in his eye too.

Darrell, thanks for your review. Could you explain how you set up your starter?

Thanks,
Dann

There are some pretty good hot rodders up in Winnipeg, eh?

Hi Dann,
The starter we used is a small gear reduction unit from a v6 Ford Aerostar. It is mounted on the adapter plate just above the slave cylinder. Although it would work without doing this: I decided to machine approx 1/4 inch off the adapter plate at the starter mounting location to provide the starter with more ''bite'' on the flywheel.The slave is attached with longer bolts and 1/2inch spacers so that the hose and back of the cylinder clear the starter. The stock length push rod is retained.

Darrell, thank youy very much for that information. As time permits, thanks to your efforts, we will explore the possibilities of making the plate as a production item. I would like to encourage you to send photos if you would. The whole idea is to get more people involved with their MGB projects and this info certainly opens a door for them.

Thanks again,
Dann BCC

I got bunch of pictures,....and hopefully some day...... will figure out how to attach them and send through this forum