MG Sports Cars

Looking around the local junkyard today I came across a 2003 ecotec 2.2 liter engine. It only has 14,000 miles on it and it runs like a champ. The car its in suffered a rear end collision. In a quick search online I found there is a company that makes adapter plates to convert it to rear wheel drive. I'm going to measure the engine but I think it may make for an interesting swap mated with a 5-speed gear box. I'm going to try and get some measurments and see if I can make it work. Anybody have any expirence with these engines. I hear they handle forced induction really well. Matt

Matt

A couple of years ago Kit Kar Magazine was putting this set up in a kit car. there was a lot of research and info for the EcoTech in several additions. I believe they have all their articles on the web.

Joe

I found alot of posts about rear wheel conversions just by searching google. I'm still looking into it. If I can find the one article I found last night I will post it. Matt

I guess what I have mention is that I have a 1980 MGB with a SBC conversion that is about finished. I will post pics as soon as it gets back from the body shop. I want my second car to be something I can let my wife drive daily she isn't in to raw speed and horepower she just want to get in turn the key and go but I still would like it to have alittle extra power and reliability for long trips. I trave to Ohio alot a trip of over 700 miles pretty frequently and would like to use one of the MG's my Tahoe isn't exactly fuel efficient.

Maybe you should also consider the 3800 Buick V6 while you're thinking about it. That engine has a nearly unparalleled reputation for power, economy and reliability, and it's in the SBB family. Very common engine.

Jim

While the Ecotec sounds interesting it really doesn't match what you describe as your wishes for your second car. For something more comfortable and reliable (a blown or turbo ecotec doesn't sound so reliable to me) for your wife to drive as well as perform well on longer highway trips and still get reasonable mileage I also would have to lean towards a V6, either the 3800 as Jim suggested or a 3.4 60 degree. All of the guys I've met with 2.8s or 3.4s seem to agree, great highway car with just enough power and still very good mileage. Retain the factory fuel injection and computer and you have a car that will start, run, and perform as well as a new one and the swap is so easy, nothing to really engineer at all. It's pretty much a bolt in with a kit from either Classic Conversions or BMC. I have a fuel injected 2.8 and 5 speed in my Midget and I can say it performs quite well and is totally reliable. Turn the key, let the fuel pressure come up and it starts every time, hot, cold, wet, or dry. Definitely the way to go if it will be the daily driver for someone who you don't want stranded ever.