MG MGB and MGB GT Tech Talk
I just noticed today that my trans crossmember is fairly badly twisted, which is driving the engine/trans forward by about 1/2"-5/8". There are a number of good crossmembers on e-bay, and it appears from the ads that the '62-'67 crossmembers are different from the '68-onward, is this correct?
Early 3-sychro cars had a gearbox stay bar that was fitted to a joint screwed to the front of the crossmember and to the mounting eye in the gearbox casting. 4-sychro B's did not use any additional applications than the normal rear gearbox rubber mounts ans support bracket as the engine mounts had limiting brackets mounted to provide the power train to move forward. RB B's had different engine mounts and an engine stay rod fitted was fitted to the back plate of the engine and to the crossmember.
The basic crossmember of all CB and RB cars can be used for either MY MGB by just adding the stay bar mounts if necessary.
Ralph has it.
John Twist has a video on YouTube that shows the differences. I'd give you a link, but i'm not on a "real" computer right now. Videos don't work for me.
Sorry guys....the final answer is...... the early crossmember indeed has a steady link, BUT, it is fastened to the crossmember IN THE REAR, not the front. The bar then passes through the crossmember to hook up to the trans lug on the engine side of the crossmember. All three synchro boxes use this crossmember. They are not interchangable with the later crossmember. The 4 synchro crossmembers are interchangable from '68<80. The RB cars has the steady rod running from the FRONT of the crossmember to the attaching point at the engine backing plate. Can be retro-fitted to any year car using the 4 synchro box.
Yup, early had the stay rod in the rear. I missed that, my bad! It went from rear, to none, to front if I remember the John twist video.
Here is the video (I think) I can search for it, but cannot see it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUJE0AkWh1E
