Keep the Stock and rebuild or go V6??

Well when I picked up my '72 MGB Roadster, the motor was tucked away in a barn for the winter so I had to get it at a later date. When I went out for the hunt and picked it up to throw in the truck, all the good water came out the exhaust ports (oh boy). So now that I see that people are talking about V6 Swaps and such, what would be best for me to do?? I havn't had the blockapart yet to be magnifluxed and checked for cracks. If the block is in good shape do I keep it and go for a rebuild or do I put the $$$ into a V6 instead??

THanks for the input guys and gals!!!

Dezi

V8 it

If you want to maintain the value of the car keep it stock. If you like a challange and want the adventure do your convertion. I can tell you the Buick V8 would be a simpler convertion. There is problems with the headers and the steering column with the V6 convertion. Neather one is a bolt in job, but the V6 would be the more difficult. I personally would stay with the bullet proof factory motor. You can get 150 HP out of it with out too much trouble. That's 50% more than the car was designed for.

Which costs more, assuming you already have an engine? Does the v-8 use the stock trans?

first off, I am in the midst of scrounging parts for a v6 conversion so I'm prejudiced that way. The v6 weighs 30# less than the B motor and in it's weakest 2.8 dead stock version puts out 110 hp. Engines and T5 trannys are available in any salvage yard, at very cheap prices. Fuel injection is a very real possibility. Motor and transmission mounts and headers are readily available <http://www.classicconversionseng.com/> I don't know about your 1972, but the rubber bumper cars have plenty of room in the engine compartment. I've seen several of these conversions including a 3.4 with nitrious and none of them had steering column problems. A good v6 source is <http://www.v6mgb.com/>

A friend is building a Lotus 7 clone and will use the Ford 2.0 16 valve engine. Every time I look at it, I think "small, lighter, easy 125-150 horses, bolt on T9 or T5 five speed...." Maybe, if I find a body with no motor?

What Tom said!!! :o)

Yes, what Tom said.
If the block is in good shape, rebuild the motor.
If it's an anchor, ship it to Gary for his anchor collection and proceed with the V6 swap.

You get TWO MG's. No, THREE !!!

One for stock, one for V6, and one for V8, THEN you can make all kinds of comparisons! I have a stock GT (sort of), 74 Roadster for V6, a Buick V8 on the floor to go into one of the GT's in the backyard.

Keep looking at my page. I finally got my conversion parts in and hope to update the page regularly know. I am in the process of moving, but hope to have the engine and tranny mounted before I do. I will take lots of pics.

Hi Jack - I helped a buddy build a Lotus 7 clone two years ago (Birkin). He used the stock Ford Zetec 2.0 mill with a 5-speed box. Stock injection and computer. With the header required to get it in the car, and a K&N filter, he gets 130hp at the rear wheels! Would be sweet in a B.

Problems are getting the box to fit the motor - needs a special bell housing and we had to machine the one with his kit to get it to work. Also, the boxes are hard to find, and expensive. It may be easier to put a Miata engine/box combination into either car. A colleague is building a Ginetta - it uses the stock Miata setup - should be interesting!

That's the stock engine for the Caterham. We had four running in E Production a few weeks ago. Beautiful! Dick's car is called a Locost. Original was built in England for 500 pounds. It starts literally with a book and a pile of square tube. He's got the frame and suspension built, and the engine almost done. He's going to use a Borg Warner T9 transmission from a Merkur XR4Ti (very nice 5-speed, as long as you don't overpower it), and only had a little work to do to get it to bolt on. I'm guessing ready to drive for under $5K, and about the same amount of time as we would put into a full restoration.

I'm for leaving a nearly stock engine in place. But it is your car, if you want to V6 or V8 it,please do it in a mannet so that the car is not destroyed rather than what some swappers do.

I have not done an engine swap, but for a chrome bumper car I believe that the V6 conversion involves much less modification to the body than a V8, and is therefore "easier". There is a whole forum devouted to this subject on the MG Owners BBS.
Personally, I like the stock engine just fine. Its part of the "MG Experience", IMHO. If I get a serious need for speed I can spend my money on more modern iron. The MGB is a vintage ride, and I like it that way.
Now the new Moss supercharger kit appeals to me greatly. It gives you 140 HP (plenty for a stock MGB), looks like a factory installation, and best of all if you sell the car you can simply unbolt the kit, re-install the stock carbs and dizzy, and install the kit in the next car.