I'm considering purchasing an MGB GT. The actual car I find will influence whether I stick with the stock drive-train or contemplate a conversion.
We have a 2006 MINI Cooper S as a daily driver and it is a really sweet. Are there any thoughts on using that power plant in a conversion project? It's a 1.6 I-4 with a supercharger. In stock form it makes 168 horsepower which can easily be bumped to 207 (as in the JCW version) and with further mods up to 230 hp or so. With the supercharger it is a very responsive engine with a great torque band from about 2500 to 6000 RPM. There is good support for supercharger pulleys and other engine mods. I understand it weighs about 250 pounds with the supercharger but minus the peripherals.
Of course, in the MINI it is mounted transversely and has a purpose built air scoop to feed the intake. I presume it would have to be hooked up to a T9 transmission or something similar as the factory transmission is set up for front-wheel drive. I would also have some concerns about separating the MINI engine from all the engine management that BMW puts into their vehicles.
Thoughts?
Turning a FWD engine to RWD is no trivial process. You would have to get a custom made bellhousing (big $$$$) and your clutch assembly would be another challenge (big $$$$). British Car Conversions in Ohio have already done all the difficult work on GM FWD V6 engines and have conversion kits to put them in MGB's. A Stock GM V6 3500 engine has about 205 hp and fits into the MGB quite nicely. I am in the process of fitting a GM V6 3400 hooked up to a Ford T5 in my TR6 and it fits like a glove using the stock TR6 engine mounts. This engine with headers, a bored out throttle body and a good tune up will put out 200 hp. These engines are also very light approx 360 Lbs.
The other downside of the BMW engine in the MIni is the cost of parts. GM V6 FWD engines are plentiful and I am sure the parts are a lot cheaper than BMW parts. Check out BCC's website and take alook at their turnkey 3500 engine.
Another option is to go with the Gm Ecotec engine which can be turned quite easily with a bell housing from Quads For Rods that will bolt up to a Ford T5. The Pontiac Solstice has an Ecotec engine that has been turned and they come with superchargers also. Google Bowtie TR6 and check out Ecotec engine swaps into a TR4 and a TR6.
You have many options!
Cheers
Byron
The Colorado and Canyon 4 cyl motor is the same block as the Solstice/Sky and the supercharged Ecotec FWD motors. The head would be the same on the non supercharged models. That is if you would want to go that route. That is the way I am thinking of going with my GT.
The Colorado/Canyon 4 clyinders are based off of the 5 cylinder and the 6 cylinder Trail Blazer engines. A completely different engine then the colbalt/sky ECO-TECs.
The truck motors are pretty tall and may not be the best choice for a MGB conversion. The supercharged/turbo ECO-TEC is another story, they are compact, reliable and make good power! IMO a good choice for a sports car!
We (my wife's) have a 05 Cooper S as well and it is a fun car to drive for sure! I think that the biggest challege would be adapting it to a RWD transmission. For an ECU you could use a Mega-Squirt 3 controller.
Bill
You are right, had some bad info.
If by some chance anyone is interested in a Colorado or Canyon motor I can get some rough dimensions.
Kevin, Some reason YOU couldn't be the "first" to build a fwd MGB GT ? Think of the controversy. What if it actually worked ? You could be the new fwd, out with the rrd, go to guy ! Good Luck, roverman.