BlownMGB-V8 Jim Blackwood 9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042 (6508 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 12:59PM Main British Car: 1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS |
FWD MGB?
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?
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 |
Re: FWD MGB?
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.
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NixVegaGT Nicolas Wiederhold Minneapolis, MN (659 posts) Registered: 10/16/2007 05:30AM Main British Car: '73 Vega GT 4.9L Rover/Buick Stroker |
Re: FWD MGB?
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] |
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?
I'd love to drive that car. :^)
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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 |
Re: FWD MGB?
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.
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BlownMGB-V8 Jim Blackwood 9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042 (6508 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 12:59PM Main British Car: 1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS |
Re: FWD MGB?
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 |
NixVegaGT Nicolas Wiederhold Minneapolis, MN (659 posts) Registered: 10/16/2007 05:30AM Main British Car: '73 Vega GT 4.9L Rover/Buick Stroker |
Re: FWD MGB?
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. |
Dan B Dan Blackwood South Charleston, WV (1008 posts) Registered: 11/06/2007 01:55PM Main British Car: 1966 TR4A, 1980 TR7 Multiport EFI MegaSquirt on the TR4A. Lexus V8 pl |
Re: FWD MGB?
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 (6508 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 12:59PM Main British Car: 1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS |
Re: FWD MGB?
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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