advice sought on fitting 1.8 MGB engine to moggie!

Post by **The-Mog-Warden** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 5:20 pm

Hi all. Only recently a member of the forum, but had Moggies for 15 years now!

I see that the knowledge base on here is phenomenal, so thought I’d pick your brains!

I am thinking of putting a B series 1.8 MGB engine (off a rubber bumpered MGB-) into my 948cc car.
I want to put it onto a ford based 5 speed conversion gearbox AND use the MGB rear axle if possible (inc diff, shafts etc!).
I would like to take the disc brakes off the MGB too and use them.

Has anyone here done similar and can they advise on what parts I would need to acquire.

Is the MGB rear axle easily modified to fit- and is it the correct length?

Have seen a Marina axle on a saloon and with wide wheels it fits the rear arches beautifully!

All help and advice please!!

And apologies to purists who like the beautiful 948cc engine!!

Post by **MoggyTech** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 6:14 pm

With all the work involved IMHO you would be better fitting a Vtech engine or the Fiat Twin Cam. They are both revy engines and give much better bang for the buck,

Post by **Gareth** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:48 pm

The difficulty with the B engine is that it's really far too heavy for the suspension to cope with. Even with uprated front suspension, it would alter the weight distribution so much (and the weight distribution in a standard Moggy is very good) that it could well be rather a handful...

MT's ideas of the Fiat Twin Cam or similar would be a better option, or even the 1275 A or A+ engine.

Post by **bigginger** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:36 pm

I know that's the standard reaction to this*, but does anybody (Plastic orange knows of one, I know) actually have any experience of such a beast?

* I've trotted it out myself before now

Post by **alex_holden** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:54 pm

What about the Riley 1.5 and Wolseley 1500? They apparently have a Minor-based floor pan and suspension with a B-series engine.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:16 pm

Exactly - the W1500/R1.5 had the B series engine in there and it worked well enough! Although it was 1500cc - it's just as heavy as the 1800 B engine ! I would advise just using the MGB gearbox (with overdive if possible) to save any hassle - and with that torque a 4 speed box with a nice low ratio diff should be fine, if you don't have the o/drive.

Post by **plastic_orange** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:05 pm

You should search the forum for my previous posting on this subject, but suffice to say in my opinion the weight isn't really a problem - certainly my car handled pretty good (before the introduction of uprated torsion bars - would fit them now though). I would do as suggested and use the B box (needs bellhousing notching and hydraulic clutch), and use the B axle if you have it (check width compared to Minor - I used a Ford Capri unit).
I used a sherpa diesel radiator with electric fan, and had Marina disc brakes with servo. I have a proper 3 branch manifold for this conversion (if you want it) which takes care of this area.
The end result is a car that will do around 110+ easily, with reasonable fuel consumption, has loads of low down grunt, and sounds pretty good with a free flow silencer.
Make sure that you uprate the brakes and suspension to cope, fit anti tramp bars, and ensure the body structure is in good order to keep you safe.
My car had a full race engine and was a match for RS 2000's etc (new when I had an MGB engine in my Minor), but when this expired I replaced it with a standard MGB engine with a Stage 2 head and twin 1 3/4 SU's - this was as quick as any Fiat twin cam Minor (proved on the road).
Please PM me if you want any more details, but remember, I did this in 1973 (after blowing up my Riley 1.5 engine), and dismantled the running gear in around 1988. I did around 100,000 miles in this time in my Minor.
Pics of it are somewhere on here, and on www.minormania.com

Pete

Post by **downsey** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 3:25 am

I have fitted both the mgb rear end as well as the front disc brakes to my morris. Trust me, you will be amazed by the stopping power!

Post by **The-Mog-Warden** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 3:28 pm

Hmmm... thanks for the responses so far... I must say, there seems to be divided opinion over the weight issue... keep the posts coming please!! Does ANYONE currently drive one??

Post by **plastic_orange** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 4:30 pm

I wonder if folk who say the B series is too heavy in a Minor have actually driven one. There were plenty of them up here, and no one had a problem with handling. Obviously it would have been better if engine was lighter (they do understeer in the wet, but so does a standard Minor), but mine certainly matched all the hot tickets as far as performance and handling went back in the dinosaur era.
When I was looking to replace the tweaked Riley 1.5 unit in my Minor, I had the chance of buying a well sorted 'Shannon' Ford Kent engine, but opted for another B instead. With hindsight, I should have gone for that, but ended up spending a fortune on modifying an MGB engine.
If you've got the engine/box, just go for it - they are really cheap, and have a vast spares backup - plus it keeps the heritage.
Oh - and they are loads quicker than an A series

Pete

Post by **Kevin** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 4:39 pm

"Shannon" engine Pete not heard of one of those before is it a special spec like the old Broadspeed and Burton engines.

Post by **plastic_orange** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 4:55 pm

Hugh (I think) Shannon was a well known tuner from near Perth. His speciality was Hillman Imps, but he turned his hand to others as well - I think he started out with motorcycles. If you had a Shannon engine, you were the 'John Milner' (American Graffiti fans will know him) of the town. In the Dundee area, 'Agra' (still in business) was the hot ticket.

Pete

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 5:39 pm

Yes - I thought of Imps when Shannon was mentioned. They were FAST!

Post by **Matt** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 5:48 pm

If you do it... tell the insurance company its from a marina... because its a saloon engine rather than a sports car engine it will probably make a difference to the premium ;)

Post by **plastic_orange** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 10:00 pm

I did this - made a huge difference then, but probably not now.

pete

Post by **Kevin** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 10:55 am

If you had a Shannon engine, you were the 'John Milner' (American Graffiti fans will know him) of the town.

But only if the car was yellow

I have only ever been in a pickup that had MGB running gear and that was over 10 years ago and the handling really did leave a bit to be desired and the owner who had not had the car long had bought it as is, so I can only assume that the suspension hadnt been sorted out properly, what did you have to do to yours Pete.

Post by **plastic_orange** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 12:49 pm

I had spax adjustable telescopic shocks all round (front levers filled with hypoy 90) and Traveller springs on the rear, slight negative camber on the front, and lowered all round by about an inch. Unfortunately no poly bushes or uprated torsion bars then.
Also 6 x13's front and 8 x 13's rear.

Pete

Post by **Kevin** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 5:47 pm

Right Pete that answers a few points because the one I went in still had standard rims and shocks and the ride height looked normal, so I don't think it would have had any of the suspension mods you carried out which obviously makes a lot of difference.

Post by **dunketh** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 4:47 pm

I hope when/if you do go this route you document everything you do.

Its something I've thought about in the past but always discounted due to the weight/handling arguments.

Aside from having the exhaust on the other side of the car I can't see there being too much different from fitting an A series.
How are you going to link the box to the axle - wont you need a custom prop?

Post by **plastic_orange** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 5:29 pm

Exhaust is on the same side - just a grown up A series. Prop is an easy fix - plenty companies do 1 offs.

Pete