MG Sports Cars

I am looking for suggestions.

I have had a lot of MGs over the years and I like them but they never were the last word in automotive technology. I still have three plus a lot of parts and I think I want to put a stock V6 in a 1974 model. I don't want to race it, I only want to enjoy it. I have built many of these MG cars as well as other English cars and I have the facilities to do whatever is needed.

My thought is to buy a donor car and use the engine/transmission with as little modification as possible, preferably, I just want to clean the engine, change the plugs,filters and oil. I have a problem with identifying the potential engines available. Preferably I would want a rear-drive arrangement in the donor car but if there is a solution converting a front-drive engine with a rear-drive transmission and the adapter components are inexpensive, but I can't see where that would be cost effective.

I prefer fuel injection to a carburetor .

Because I probably have a generation gap problem with vocabulary, I would like any responses to avoid slang and abbreviations. I have not kept up with the various car models or their engines so when someone responds with the displacement of an engine, I would like to know the model of the vehicle that used that engine or transmission.

I have ruled out the old Buick 215 engine because it is old technology and it is too popular and too scarce and the transmission is also old technology. I worked for Marge Schott's Buick as a mechanic while going to college in 1961+ and know that engine inside out.

So, can I have suggestions as to what would be a good selection with an automatic transmission?

Dieter Schmied
Cincinnati
dieterschmied@gmail.com

Mid 90's 3.4 V6, Camaro/Firebird.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/18/2010 12:59AM by mgb260.

There are LOTS of excellent modern engines to choose from. Jim mentioned a favorite. The GM sixty-degree V6's are especially popular because they match all the criteria you listed - plus installation parts such as motor mounts and exhaust headers for the conversion are readily available from trusted sources. Check our vendor directory (under the contact button at the top of the page) for BMC and for Classic Conversions - they both specialize in this family of engines specifically. They'll also give you good advice - at no charge! (Please mention this website when you call.)

You might also like to review these How-It-Was-Done articles:
(these all use variants of the GM 60-degree V6, from various donor cars)
[www.britishv8.org]
[www.britishv8.org]
[www.britishv8.org]
[www.britishv8.org]
[www.britishv8.org]
[www.britishv8.org]
[www.britishv8.org]
[www.britishv8.org]
[www.britishv8.org]
[www.britishv8.org]

Dieter,

Did you see the thread on Automatic Transmissions? There a a couple ot Toyota trannys that just may be the ticket you are looking for.

Dieter,

I bought a used 3.1 and auto trans(700R4) out of a 91 Camaro. I changed to carb and dropped it in using Bill Guzmans kit. some changes were required for the auto tans.
I have put over 700000 miles on it in five years and it still runs great.
It is even fun on the track.

Steve

"I have ruled out the old Buick 215 engine because it is old technology"

"Mid 90's 3.4 V6, Camaro/Firebird"

Old school, old technology, pushrod engine, over head cam, dual overhead cam, fuel injection, internal combustion engine, it's all old technology. The only part that is fairly new is the computer controlled part.

So, build an electric car or maybe an LZ4 3500, 220hp & 40mpg sounds pretty modern.

How about the drivetrain from a Solstice/Sky?