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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - Rear End

I am putting a rover engine in a B and looking for about 220HP from the engine. Does anyone think it is worth investing in the exotic independent rear ends that are available or would a narrowed Ford or Dana unit work just as well at a much cheaper cost? I was looking at the Hoyle Engineering unit.
Thanks for any insight.
B.D. Harland

As you are on the other side of the pond this companies products could be worth a look,
http://www.cwiinc.com They use the Jaguar rear end without the very heavy sub frame and provide the mountings.
Whilst the Hoyle set up is very good, it is also very expensive at about £3500 with all the necessary parts. I have been looking at the Jag set up but thought it would mean a lot of fabrication but having done an extensive search on Google over the holiday find that most of the bits are available to make the conversion reasonably straightforward, and cost effective. I can source a 3.07 with powerlock diff for £250 and reckon with a rebuild of diff and brakes plus narrowing the wishbones and drive shafts, plus the necessary brackets and new coil over damper units the whole lot will come out at under £1300.00. May have to budget in a new drive shaft if the position of the Jag drive flange is more than a fraction different but you are going to need a new one for your car anyway.
Good luck with your conversion.

Kevin Jackson.
Kevin Jackson

B.D. it really depends on your budget and fabrication ability. Probably the cheapest way to go if you plan on retaining the original 4 lug wheel pattern is to find a 8" Ford unit out of a 6 cylinder mustang or Maverick and have it narrowed. Getting harder to find, but the wheel pattern is the same as the B. Plenty strong enough for your V8 at the power range you state and lots of ratios available. Handling with the solid axle isn't bad, no worse than the stock B, but perhaps not as nice as with an IRS.
Bill Young

He also has the option of just sticking with the MG diff - which may or may not work, depending on how he drives it (drag racers need not apply).

As long as you drive it like a 'normal' person, and/or have fairly stock skinny rubber on it, the MG diff will probably work pretty wel. They used it for awhile in the IRS TVR Griffith behind a 289 Ford before going to the much heavier Salisbury unit.
Bill Spohn

I would recommend you contact D & D and look at his GM rear end set up for MGB conversions.I put 1 in mine 3 years ago with the optional posi and 3.08 ratio behind my 5.0L Ford with a T5 and have put over 35K miles on it without a single problem. I also would think it is probably the most reasonable way to go costwise as well. Good luck --Gil
Gil Price

This thread was discussed between 26/12/2005 and 27/12/2005

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