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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 TD TF 1500 - MGB engine and gearbox in a T-Series

I have a friend interested in replacing the XPAG on a TD project car, with a BMC 'B' Series engine (MGA/MGB).

Would like to hear from someone who has done this, particularly with respect to how the problem of the hydraulic clutch was accommodated.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gord Clark

Make damn sure he upgrades the brakes and if on a TC, the steering as well. I have a friend who did such a transplant on a TC but with TC steering and brakes. Scariest thing I ever drove. The car shook itself apart in fairly short order.
Lew Palmer

I have seen a couple of those done first hand and both were a hack butcher job. Dan Craig recently worked on a TD that had a B series conversion that I bet had a more professional solution..... maybe?
L E D LaVerne

Steering is an issue even with this crossflow head.


L E D LaVerne

I did not get any photos of the clutch arrangement when I saw it a year ago.


L E D LaVerne

It also has 4 wheel disc brakes.


L E D LaVerne

I've seen two converted TFs including one quite nearby. Nice installation and no problems with the steering column. The clutch was a nightmare as the owner wanted to keep the mechanical linkage; but it works.

TD/TF brakes when properly set up, are entirely adequate and I would go for a disc conversion, only if I lived in The Rockies or Switzerland.

More space to work on a TD ... shouldn't be too difficult.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gord Clark

Hopefully he understands he will kill the value of the car making an engine swap. It's his to do what he wants with of course...
Steve Simmons

True Steve.. If you've got the money you can do what you want - including paving paradise to put up a parking lot. I've often thought though that these cars are a comparatively rare and a somewhat endangered species & so should be afforded the same sort of protection. On the other side of the coin of course, the fewer original cars there are the more valuable they become. Bit like the guy who bought the last 5 of a particular stamp, burnt 4 so that he could inflate both his ego & the value of the sole remaining stamp. If it was me though I'd be leaving well enough alone. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Just going through the process of a B engine in a Y chassis --only just started though so can't really comment yet but
Biggest problem I can see is going to be getting the steering past the dist. / oil filter etc but being LH drive that won't be an issue for you

willy
William Revit

I bought a TD donor car to do a body transplant onto one of my other cars. The donor had a B series adapted to the original four spd and bellhousing. The adapter plate was the only well done piece. There is definite interference with the B exhaust and LHD steering shaft. The throttle peddle linkage must be hacked up to work. The back of the engine is nearly up against the firewall and toe board was beat into submission. The radiator needs to be hacked up as well. They used the TD saddle also hacked up. Not the best swap to do. I wouldn't recommend it.

BTW ...if he is bent on destruction I still have the modified radiator for the B engine. Save the original for the next owner who'll want to put it back together right.

W A Chasser

Hi Gord
I've got a Volvo B-18 engine complete (carbs, starter, etc) including 4-speed gearbox. This would be a much neater installation. Give me a call if any interest.
T W Moore

Bob Seymour of Abington Spares had one...a beautiful job, so it can be done.
Gene Gillam

Lazarus originally came with Volvo B16 w/gearbox. Only serious modification was the welding of an engine mount on each frame side. Bud
Bud Krueger

I like the Volvo B-18 conversions, though admittedly the 'originalist' in me still wretches a bit.

I wonder, though, is there room for the overdrive that was optional on that motor? That would make it even better still.
Kevin McLemore

If you are going to fit a different engine why not go for a modern one? Scrap yards are littered with MX5 or Ford Zetec engines and I suspect a good used one would be a lot cheaper than buying and rebuilding a MGB unit.

Another point that interest me, on Discovery Chanel programmes such as Fantomworks American muscle cars frequently have modern engines fitted and this appears to increase their value. Same with suspension mods and brakes. Fit a Volvo engine or even uprated shockabsorbers to a T Series and the value plummets.

Jan T
J Targosz

Hot rods are a completely different thing. The value is in the creation of the car as a whole. We're talking about taking a vintage car, like a T-Series M.G., and changing the heart of it to something else but leaving everything else alone. There is less of a market for that than there would be a hot rod, or even for a stock muscle car with a bigger engine. People who buy cars like M.G.s are typically looking for a vintage motoring experience. Putting a modern engine in the car would kill that experience, and kill the resale value.

Also, don't believe what you see on those shows. They are mostly fake, scripted television.
Steve Simmons

TW,

Do you have air cleaners fitted to your B18 engine? My '53 TD has had a B18 for probably more than thirty years and I do not believe it has ever had air cleaners fitted. I would like to see a picture of your air cleaner set up if available.

Regards, Bobby L
B. F. Loughridge

The Volvo B18 is a much easier conversion and is a much better engine. The carbs are on the right side and you don't have to modify the brake and clutch pedal box. The overdrive transmission will work if you modify the cross-member.
Email me Rorry.Harding@gmail.com and I will send photos. My photos seem to be too large.
Rb Harding

Photo resized.


Rb Harding

An MGB 1800 will snap the axles.
MAndrus

Hi,
I have an older B18 conversion, probably done in the early 70's.
It would not fit air cleaners when I bought it so I took about a 1 inch section out of the intake manifold and welded it back together. Not too much of a job really, I used the old Austin Healy style air cleaners.




J Stone

Quote; MAndrus, N Carolina
An MGB 1800 will snap the axles

I doubt if an 1800 would snap Dave Clarks upgraded axles. PJ
PJ Jennings

The two TF's I have seen with MGB engines, bot have retained their standard TF rear axle, but in both cases an MGB 3.9 CWP has replaced the standard 4.875 of the TF.

Certainly no "snapping" here.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gord Clark

If you still have the modified radiator and the bellhousing adapter that you reference here after more than two years I would be interested in them. I plan to mount an MGA 1600 in my YT while I properly rebuild my XPAG to install in the future. I know that this is unlikely, but thanks any way.
Greg Arnold, Jacksonville, FL
W. G. Arnold

This subject must be a very personal one. If owning a car without a engine/gearbox available I might consider it. To me as a MG car owner it is both the use as is and the added factor of self maintenance -probably not unsimilar to how the car was cared for in its early life. I must ask what are owners trying to achieve?
JK Mazgaj

Dave Clark built me a 4.1 rear for the TF and the engine handles it beautifully! 1st gear is now usable and shifting is no different than when it had the 4.8 in it, my original engine has been rebuilt and is very snappy and pulls most smaller hills without downshifting. I personally wouldn't change a thing in my car. It would be a lot cheaper, in the long run, to rebuild the original engine and keep the car as original as possible for its value sake, than to chop it up to install a non-T series engine in it. Only if we were dealing with a car with no drivetrain at all would I even consider it, certainly not to gain a few more HP.
PJ Jennings

Greg. I do have the radiator for the B series engine swap. Cont act me at the above link. The engine/trans adapter was sold

Bill Chasser
TD-4834
W A Chasser

I have a Dave Clark 4.3 rear end ready to go in soon.

My “temporary” gearbox is of doubtful quality so the long term plan is to add a 5 speed from Hi-Gear, should make for decent cruising then I imagine.

Peter
P G Gilvarry

Anyone done a Triumph Spitfire (or MG midget) 1500 engine into a TD? As I recall carbs and other accessories are on the correct side and one might even find one with an Laycock overdrive gearbox.
John Quilter (TD8986)

The Spitfire 1500 engine is a disaster - designed by accountants.
Lew Palmer

If you wanted to keep it MGTD period correct and had a few extra $$$,
(about $13K) then this is how I would go; https://xpagdevelopments.com/products/3-engine-rebuild-super-charged.

For a few bucks more it comes with a 5 Speed.

For a few bucks more and more it can be made to put out 175 HP.

Jim B.
JA Benjamin

This thread was discussed between 18/10/2017 and 22/01/2020

MG TD TF 1500 index

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