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Adrian Harrison
Adrian Harrison

(8 posts)

Registered:
06/22/2018 04:21PM

Main British Car:


Help with fitting a small block Chevy
Posted by: Adrian Harrison
Date: June 23, 2018 10:20PM

FB_IMG_1512325324856.jpg

So I built this engine a few years back and had it in a Camaro.
I just basically got the engine run in and set up with maybe 4000km before the transmission blow.
Now I'm looking at fitting it to an MGB GT.
So that's how I found myself on this forum again looking for information about engine mounts and headers that work in the tight space that is an MGB engine bay. .
So if anyone can point me in the right direction I would be very grateful

Adrian



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/23/2018 11:12PM by Adrian Harrison.


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: Help with fitting a small block Chevy
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: June 24, 2018 10:12AM

As far as I know nobody is making and selling the SBC/MGB conversion parts. Which is surprising really, as that swap does have a long history. As with all popular conversions though, the sticking point is the headers. It's my feeling that anyone who started making those would have an almost instant market.

Jim


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4511 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Help with fitting a small block Chevy
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: June 24, 2018 11:14AM

What is the intended use for the MG, Adrian? Cruiser, drag racing? Hope it is not autocross or road course track days.

Looks like a great engine that belongs back in an early Camaro, Nova, or Vega. It is wide & heavy & not a great fit in a B. It has been done a number of times over the years.

Since it is not a popular swap, you will have to fab your own mounts & possibly the headers. Prepare to do some fenderwell & firewall surgery.

A set of Rams Horn exhaust manifolds may fit.

[www.jegs.com]

Also, I counted 8 SBC MGB conversions here:

[www.britishv8.org]


mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2461 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: Help with fitting a small block Chevy
Posted by: mgb260
Date: June 24, 2018 01:52PM

Speedway Motors Hurst type front mount and bellhousing mounts. The Rams horn exhaust is a good idea. I would get rid of the heater shelf to move back behind the crossmember too.
front mount.jpg
rear bellhousing mount.jpg



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/24/2018 02:05PM by mgb260.


Adrian Harrison
Adrian Harrison

(8 posts)

Registered:
06/22/2018 04:21PM

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Re: Help with fitting a small block Chevy
Posted by: Adrian Harrison
Date: June 24, 2018 05:48PM

Thanks for the reply
I will look into those engine mounts, those are the ones i have seen being used before and yes removing the heater shelf is an idea I have been thinking about doing also..

Not really worried about the weight of the engine to be honest it's lighter than an MGC engine and not much more than an original 4 pot... those aluminium heads and intake remove a huge amount of weight
Also not really interested in American cars that's way I sold the Camaro, they don't really do anything for me



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/24/2018 05:49PM by Adrian Harrison.


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4511 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Help with fitting a small block Chevy
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: June 24, 2018 08:46PM

If it was a First Gen Camaro, bite your tongue! Any of the rest, yeah, me either.

Those heads save you about 50 lbs. Intake? I thought any self-respecting SBC wore an aluminum intake. ;) Mine wears a Victor Jr.


Adrian Harrison
Adrian Harrison

(8 posts)

Registered:
06/22/2018 04:21PM

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Re: Help with fitting a small block Chevy
Posted by: Adrian Harrison
Date: June 24, 2018 10:36PM

It's got an aluminium intake :) and first gen Camaro yes I'll take that one back lol



GTplus
Tracy Moore
Jacksonville, Fl
(18 posts)

Registered:
05/22/2011 05:37PM

Main British Car:
'71 MGB GT, '77 MGB chrevrolet 350, LT1 350 in the MGB

Re: Help with fitting a small block Chevy
Posted by: GTplus
Date: June 25, 2018 03:40PM

I'm out on the road for business right, but I'll be happy to send you pictures of both my '71 GT and my '77 MGB both have sbc engines and T-5s in them. MGB has custom large tube headers, GT has block huggers. Both engines sit back in the bay with the heater shelf removed.


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4511 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Help with fitting a small block Chevy
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: June 25, 2018 04:35PM

I saw the aluminum intake, Adrian. I do think you are underestimating the weight difference between your engine & the stock 4 cylinder.

"it's lighter than an MGC engine and not much more than an original 4 pot... those aluminium heads and intake remove a huge amount of weight "


GTplus
Tracy Moore
Jacksonville, Fl
(18 posts)

Registered:
05/22/2011 05:37PM

Main British Car:
'71 MGB GT, '77 MGB chrevrolet 350, LT1 350 in the MGB

Re: Help with fitting a small block Chevy
Posted by: GTplus
Date: June 25, 2018 05:04PM

For your engine mount you'll find that the "horse shoe" engine mount on the front of early 50s GMC/Chevy pickup trucks with the 235 straight six in them will bolt right up to your small block, makes for an easy mounting system to the front cross member.


Adrian Harrison
Adrian Harrison

(8 posts)

Registered:
06/22/2018 04:21PM

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Re: Help with fitting a small block Chevy
Posted by: Adrian Harrison
Date: June 25, 2018 09:56PM

Ok thanks for the information much appreciated


mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2461 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: Help with fitting a small block Chevy
Posted by: mgb260
Date: June 25, 2018 11:35PM

Tracy used the old truck mount to the crossmember.
60-62 truck .jpg


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: Help with fitting a small block Chevy
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: June 26, 2018 06:36AM

Only problem with that is the absence of any torque control.

Jim


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4511 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Help with fitting a small block Chevy
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: June 26, 2018 09:43AM

Doesn't look like my 8" harmonic balancer would clear that mount.

I bet it wouldn't take you 5 minutes to come up with a torque strap of some sort, Jim.


mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2461 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: Help with fitting a small block Chevy
Posted by: mgb260
Date: June 26, 2018 11:24AM

I'm old enough to remember Chevy also used belhousing mounts too. Speedway sells them above with the Hurst style front mount.
bellhousing with mounts.jpg



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/26/2018 02:41PM by mgb260.



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: Help with fitting a small block Chevy
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: June 26, 2018 08:21PM

Sure, but there's no room for them and nothing very solid to attach them to since you are supporting the full weight of both the engine and the transmission at that point. Certainly no way to sneak exhaust tubes past them.

Much better to run the front saddle across to the frame rails, and I've seen those mounts for the SBC. They used to be very common.

Jim


Adrian Harrison
Adrian Harrison

(8 posts)

Registered:
06/22/2018 04:21PM

Main British Car:


Re: Help with fitting a small block Chevy
Posted by: Adrian Harrison
Date: June 26, 2018 09:25PM

Jim I was also thinking that myself


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