SCCA EMod MGB GT V12 Build

Some really awesome parts arrived today. First up is the Quick-Time SFI approved bellhousing. It's designed to allow many Borg-Warner, Muncie, Richmond or Jerico transmissions to be bolted to an Ecotec. It is also strong enough that I do not need a scattershield. [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/IMG_3480_zpscf3gqa8d.jpg.html][/URL]

And this is a South Bend stage 4 pressure plate, good for 400 ft/lbs or torque, which I hope to achieve with this motor [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/IMG_3478_zpsahll3nkz.jpg.html][/URL]

And the beautifully machined Fidanza flywheel. Only 12.5 lbs because the whole backside is machined [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/IMG_3477_zpspvcrppwt.jpg.html][/URL]

I got the motor today and test fitted it in the car. Even if I had the engine before I built the frame, I couldn't have done a better job. Everything fits, there's room to get at all the important parts and there's so much room between engine and diff that I can use a normal transmission and driveshaft. [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/IMG_3500_zpsr5al3wrl.jpg.html][/URL]

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I need to pay more attention to what you are doing. Thats nice. I am sure I missed how much driveshaft angle that you are expecting on this, but if not, what?

In reply to Thinkkker:

It's a straight shot from engine to diff because I got a housing with the center section offset 7 inches

This is very cool. I know you went v12 and then went back (and through a few other powerplants as well), but I am being called by the BMW v12 and the MGB-GT that are both sitting in my driveway now.

How exciting!

rcutclif wrote: This is very cool. I know you went v12 and then went back (and through a few other powerplants as well), but I am being called by the BMW v12 and the MGB-GT that are both sitting in my driveway now.

I will not discourage you from doing that swap, just don't plan on going into EMod with it. Make it into a really awesome street car

Thank you for posting that Quikc-time bellhousing. Browsing their website, it seems they will sell or make just about any sort of bellhousing you could desire. Oh dear...

In reply to Ian F:

We live in a marvelous time.

I spent two days on motor mounts. I moved the engine as far back and as close to the centerline of the car as possible because wise elders believe that rear weight bias and keeping that weight centralized makes for a faster car. I just hope I left enough room for a driveshaft. For the bolts that hold them to the frame, I threaded some DOM tubing pieces and welded them to the frame rails, top and bottom. I'm still not positive that the 3 M10 bolts per side on the aluminum engine is going to be strong enough. [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/IMG_3532_zpshtnnnvg1.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/IMG_3533_zpscd7lm97k.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/IMG_3534_zpssbzcp2g8.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/IMG_3535_zpsta7v571w.jpg.html][/URL]

Ever wish that you had spruced up (rather than torn up) any one of the iterations of the original MGB GT and sold it as-is, put the coin towards a cheap roadster cowl and some fiberglass panels, THEN began all of this?

Seems like you passed up a decent amount of seed money there considering this extensive make-over and re-make over.

TeamEvil wrote: Ever wish that you had spruced up (rather than torn up) any one of the iterations of the original MGB GT and sold it as-is, put the coin towards a cheap roadster cowl and some fiberglass panels, THEN began all of this? Seems like you passed up a decent amount of seed money there considering this extensive make-over and re-make over.

As someone who has hacked a perfectly good car to pieces to autocross it, there are always better ways to do it. That said, I wouldn't change a thing.

TeamEvil wrote: Ever wish that you had spruced up (rather than torn up) any one of the iterations of the original MGB GT and sold it as-is, put the coin towards a cheap roadster cowl and some fiberglass panels, THEN began all of this? Seems like you passed up a decent amount of seed money there considering this extensive make-over and re-make over.

Only possible with 20-20 hindsight.

TeamEvil wrote: Ever wish that you had spruced up (rather than torn up) any one of the iterations of the original MGB GT and sold it as-is, put the coin towards a cheap roadster cowl and some fiberglass panels, THEN began all of this? Seems like you passed up a decent amount of seed money there considering this extensive make-over and re-make over.

If I had known how much I would eventually change to build this car, I would have kept the V12 version completely intact and just put it on display at my kart track. Of course if I had that kind of insight into the future, I would have bought a Legends car and raced in FMod. That said, I have made $6000 from the sale of parts off the old car. I sold the V8 engine, transmission, wiring harness, V12 intake manifolds/carbs, V12 bellhousing and numerous little bits.

Anyways, I just wasn't confident enough in the two motor mounts so I used some DOM roll bar tubing to go between the stock motor mount location and the front hoop. This should eliminate any potential movement of the engine. The mount is just tack welded in the pictures. Front view: [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/IMG_3539_zpsphxfmr20.jpg.html][/URL]

Top view [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/IMG_3540_zpskfagygte.jpg.html][/URL]

What tube bender are you using? Lord knows this project is an endorsement of whatever it is!

It's just a crappy hydraulic unit from Princess Auto (same as Harbor Freight). I have to fill tubing with sand and water to bend it without kinking.

loosecannon wrote: It's just a crappy hydraulic unit from Princess Auto (same as Harbor Freight). I have to fill tubing with sand and water to bend it without kinking.

Like this? Cause I have one of these and if you know how to make it work, It seems like you do) I would love to know the details of what you do.

In reply to NOHOME:

I think harbor freight calls that a 'pipe' bender, and 'pipe' and 'tube' have slightly different sizes. So, I believe (no actual experience) that really all you need to make this a worthwhile tubing bender is to get the correct dies (or modify the dies that come with it). Which HF seems not to carry, of course.

rcutclif wrote: In reply to NOHOME: I think harbor freight calls that a 'pipe' bender, and 'pipe' and 'tube' have slightly different sizes. So, I believe (no actual experience) that really all you need to make this a worthwhile tubing bender is to get the correct dies (or modify the dies that come with it). Which HF seems not to carry, of course.

The 1 1/4" dies that come with it seem to be a better fit for the 1 1/2" tube that I use.

That said, all it seem to do for me is kink the tube. I can almost get by if I make a hundred very slight bends and keep moving the tube around.

I have heard of filling with sand. Not sure where the water comes in to play. Assuming that Loosecannon is not using heat to make this work, but the tubes do look kind of dark, so maybe?

Maybe I will head out and buy a bag of playsand and make a slurry to fill a tube and try it again?

it's exactly like that tube bender. What you do is tape off the one end and fill with sand. Keep tapping it with a rubber mallet to get the sand really settled and compact. Water can be used to fill up any spaces between sand particles, sometimes it's necessary and sometimes it isn't. Fill to top and tape off that end, too. Then just put in bender and bend away. This works well for most tubing but the sharper you bend, the trickier it gets. I have bent a whole bunch of 90 degree bends in 1 3/4 DOM tubing using this method and it worked marvelous, then got another batch of 1 3/4 DOM where it wouldn't work going over 45 degrees. I never figured out why. Was I using different sand? Was it different wall thickness? I don't know.

The gas pedal is installed and spaced perfectly for heal-toe. [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/IMG_3579_zpsfjshf12l.jpg.html][/URL]

And seatbelts are installed [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/IMG_3580_zpsfpdnvpib.jpg.html][/URL]

I had to make a harness guide bar to make sure the belts were at the right angle [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/IMG_3581_zps19qaohrl.jpg.html][/URL]

And I placed a 160 lb driver in the seat and weighed the whole car. It is 1380 lbs and almost exactly 50% weight balance left-right and front-rear. I still have to add a trans, driveshaft, fuel cell, diffuser, intercooler, wiring harness and coolant but I'm confident in being under the minimum weight for the class (1750 lbs).

Sweet. Strong progress. Are you planning to run at 2016 nationals? That's my goal for the MG. Maybe we will be bringing 2 new MG mod cars this year.

nocones wrote: Sweet. Strong progress. Are you planning to run at 2016 nationals? That's my goal for the MG. Maybe we will be bringing 2 new MG mod cars this year.

I can definitely get the car done for 2016 Nationals if I can scrape together the money. I still have the following checklist: -modify wiring harness -Install intercooler/pipes -install intake pipe/air cleaner -Install coolant hoses -Install rad fans -Exhaust -get Trifecta tune -Install trans/shifter -get driveshaft -build firewall -get fuel cell -Gauges/switches -Finish floor -rear spoiler

Added the MGB grille and cowl vent so the car is now 10% more MGB (by square inch) [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/IMG_3592_zpshpfhlrny.jpg.html][/URL]

I can't believe how things work out sometimes but I pulled the fuel tank from the old car off the shelf and looked at places it would fit. It fits perfectly behind the drivers compartment, right on the floor and beside the driveshaft. The driveshaft will have a protective hoop around it and I'm running 1350 U-joints, which are good for double the HP I have so I'm not worried about it. [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/IMG_3655_zpstqgdbepo.jpg.html][/URL]

I also mounted the Lexan windshield and it looks marvelous. Now, I know it's lousy for aerodynamics so let me share my plan with you. Getting the aero elements of the car right is going to take a lot of work for relatively little advantage in lap time. I am going to ignore aero stuff until I have the suspension settings, tires and engine stuff nearly perfected. Once I have little to gain with those things, I'll work on the splitter, spoiler and diffuser. The windshield will spoil air going to the spoiler so it will likely need to be removed. Although, if I do some testing with tufts of yarn, I may find that the windshield isn't that bad. [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/loosecannon/media/MGB-GT/IMG_3652_zpshpnzbtoc.jpg.html][/URL]