MG Sports Cars

engine swaps and other performance upgrades, plus "factory" and Costello V8s

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BenJB
Ben Branch

(6 posts)

Registered:
05/20/2019 03:00AM

Main British Car:
New V8 MGB Roadster Owner Needs Advice
Posted by: BenJB
Date: May 20, 2019 03:17AM

Hi All,

I bought a '77 MGB Roadster with a 3.5L Rover V8 last week, love the car and I've done over 1,100kms in it already. I'd like to upgrade the exhaust from block-hugger headers to the through-the-inner-fender headers. I've been reading articles on this site and others about doing this, and I wanted to ask if there's a specific brand/type I should be looking for?

The below picture shows my "I don't trust anyone" parking technique.

IMG_3134 Small.jpg

Thanks for your time,

Ben


rficalora
Rob Ficalora
Willis, TX
(2764 posts)

Registered:
10/24/2007 02:46PM

Main British Car:
'76 MGB w/CB front, Sebring rear, early metal dash Ford 302

authors avatar
Re: New V8 MGB Roadster Owner Needs Advice
Posted by: rficalora
Date: May 20, 2019 01:49PM

Ben - Welcome; you've joined a great group. If your schedule permits, plan to come to Wytheville, VA on June 2-5 (see: [www.britishv8.org]). You'll get to see and learn about the options 1st hand in addition to meeting some great people.

In the meantime, what do you mean by "upgrade"? I don't think you'll "feel" any difference in performance. Generally, the "advantage" of the through the fenders approach is in heat extraction due to the low pressure area in the wheel wells. But, there are plenty of 3.5L Rover powered MG's with block huggers without overheating problems which indicates if you're having overheating issues, there are likely other areas to check first.


BlownMGB-V8
Jim Blackwood
9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042
(6469 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 12:59PM

Main British Car:
1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS

authors avatar
Re: New V8 MGB Roadster Owner Needs Advice
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: May 21, 2019 03:38PM

Nothing wrong with what you have. No cracks in the headers? It's all good. No need to change just for the sake of change. Drive it and enjoy it for awhile before you start to improve it. Then you'll have a much better idea of what you really want to do.

Jim
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MG four six eight
Bill Jacobson
Wa state
(324 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 02:15AM

Main British Car:
73 MGB Buick 215, Eaton/GM supercharger

Re: New V8 MGB Roadster Owner Needs Advice
Posted by: MG four six eight
Date: May 22, 2019 01:48AM

I have been running Clive Wheatly's stainless steel RV8 headers since 2000. After all these years they still look like they did, the day I installed them and the welds are a work of art! (you can tell a lot about the quality of a product when you look at the welds)
FWIW, mine are the older type with the individual flanges, while I see that the newer version on their website uses a one piece flange.

Bill


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4512 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: New V8 MGB Roadster Owner Needs Advice
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: May 22, 2019 10:15AM

Have you removed them & reinstalled without issue, Bill? I have read sometimes the individual flanges do not want to go back on as easily. That was the case with our TR6 race car. Very expensive stainless header that took quite a bit of effort & prying to bolt it back on the engine.

I watched Mike Moor's Buick 300 put out 306 RWHP on the dyno with his old block hugger headers for his 215. They may not be the best for extracting all the power nor look as sexy, but they do pretty good without having to cut the fenderwell holes.


MG four six eight
Bill Jacobson
Wa state
(324 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 02:15AM

Main British Car:
73 MGB Buick 215, Eaton/GM supercharger

Re: New V8 MGB Roadster Owner Needs Advice
Posted by: MG four six eight
Date: May 22, 2019 10:27AM

Carl,

Yeah, I've had them on/off a couple of times over the years, mainly when I have changed engine builds/versions or doing paint work on the car. No issue with bolting them back up, that being said maybe that's why they went with the one piece flange;-)

Bill


ex-tyke
Graham Creswick
Chatham, Ontario, Canada
(1165 posts)

Registered:
10/25/2007 11:17AM

Main British Car:
1976 MGB Ford 302

authors avatar
Re: New V8 MGB Roadster Owner Needs Advice
Posted by: ex-tyke
Date: May 22, 2019 11:20AM

Quote:
..... that being said maybe that's why they went with the one piece flange...
I think you'll find that the early design individual flanges were prone to primary tube/flange cracking failures and the one piece tie together design eliminates that issue..



BenJB
Ben Branch

(6 posts)

Registered:
05/20/2019 03:00AM

Main British Car:
Re: New V8 MGB Roadster Owner Needs Advice
Posted by: BenJB
Date: May 29, 2019 08:22AM

Thanks for the advice everyone, I've read it all carefully and will keep it in mind going forwards.


jjohanski
James Johanski

(61 posts)

Registered:
11/15/2017 08:57AM

Main British Car:
Re: New V8 MGB Roadster Owner Needs Advice
Posted by: jjohanski
Date: July 16, 2019 08:10AM

I will double down on the quality of Clive's headers!


40indianss
don foote

(83 posts)

Registered:
08/01/2013 04:35PM

Main British Car:
Re: New V8 MGB Roadster Owner Needs Advice
Posted by: 40indianss
Date: July 16, 2019 12:17PM

If it ain't broke, don't fix it can remedy a lot of future challenges


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