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BlownMGB-V8
Jim Blackwood
9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042
(6468 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 12:59PM

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

authors avatar
FWD MGB?
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: December 02, 2007 11:04AM

Here's a novel idea, brought to you courtesy of the sec/treas of BADASS, NLC none other than the multi-talented Steve DeGroat. How about the drive package out of a FWD car for a conversion? It probably couldn't be just any old FWD, but would have to be one with a longitudinal engine. At the time he mentioned it I didn't think of any possible donor cars, but after a good night's sleep I remembered that I once had a Toyota Tercel and I'm pretty sure it had a north/south setup because Toyota was considering awd when they designed it. Can anybody else come up with a possible donor car set up that way?

Now the Tercel had a very small engine, 1500cc as I recall. But it drove great, was very responsive, and got amazingly good gas mileage at the time. Plus later cars may have had a larger engine and the 1500 probably already had as much power as the MG's 1800 so any size increase should give better performance than stock. Ordinarily I wouldn't even consider this option, but I'm looking at alternatives for Edith's '77 roadster, and the thought was that you could just bolt the cradle to the MG rails and use engine, transmission, suspension and all. This works for her car because as a flood car it needs a complete undercarriage, though the body is in reasonably good shape. Good idea, Bad idea?

Jim


motormouth
Kris Palmer
Mpls MN
(63 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 03:13PM

Main British Car:
1972 Triumph TR6, Olds F85 V8, TR8 5-speed 'box Olds 215 V8

Re: FWD MGB?
Posted by: motormouth
Date: December 02, 2007 01:20PM

I like the idea. I wouldn't convert a working stock B to FWD just for novelty or fuel economy, but if you've got a car with a nice body and other troubles, why not? I mean, we're not purists here, eh? I love the sound and mechanical feel of my '69 B and am not in a hurry to 8-swap that, but it does get disappointing mpgs for such a small car.

Funny enough, I had the very Tercel you're talking about. It was an '85, I believe, with longitudinal engine and front-wheel drive. Absolute bulletproof stubborn warrior of a car. My sister bought it new, gave it to me with 130,000 miles; I took it up to 180,000-plus, then gave it to my brother in law who drove it to about 250,000, then sold it for $150 needing exhaust system and TLC. My sister and I changed the oil and filter regularly and the car didn't burn a drop of oil when I passed it along 180,000 miles in.

I'm sure you've thought about a Toronado lump, but it's hard to see how that would save you anything in money or headaches. It would handle better with the Tercel setup, get better mileage and probably be a fair bit better mannered. We've got some (RWD) Toyota gearboxes among the fraternity--why not a full drivetrain?

Kris


NixVegaGT
Nicolas Wiederhold
Minneapolis, MN
(659 posts)

Registered:
10/16/2007 05:30AM

Main British Car:
'73 Vega GT 4.9L Rover/Buick Stroker

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Re: FWD MGB?
Posted by: NixVegaGT
Date: December 02, 2007 05:16PM

The VW passats were longitude mounted up until the most recent Mark. 1.8T would be cool. OR even the VR6 version. I think they had an all-wheel drive version too... Something to think about. I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure the late '90's Supercharged Grand Prix was long mounted too. A supercharged 3800 would be pretty hot.


NixVegaGT
Nicolas Wiederhold
Minneapolis, MN
(659 posts)

Registered:
10/16/2007 05:30AM

Main British Car:
'73 Vega GT 4.9L Rover/Buick Stroker

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Re: FWD MGB?
Posted by: NixVegaGT
Date: December 17, 2007 04:27PM

I was looking up info about V8 Midgets and I found this article about an AWD version with a Rover V8. Pretty Hot:

[www.mgcars.org.uk]


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: FWD MGB?
Posted by: rficalora
Date: December 17, 2007 11:31PM

I'd love to see a how it was done on that car!


motormouth
Kris Palmer
Mpls MN
(63 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 03:13PM

Main British Car:
1972 Triumph TR6, Olds F85 V8, TR8 5-speed 'box Olds 215 V8

Re: FWD MGB?
Posted by: motormouth
Date: December 20, 2007 11:23AM

I'd love to drive that car. :^)


V6 Midget
Bill Young
Kansas City, MO
(1337 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 09:23AM

Main British Car:
'73 MG Midget V6 , '59 MGA I6 2.8 GM, 4.0 Jeep

authors avatar
Re: FWD MGB?
Posted by: V6 Midget
Date: December 20, 2007 03:54PM

Jim, it's an idea I've also toyed with in my mind and even taken a pen to paper a few times. There are some problems, but there always are on a conversion and we usually figure out the solutions. Choice of drive line is tough here in the US, the excellent Ford system such as Stuart used in his Midget isn't common here, the others are either usually too large or like the Toyota unit are designed for rather small engines. The real killer as far as I can see is the drive shaft problem if you have to use a transfer case, where do you run the shaft without sacrificing the passenger seat area. If not for that problem several of the SUVs have systems that would work. Maybe the GM S10 4X4 setup with a V6 and 5 speed would be nice. We know the engine fits the B engine compartment well and the basic transmission will fit the tunnel, just have to make room for the transfer case and drive shafts front and rear. Perhaps a C chassis would be better, the torsion bars would clear the area for the front drive axles. Oh well, just day dreaming. Just shows you what an idle mind can do between projects.



BlownMGB-V8
Jim Blackwood
9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042
(6468 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 12:59PM

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

authors avatar
Re: FWD MGB?
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: December 25, 2007 12:00AM

That European Ford does look interesting, but I don't really think Edith would have to have AWD or even a big engine (although I'm pretty sure she'd like more power than less). Still 1500cc is a bit small even with a modern engine. Chances are she wouldn't drive it in the snow anyway. That's why the Tercel driveline is attractive, because it can be run as Fwd only.

Jim


mgbrv8
David Hetrick
McAllen Texas
(78 posts)

Registered:
03/09/2008 12:49PM

Main British Car:
MGBs- 1977,1969 Vettes-1965,1984,2003 ZO6 LS1s in MGs

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Re: FWD MGB?
Posted by: mgbrv8
Date: March 11, 2008 09:49PM

I think the dodge talon was longitudinal and also had a AWD also.

Dave


tycorace
mark thompson

(45 posts)

Registered:
05/31/2008 02:00AM

Main British Car:


Re: FWD MGB?
Posted by: tycorace
Date: June 01, 2008 01:21AM

I think a FW drive moved to a mid engine position would be a better way to go.
Mark


NixVegaGT
Nicolas Wiederhold
Minneapolis, MN
(659 posts)

Registered:
10/16/2007 05:30AM

Main British Car:
'73 Vega GT 4.9L Rover/Buick Stroker

authors avatar
Re: FWD MGB?
Posted by: NixVegaGT
Date: June 02, 2008 01:47PM

You mean like mounting a VW transaxle rear drive up front?

Interesting. The 215 V8 corvair is mounted that way too, right? backwards I mean.


tycorace
mark thompson

(45 posts)

Registered:
05/31/2008 02:00AM

Main British Car:


Re: FWD MGB?
Posted by: tycorace
Date: June 03, 2008 02:17AM

no Put the whole drive train behind the seats just like it is in the front.
Mark


Dave
David Gable
Jax
(112 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 05:40AM

Main British Car:


Re: FWD MGB?
Posted by: Dave
Date: June 18, 2008 06:53PM

VW Dasher/Audi Fox


Dan B
Dan Blackwood
South Charleston, WV
(1007 posts)

Registered:
11/06/2007 01:55PM

Main British Car:
1966 TR4A, 1980 TR7 Multiport EFI MegaSquirt on the TR4A. Lexus V8 pl

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Re: FWD MGB?
Posted by: Dan B
Date: June 26, 2008 09:36AM

Hey Jim,

The car Edith had when you met her...Mitsubishi Eclipse? Didn't those come in AWD?


BlownMGB-V8
Jim Blackwood
9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042
(6468 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 12:59PM

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

authors avatar
Re: FWD MGB?
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: June 26, 2008 12:28PM

I think the newer ones might, that's an interesting thought. Her car had a transverse layout, I wonder how they dealt with that?

Jim



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