MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGB Technical - jaguar v12 engine conversion

iv heard stories of a jaguar v12 being put in a mgb. is this possible and if so how fast could the car go and what type of changes would need to be made?
T

It was in Safety Fast, 15 or so years ago, I think the only change made was moving the car 2 feet back! ;)
Tatty

so this conversion didnt work? what do you mean by "the only change made was moving the car 2 feet back!"?
T

does anyone have a copy of the article that they could send me? this conversion sounds interesting i think pending on what information i get from you guys i might try it?(how would that big engine fit in a
1968 MGB Rd?)
Scot Hamm

You do like I did years ago Scott.
You first remove the front end totally
Then extend the chassis
Modify the firewall for the bell housing
Rebuild the front end around the engine

That was a ford anglia but why should a "b" be any different

Remember
Where there's a will there's a way
(hopefully a large will from as long lost relative)
The Wanderer

ha, nope, no will in my near future so if the v12 wont fit what about the inline 6?
Scot Hamm

There actually was such an MGB, but to get the Jaguar V-12 into it the firewall (bulkhead) had to be removed. The driver did get a nice view of the rear of the engine, though.
Steve S.

I dunno how fast a B could go with a Jag V12. It really depends on the gearing. In the E-type it has no problem getting up to around 130mph. I didn't really feel comfortable going faster than that. Even though I'd be just as dead at 140 as I would've been at 120, but the wind kinda gets to you at those speeds. Personally I'd rather not go to all the trouble of putting a V12 in a B. For all that time and effort you could end up with a nice E-type which in my opinion is a sexier car and you have all the goodies like IRS already incorperated. If you just want a fast B there are plenty of other motors that would be a more suitible choice. The V12 is only a 326, many V8s are larger than that. Although nothing British is entirely practical is it? But there is something about that V12, it's a nice smooth running engine. It'll pick up in any gear and go. It'll do 80 in second with two more gears to go. Man I wish I could drive one again.

-Jared
Jared Snider

I saw a picture once, of an MGB/GT that someone had shoe-horned a Chevy 454 V8 into. The driver sat where the rear seat should have been. They had also cut out enough of the rear underbody, to fit tires that were something like 12" wide. Apparently, the thing would go like stink in a straight line, but couldn't turn worth a damn. I think that the guy used it for drag racing.
Paul Noble

Here are two of my favorites...Jag V-12 as a front engine Corvair conversion, and a Chrysler 478 Hemi into a Bugeye Sprite. Just goes to show what can be done by clever people with tools. Cliff

www.corvaircorsa.com/V-12-01.html

www.ntahc.org/modifiedhealeys/Photos/126Marian/Marian.htm
Cliff Maddox

T, sorry my Safety Fast mags are in storage till the end of August, raise this topic again then and I will dig it out and send you details. I must admit it looked a nice project if you like Jag engines.
Tatty

T,
I know of an ongoing project in Sweden where a Jag V12 has been fitted to a B. There was a singele photo in the Swedish MGCC club paper "Bullentinen" some months ago. The car is running but has not had it´s MOT check yet. Sorry but i don´t know any details more than it has been extencively reworked, obviously. I spoke to the man last year but did not have the oppertunity to see the car.

Cheers
Erik
Erik

I don't want to spoil the thread but would it not be better to start with an MGC.

As we know the C engine bay was designed to take a straight 6 and generally a V12 will not be substantially long the a straight 6. People have put 90 degree V8s into a C so it should take a 60 degree V6.

David
David Witham

I saw one a few weeks back.
It has been built mainly this winter. The current task is to get the swedish authorities to accept for road use.
It is really well built.

The wheel arches has been slightly widened. The rearaxle is Jaguar and the front axle is (if I remember correctly) from an Opel Commodore, the front crossmember was of course to big. The firewall has not been moved but the heater and the part of chassis which is used for heater and air intake has been removed. The radiator is right behind the grill and is made of aluminium.
The transmissiontunnel has been widened to fit the automatic gearbox, the footwells are really tight.

I think that a UK MG Magazine has been contacted so maybe you all can read about this monster soon.
Jesper Akesson

Wanderer,
I thought the old saying was:
"Where there is a will, there is a lawyer".

Oh, those Swedes... I can only dream of possibilities of getting something like a V12 MGB legally on the road here in Finland. Although I'd probably go for something more conventional like a GM V6 EFI anyway. Or maybe a Mercedes twincam six in a C GT, that might actually be within limits even here.




Kari S

Terve, Kari!

Being to car shows here in Hurri-maa i cant see any, not any reason, why you Easties would be shy. Remember seing a Finnish Mini with a Rover V8. You are also well known for customizing Yank iron.

Hakkapääle (Chop Head)

Eriki
Erik

jared

On the way home from le mans last year, there was a (prismose?) yellow e-type jag, which sounded rather meaty...

Anyway as we were waiting to get off the ferry in the UK, there was a delay so we were stood around the cars chatting (lots of exotica as you might imagine), got chatting to the owner of the e-type.

Turns out it was one of four homogolation specials, one of which was stacked on the track.. This was one of the surviving three, i think it was a mk3, but i am not too good on my jags, fully restored by present owner... The engine was a work of art, 6 twin choke webers, with protruding trumpets, no air filters. This thing could do over 90mph in second gear!!! I can't remember what exactly was different butis was certainly powerful.

The guy recognised us on the way out of the ferry and gave us the priviledge of a full throttle take off..! Ah, heaven!! :->

~PHIL
Phil

Cliff,
Thanks for the link. Wow. Not my dream car, but impressive.
David

Did you guys notice the guy that built the V12 corvair is 83 years old!! I just changed oil in my wifes honda and I thought it was too much work:)
Stan Williams

Here in the USA, there are companies that have conversions for the Chevy 350 into I6 and V12 Jaguars, so if your looking for a rebuildable Jaguar motor, you might want to give one of those companies a call.

T,
You should be talking to the V8 Conversion board guys too about this, they can tell you that here in the States, you would be better placing a Ford 302ci V8 under the bonnet for ease (IN COMPARISON) and room... Of course it would miss that British effect that would be such a work of art that you are talking about.

-BMC.
BMC Brian McCullough

Here's the V8 Mini link, for anyone interested:-

http://www.geocities.com/jharkola/Viku2.html
Derek Nicholson

The car I saw was a black GT at Donnington about 15 years ago, it had the bulkhead moved back, full Jag backend. The guy that built it, was I think something to with the Aerospace industry. Sounded great. The MGOC might know where it is.

Nick

Tjänare Erik,
Easties? Oh well... Anyway, my buddies and myself read Swedish and US hot rod magazines (het järn magasin på svenska?), showcasing all kinds of wild vehicles. Our legislation only allows a 25% increase in cylinder displacement over the biggest engine originally offered by the manufacturer, all the parts of a car have "percentage points" and you can only change up to 49,5% of the parts etc. Silly stuff if you ask me. And that guy with the mini V8 will have heck of a time trying to get that car registered...

BTW, the free translation ro "Hakkaa päälle" is more like "Kick ass!", but nevertheless, I am impressed by your Finnish, you being the first Swede to use the name "Hurri-maa" of the country of milk and honey you usually so fondly call Svea-mamma :-)

Ok, I am off topic again, my apologies to slow readers and people with slow modems ;-)



Kari S

So when's someone going to put a gas turbine into one?
R. L Carleen

I saw a gas turbine engine powered(actually, come to think of it, it was a jet powered) beer cooler in the back of a MGBGT! That was cool!
kids1

Ten years on ... how time flies!

To think it is also a full 25 years since the car was passed as fully road legal. The pic is from when I was requested by Peter Monteverdi to show it at the MG car show in his auto museum at Switzerland in 1989. The car still exists but hasn't been used on the road for some time, for a number of reasons, and could do with a little loving care to bring it back to its former glory.


K C Ward

This has loads of pictures http://www.mgexp.com/phorum/read.php?41,1540381,page=1 but there's not a lot of MGB left by the time it's done!
John Prewer

Bad idea. Nice looking motor, mediocre output, expensive to build and hard to install.

Far better choices out there.
Bill Spohn

This thread was discussed between 10/07/2003 and 29/08/2013

MG MGB Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGB Technical BBS is active now.