BritishV8 Forum

Beautiful GT Keith, I'd love to see more pictures.  I also wish I had the nerve to do the flares and paint mine black (my 23 roadster was black as is my Harley and daily driver), but I just don't have the "tin man" skills.  I'm impressed!

Sorry, I just found your pictures on the "Rabit Flare" post.

Interesting discussion.  I feel that the LS engine would be a very good choice for our British cars.  It's lightweight, relatively compact, will fit underneath the hood (when using fuel injection) without modification to the "bonnet".  It also produces lots and lots of power (both hp. and torque).  You will also retain most of the handling characteristics that the MG had with the origional power train.

These engines are a bit expensive to build, but as time goes by I think the prices will come down .It could also infuse new blood into the hobby, and a renewed excitement about the British V8.

Most of us have an opinion as to the "perfect" powerplant for our little British cars, I just hope that we can keep an open mind about the choices.  To me, it is fun to see innovation and new ideas.

So far every LSswap I have seen involved radical surgery to the bodyshell and front suspension. I would like to see someone try to do it while keeping that to a minimum.

Jim

Radical surgery?

What I saw at Mantell Motorsport didn't look that serious.  Wonder if Pete has any pics of that project.

Not serious Carl? Seems to me both sides of the tunnel to firewall area were completely gone. To me that is a little radical. Do you remember what he was using for the front suspension?

Jim

Not the way I remember it, Jim. At the time, I thought it fit pretty nice.  Where is Pete, anyway? We need more pics of that car.  Oh, he used the wider version Fast Cars front crossmember.

Only pic I could find:

http://www.mgexperience.net/member/usedmgbparts

Radical!

Ouch!

I'm pretty certain that is totally unnecessary. Somebody wanted a lot of setback.

I think the first photo is after the holes were welded back up. Looks to me like there are some indentations that weren't there to start with but I will look at the '74-1/2 tomorrow evening. The second photo does look a little excessive. What is that thing sticking out at the front of the engine?

Using the FC front end is also pretty radical if you ask me. $5k is a LOT to spend on an MG!

Jim

I've been told that when dealing with an LS1 conversion (EFI) you need to add 50% plus to your budget.  IMHO, the Ford set up is still the best bang for your buck, although, the LS series being the latest and greatest, don't forget that the early design had some flaws such as oil consumption problem caused by poorly designed pistons and rings (low tension) and a poor PCV system that most people ended up installing a catch can (I did) so that the oil would not enter and sit at the bottom of the intake manifold.  It also had some valve-train minor issues (long story), and If you wonder how I know about these problems, it is because I've own a 1998 Z-28 Camaro that I was very happy when I finally sold it.  The latest LS series motors have all of these issues resolved and, yes it is a kick ass and now reliable motor; too bad that someone hasn't tried to fit Ford's new "Coyote" 5.0L in an MG as we all know that the Detroit horsepower rivalry is back on between the three American auto makers.

My two cents, cheers!

Jacques the new Ford engines are awesome but the big problem with trying to fit them in LBC's is that these engines are quite wide.  The Coyote engine looks like it it is wider than the LS engine.  I imagine these Ford engines are also quite tall also.  The LS engine apart from its issues in its earlier stages is very compact and it is light.  

Cheers
Byron

Byron, by what I have observed, I believe that someone could drop a Ford Coyote motor in the "B".  Also, let's not forget that a Fox body Mustang with a few upgrades were a handful to go against at the drag strip; why do I know? again, I went through with the Z-28 and lost.  That was a 5.0 Liter against a 5.7 Liter although the Camaro Z-28 was a much heavier car.  

What I do like about the new LS motors in EFI form is the unbelievable fuel mileage they deliver.  I still would like to see a "B" with the Ford Racing Coyote motor shame the bigger cubic inch LS motor (LOL).......

QuoteUsing the FC front end is also pretty radical if you ask me.

Customer preference for wider track/flares. Stock crossmember will work with little to no modifying. Lots of oil pan options.

http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids/817787-lsx-oil-pans.html

Found this online. Notice the difference in height

5.0L DOHC
28" Length
26" Height
27-1/2" Wide

4.6L DOHC
28" Length
29-7/8" Height
30" Wide

4.6L SOHC
28" Length
26" Height
28-5/8" Wide



LS1 engine dimensions

Thanks Jim for the data; it shows to me that that the swap is certainly tight but doable.  I'd love to see it, E-Rod versus Coyote.

P.S.  I'd like to remind everyone that Ford is the only government "loan free" entity...  

Cheers

Make it happen Jacques

Use a pre-gov't LS engine , Jacques.  

BTW, looks like Jim's measurement pic uses the Corvette batwing oil pan. Not sure that one willl work on our conversions. All the other factory pans will be a bit deeper.

http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids/1065342-lsx-powered-late-model-nissan-300-zx-aka-z-32-a.html

I know I could have put the engine and trans in my car without so much surgery, but I wanted to address some other aspects of the car. Still, I didn't touch the firewall at all in my '72. Here's an early test fit with an unmodified engine bay other than removed motor mounts.




Keep in mind there are a number of other options for the accessory belt setup. The one from the Cadillac CTS-V is close to the block (closer than an F-body) and drops the alternator down close to the oil pan.


The Coyote is certainly larger - DOHC heads will do that for you.

There ya go, Jimbo. As Keith's pics show, radical surgery not required.    

Looks almost at home as the 455!

Looks really good!
But why do people cut them up if it fits without doing it? I don't understand. I mean in Keith's case I get it, also Jim S., but otherwise? I always take a minimalist approach to that part. Make the body mods as simple and easy as they can be to get the minimum space needed. Otherwise you start running into all sorts of other problems.

Jim

Of course, the T56 barely fits the MG late tunnel. Keith's mockup has no bellhousing. That is probably the biggest issue, cause I would stick with a 5 speed.

I'm sorry to hear the T56 won't fit. I'd better go fix my car One thing to note is that a T5 is going to have a shifter about 3.5" further forward in my experience, which would not improve the shifter location.

Here's the trans about 1.5" below the final location with the bellhousing removed. I forgot, I did have to take part of the firewall out in front of the gas pedal. Oddly enough, this area isn't used on a LHD car, I suspect it's more useful in a RHD setup. I basically mirrored the right side.


I had to add an access panel for the reverse lockout solenoid and rework the very top of the tunnel a bit. You can see the biggest cut in this picture. With my oversize Hurst shifter, I had to open up the hole for the shifter but the stock one in this shot would have fit fine.


Access panel, Hurst shifter

here are a couple of pictures of the LS1 & 4L60E i put in my 67 BGT. I moved the engine much further aft than shown because I wanted to, not because I had to, took lots of measurements and did a bit of studying just to think about what could be done. I didn't use the stock frontend but I did a trial fit, with allthread thru the mounting holes and the front end, the front end would get within .250 inch before touching the oil pan. meaning minimal trimming to the crossmember. plenty of clearance with the inner fenders and hood, tunnel would need minor trimming but perfectly doable

Thanks, Jay.

Now Keith, I didn't say the T-56 wouldn't fit. It is very snug compared to a T-5 in a late tunnel. Probably won't fit an early tunnel, though.

I really need to do something with my engine before the Omaha Meet.  Y'all are killin' me with these pics!

Oh my god. I want to do an LS1 swap sooo badly now! Especially with a miata suspension.

Nice work guys.