I can't help but love how this looks.
https://desmoines.craigslist.org/cto/7157181409.html
Needs some work (don't trust that "cold start items removed" line) but it's got real style. I'd rock it. It's probably less expensive than the NA the parts came out of at this point...
That is cool. And I have that exact swap sitting in my garage... Not started. But $5000 would save me a heck of a lot of time if I could easily swap it all over to my mostly non-rusty body.
Must resist but dang.
Question, would moving the air meter cause a drivability issue?
Dearly want.
In reply to Donebrokeit :
This was my first thought. I was under the impression the AFM was tuned to a certain air volume from filter to TB. Speeduino it and call it a day would be my opinion. I wish I had the funds for it, that's a cool car. A small turbo away from a really cool car.
Donebrokeit said:Question, would moving the air meter cause a drivability issue?
That was my thought when i saw it miles away from the throttle body, does it create a lag in the readings at low air speed(idle) and cause the issue it's having with rough idle?
The AFM isn't much further away in the MG than it was in the Miata. I suspect he put a filter on the IAC so it's breathing unmetered air - that would screw up the idle. Oh, he's also disconnected the air valve so that's an easy fix. I would fix that instead of ripping out the engin management. It would just take an afternoon of fixing shortcuts. The lack of heater may be an issue for some.
It won't be a fast car - more weight and the same engine as a 1990 Miata. But it's faster than it was before the swap!
Yes a pretty cool ride, and agree that a mild turbo would make this even sweeter. The 1.6 would be pretty underwhelming even with more power than the stock 1.8 MG engine in this heavier car. But love the look and the patina. I wish my spitfire looked like this. Price wise, if running and driving properly he might be able to get his 5K, but with the issues he is describing it sounds like it can be had for less. He has done much of the work , but still much more to do. The "better suited for the track" comment is kind of funny as this is 100% a street car, not a track car!
I'm not sure on the more weight, MGB GT should end up at like 2200ish after swap I think. Isn't that pretty close to NA territory? The stock MGB engine is a HEAVY beast, so swapping to the 1.6 should lose 100-200 lbs. Also, even though the 'rated' engine HP is similar between the 1.6 and the MGB, they are worlds different in actual output. I believe these dyno's are from a 1.8 miata, but still. Green stock MGB, Blue stock miata, Red supercharged hot cam MGB.
http://www.eclecticmotorworks.com/miatab6.html
In reply to Keith Tanner :
I only say speeduino because for 300 bucks on a car without a/c and anything else you gain massive insight into debugging anything wrong with the car and PNP ease while getting to rid yourself of the AFM and tighten up the packaging. Then when you turbo it everything is ezpz from there ;)
I agree it's not going to be faster than a miata, but it will certainly be faster than almost any MGB. The miata puts out the same power as the MGB-GT V8.
The one bummer is the diff ratio. I think the MGB is like 3.9, so coming down from the 4.3 in the miata is a bummer.
Totally agree faster than any stock MGB. HP wise, the 1992 1.6 is making 116 HP and 99 ft/lb of torque, so much more than any MGB. Can't agree with you on the MGB-GT V8 as the Rover may only be making around 137 HP, it makes 193 ft/lb of torque so twice the twist of the Miata motor.
Cool car regardless, but I would put a small turbo on it, if it were my project.
In reply to dherr (Forum Supporter) :
au contraire mi amigo
From the same eclectic link - the green line is a stock build v8 in an MGB (with a 4bbl carb even)
I see that, but that may be the weakest 3.5 Buick/Rover build ever recorded. They were never powerhouses, more torque than ultimate HP, but 102 peak HP is pretty bad and not typical by any means. Triumph TR8's only had 135 HP, can be easily built for 200 HP, which is much more typical. The Buick 215 which is the origin of this motor was introduced with 150 HP stock and had 185 with a 4-barrel carb.
But back to the MGB, cool car, hope someone finds a way to make a home for it.
accordionfolder said:In reply to Keith Tanner :
I only say speeduino because for 300 bucks on a car without a/c and anything else you gain massive insight into debugging anything wrong with the car and PNP ease while getting to rid yourself of the AFM and tighten up the packaging. Then when you turbo it everything is ezpz from there ;)
It might be a cheap option, but the easy option is to just hook up everything that was unhooked! Seriously, there are about three things and that's it. It would also cost less than $300 and you would not be responsible for everything the car does. BTDT for 20 years. The character of a stock 1.6 would be a pretty good match to this car.
As for weight - stock weight on a GT is 2400. The MG engine is heavy(ish) but it's not 200 lbs heavier than the Miata 1.6. When I built my GT, I found there was a whole bunch of weight in the suspension for example.
3.9 and tall tires? Easy fix. A 6-speed will bolt right in and the gearing should be good.
The 6 speed is a good idea that I honestly never considered before now - dunno why not!
Since I was curious, according to the internets the MGB motor is 400lbs vs the miata's 270-290lbs each in a similar state of "all accessories attached". Transmissions are very similar (80 miata vs 75 mgb), unless the MGB has an OD unit, which I'm seeing quoted at 113 lbs for the OD trans as a whole.
So swapping to a Mata motor should save 100-150 lbs.
Agree that the MGB front crossmember is also a lump.
Yeah, I think making the engine config as close to factory MX-5 as possible would be a good path to fixing whatever running issues it has. I think I would also try to do the same with the rest of the electrical system; that weirdo "push buttons for turn signals" etc setup would good to remove and make like a modern Mazda. Car looks great, just needs a couple hundred hours of finishing work...
I put a stripped down miata harness in my Spitfire which made wiring the engine, ECU and all the ancillaries a piece of cake. Just had to strip out all the unneeded circuits and then label everything. Really nice to have fuses or relays for all the critical circuits and it started up on the first try. Since he has a harness already, sounds like he was planning on doing the same.
I'm going to trow this Miata into this thread as well.
Expensive yes, no engine shots yes, beat up yes, intrigued? unfortunately yes
https://ventura.craigslist.org/pts/d/ventura-monster-miata-v8-1990/7161330510.html
gah cant stop thinking about this one. Ad is still up.
I did email through CL about two weeks ago (as a self-identified tire kicker, A-hole move I know). I know those headlights and gauges (including GPS speedometer) are pricey parts that would transfer to other projects pretty well.
OjaiM5 said:I'm going to trow this Miata into this thread as well.
Expensive yes, no engine shots yes, beat up yes, intrigued? unfortunately yes
https://ventura.craigslist.org/pts/d/ventura-monster-miata-v8-1990/7161330510.html
Just seeing this. I really like those headlights on the Miata for some reason
In reply to Mr_Asa :
But no under hood pics, ugh
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