Ok -- it's British, the design is from the 1960's . . . it's not quite that old though, but it's going to be a fun little project that at least got the green light from the Mrs. Now presenting . . . my 1974 MGB . . . chrome bumper version . . . very clean little car in need of some TLC. Hmm . . . the 215 cid (3.5L) Buick will slide right into this car. What have I done?
Nice choice, don't forget that over here the Buick/Rover V8 was engineered all the way up to 5L by TVR for the Griffith and Chimaera and 4.0/4.6 by Landrover in Discoveries and Range Rovers and defenders so you're not just stuck with 3.5L! Its a very common engine in hot rods over here as they're cheap and plentiful, in fact really the only British made mass market V8.
Link to Ken Costello MGB's http://www.v8register.net/subpages/profileV8costello.htm And a pic of a MGB with a Buick 215/Rover 3500 in it
There's a how-to book from Motorbooks and this http://www.mgcars.org.uk/v8_conversions/rogv8.html Seems it's not a drop in for the early MG's. Also you will always have a source for body parts as the Chinese purchased the rights and are building a plant in OK to make them, less the leaks and Lucas electrics.
You can buy anything froma a patch panel to a full brand new bodyshell for an MGB made by British Motor Heritage from the original and new tooling. The rights to the Buick/Rover V8 were sold off before the Chinese buyout as it was no longer possible to make it comply with forthcoming emissions regs. The entire production line was sold to a company called MCT who will continue to make it for aftermarket applications and so on. Its got nothing to do with the chinese thankfully after they recently shafted thousands of rover/MG employees here in the UK big time after promising to resume production in the UK and then deciding to switch it to the US on the promise of big subsidies instead. This has devastated a whole community of workers. The chinese only own rights to the MGF which is a completely different car.
Many thanks for all the info. The Chinese bought out the old 2.2/2.5L Mopar tooling also . . . kind of weird to think about . . . who knows what else they're buying/retooling up. After meeting the guy who has the Morris panel truck (172 mph - 1/4 mile), I'm kind of missing my old Minor . . . . guess I'll have to soothe my troubles with this old car.
What happened to the BMW(?) connection? Did they only want to build the Mini in the first place? ETA: I have an Orange '73 MGB GT and used to have an Orange MGB roadster in the late 70's. Had a '60 MGA back in the 60's too. I suggest you drain and refill the brake fluid right NOW with the proper Lockeed type fluid because anything made for "American" brajes will dissolve all the rubber in the system.
Cool... I have a 67 roadster I've restored and have owned for close to 20 years. I just reciently bought the how to book on V8 conversions. Now I'm looking for a 215. Thats my roadster behind the GT at Infenion. The other pic is of a rover V8 MGB at one of the shows. It shows a very nice conversion.
My Old Buick has the 215 and has 44K miles on it . . . but I don't know if I would want to change the car that much or not . . . I was thinking maybe a newer V6, or even a turbo-charged 4 cylinder . . . but if I wanted something like that, maybe I should have just bought a Miata. I think I might keep the old gal like she is. The Buick is still for sale in the classifieds.
You know, a small bock Ford is not really much bigger than the 215, and not much heavier when you add aluminum heads and intake. Not to mention, 1/3 the cost to build.......
I have a friend in ashland that is building a 1952 MG .It used to be a dragcar in the 60's .It will be a gasser look with a bigblock.He is going to start on it as soon as he is done with his 51 merc.
Hehe -- since this engine was "supposedly" rebuilt, it might have a little good life left in it, but we'll see. I've heard good things on a lot of different engines, from V6 to V8. I'll just have to see how everything works out. Thanks for all the great info!
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