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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - Who sells a 5 link kit?

I am wondering if there is a comercially available 5 link, coil-over conversion for the B? A quick look tells me it could be done, but before re-inventing the wheel, I like to look at alternatives. A while back, there was some advice about fitting an A frame. Made good sense until I look under the car and tried to find room.

Pete
Pete

Pete your talking about IRS right?? I am not sure how many links it was but Trevor Taylor made a IRS for the B, he also made a dual A arm coil over conversion for the front end. Unfortunately he has since left us, but I believe someone on the list should be abe to provide info to the company that has taken over production..

Larry Embrey

I think you need maidstone sports cars in uk. The 5 link system is not an IRS
bob

Trevor Taylor never dsigned or manufactured the front or rear susoension kits.He was a distributer of them.The kits were designed and are built by Gerry Hawkridge and John Hoyle (not sure of the spelling) at NG/Hawk cars in England.
A 5 link in the back of a B will not be the best set-up due to the very short link lengths.This contributes to more rear roll steer than even the leaf spring set-up.Road racers running multi-links use very long trailing links to minimize any wheelbase length change or roll steer.
Dave D

At one time there were plans floating around for a four link conversion which retained the stock leaf springs. Huffaker designed it, I've got a copy around here somewhere.
Jim Blackwood

Any chance you can find it and share it with us?
bob

http://foresight.cc/Graphics_Content/MG/4_link.JPG
To me this seems a fairly well thought out design. I would retain the spring cushions for street use. One nice feature is that should something break the car will still be driveable. Aside from that, it's the cleanest design I'm aware of. When I do get around to upgrading the axle I'll probably use this, though I may not use the panhard bar. I'm not convinced my car needs it.
Jim Blackwood

Looks like a 3 link with a panhard. Very similar to the design i'm working on. Except i'll have coilovers.

Where are those leafsprings mounting to??? Surely they didn't cut into the body to make a new mounting point
Michael Hartwig

I am a little confused by the Huffaker drawing. I see the traction bars as the bottom links, I see the single top link, but where is the Panhard rod? Is the missing Panhard rod the 4th link or is the top link duplicated on the other side? The drawing only indicates a single top rod, & I would think this would be on the other side, since the right side is the power wheel.

Please, someone explain.
Jim Stuart

I'm afraid that's all there is. 'Little' Joe gave me that about 20 years ago when I was out there talking about suspension with him. I think the lower mounts attach to the stock spring hangers (CB). It is indeed a 3 link with a panhard rod. Putting the 3rd link in the near center eliminates the need for the second link in much the same way that a pinion snubber takes the place of 2 traction bars, as for choice of which side, I'm not sure it matters but the Huffaker shop was building race chassis from the ground up in those days and I trust they knew what they were doing. The panhard rod is not shown, nor is the body mount for it. On that, YOYO.
Jim Blackwood

Pete,
Some details on Rear Traction Link from Frontline

This revolutionary form of rear axle locator, as fitted to our demonstrator model MGB and Sprite, gives perfect central location of the axle while allowing unrestricted travel and it lowers the roll centre to the height you want by changing the location height of the central pivots.The main body of the bracket bolts to the underside of the car and the outer arms locate on special mountings at the extremities of the axle. Pics can be obtained from Frontline and it should now be in production.

The IRS is available from John Hoyle.

Tony Bolton has used Chapman Struts on a midget and is looking for suitable B to modify (long way from Canada).

Paul
Paul

Jim
Thanks for Huffaker drawings. I notice they are for the early type banjo axle
Paul
Checked out Frontlines web site but there was no mention of set up for a B only the Midget. Have I missed something?
Bob

Bob,

Tim Fenna of Frontline teamed up with Ken Costello some time ago but has not updated website (still only related to Spridgets) only adverts in safety fast.

If you email he can provide details. If you can get to Bath the RTL is on V8 demonstrator car.

Paul
Paul

Paul,
Could you please supply the web address for Frontline?
Thanks, Pete.
Peter Thomas

The Huffaker drawing is for a Midget not a B. The Midget uses an old Banjo axle and has the leaf springs mounted in "pockets" as shown. Also since Huffaker is known for building winning Midgets, I'd put my money on that.

It looks like he designed a suspension to skirt the rules at the time. The rules for the class must have required that the original leaf springs be retained, so he kept them, but only to keep the car off the ground. The rest of the links do everything else. The one exception would be the missing panhard rod. The bracket is shown, but that is it.

Without looking at the angle of the lower arms from a top view, I'm not sure if they would provide any lateral location - but he did mount the front of the arm offset to one side to produce a slight angle. But how much???

Thank you very much for posting this.

BTW – unlike what someone else stated earlier, if you break a link you would not be able to drive home (easily) since the leaf springs are not locating the axle. See the note that leaves .06” clearance to allow the springs to float and not bind.
Brian Kraus

I have a early pull door handle MGB which was a race car in california. It has what is supposed to be Huffaker suspension. Would you like pictures? It may take a few days to develop pictures. I have had it since 1990, off the road in storage.
Reed Boehner

Reed,
I would very much like to see pictures. I'm curious how closely it matches. I'm also especially curious about the panhard bar as the details are lacking.

Brian,
I beleve the drawing is more on the order of a concept sketch than a full production drawing. As such liberties would have been taken. For instance, did you look at the tab for connecting the panhard rod to the spring plate? I don't think that'll work as shown as it's awfully close to the spring. At any rate the earlier MGB also used a banjo housing, not that it matters since you can weld to either one. The CB MGB also has the forward spring attachment points recessed up into the body. This point was lowered with the RB cars to increase the ride height, and is the main reason it is difficult to properly lower a RB car. As far as I can tell the links do not provide any lateral control at all. That's the job of the semi-missing panhard rod. Curiously enough the panhard was what I was interested in at the time. The top link is offset but not angled. Also, slotting the spring plated 1/16" is not going to make the car undriveable if a link breaks. Loose handling, yes. But not undriveable.

I would like to see a photo or sketch of the frontline link, is it online anywhere?
Jim Blackwood

Pete,

www.mgcars.org.uk/frontline/

For Jag rear axle www.mgbv8.co.uk/rearsus.htm

Paul
Paul

Paul, Thanks for the web site addresses, Pete.
Peter Thomas

Guys,

I have an adjustable 4 bar system on my B with coil-overs. It is well designed and quite easy to fit if you are handy with a welder.

David
David

David,
That does sound worth more than a second look.
Would you like to share a few of the relevant details?
Specifically is it one designed and made by you and what is the geometry?
Cheers, Pete.
Peter Thomas

David
Could you give us some more details. Particularly improvements noticed over stock leaf sprung set up?
Rick

This thread was discussed between 26/05/2002 and 03/06/2002

MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical index

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