This was a great day and I'm glad you liked the car. Your observations about the steering were spot on and I've changed the springs and the geo since as a result. Feels a bit less "sketchy death wagon" more "oh a real car".
Great job Jacob, thats inspiring me to do a similar upgrade to my B. was going to do the MX5 gearbox conversion, but may as well mate it to the right engine! Wilwood brakes are a good idea too :)
Would be a travesty to destroy any classic car with an electric engine. No sound no soul no fun. Would make driving like using your mother’s electric sewing machine
@@robertwheeler993 The MGA twin cam engine was released in 1958, however due to various deficiencies which included fueling via the SUs it was not a successful engine and was (sadly) dropped after the manufacture of circa 2000 examples.
My god, even through phone speakers that sounds amazing! Why can't modern cars reproduce this symphony of intake honk, exhaust bark and mechanical whirling? Love it!
Because they have multiple systems designed to meet emissions requirements, efficiency requirements and noise requirements. So if you are happy to compromise on all of these and aren't too worried about the consequences this is what you can get.
@@MrAdopado I know -- drive-by noise regs in particular likely have a lot to do with how modern cars sound. The modern performance car approach (loud, popping exhaust and piped in sounds) doesn't do anything for me.
@@sbrenx7132No, because of a@%*holes overdoing it, p#*&ing people off enough to complain to the police, who've got enough to do without answering nuisance calls, so lobby for tighter restrictions.
@@garyallsopp6369Not really, if anything it’s easier now to make a car louder with a simple map. Traffic noise and air pollution are health concerns. Adding particulate filters in the exhaust muffles the sound. A turbo (there’s nearly no new NA car on sale) goes on the exhaust, where it quietens it further. The loudest modern city traffic is a 50cc scooter.
I used to love electric cars but i could never see the logic in converting classics. Now i can't stand electric cars I'm saddened that anyone is doing it
That is a good conversion. Been thinking of doing something similar. If using a third generation Miata drive train (NC Miata), it comes with the 2.0 engine, an easy torque upgrade that is a direct bolt-on the the transmission is to use either the 2.3 or 2.5 engines from the same family of Ford products that use the Duratec engine (e.g. modern Escort/Fusion).
Wow awesome love it would be even better in my opinion if it was a 1960s sebring MGB roadster replica with the hardtop fitted... But credit to the guy what a great conversion a real wolf in sheep's clothing now you could have some real fun at the lights leaving some modern cars in your wake the drivers would think what the hell is going on 😂👍
Two things... I run a daily driver MGB GT with a second hand 2ltr fully rebuilt engine, ( bought the car with the engine swapped it and resold the car). The engine with very few miles on it was...Iver Searle Power Plus 2000cc engine, reconditioned, lightened flywheel with new ring gear, electronically balanced crankshaft, flywheel and clutch assembly, conrods end to end balanced and pistons balanced. So it cost me a days work and a couple hundred pounds .... the resultant car pulls like a train , and is reasonably original. Also it has been said , at about 1500 miles use per year .... my car can be driven 46 years before it reaches the same amount of carbon as the production of a single new electric car. So how green am I !!
Always had a soft spot for the BGT. And this looks likes the way forward to be able to keep these beauties on the road for a while. Kudos to Jacob. Cool vid Jeff.
I saw a clip of a Triumph stag being electrified. I lost all hope. The very essence of a Stag is the v8 burble. So electrify away. But some cars need to be left as they are.
Depends how much you drive it, though. The motor itself has emissions - potentially more than those of the conventional ICE, and if you don’t do high miles it could be quite a while until it crosses over. Especially comparing an existing repurposed engine with a new electric motor
There is absolutely nothing wrong with leaf springs in the back and a lot that is really right ! Having the right spring rate and the dampers to suit will provide excellent handling. As for the front end this car has a bit more negative camber than maybe is ideal for the street and also looks to have a good bit of toe out. This set up is ideal for the race track where you have a lot more slip angle than you are going to have on the street.
Brilliant conversion. As someone planning an ev conversion i do have a couple of qualms with the figures used. that 30k+ figure is the price charged by high end shops that fully restore cars and use brand new overly expensive electric components (going off that 110hp figure). Many of these shops use stupidly expensive incredibly underpowered components. If you were to convert the car yourself using used components from a written off electric car, a budget of 5-7.5k is very reasonable. My own conversion I expect to cost approximately 5k and will provide me with a motor that is rated at 250hp but has been tested at up to a bit over 400hp. I'm going to do a little pros and cons list for doing the conversion featured in the video vs a diy electric conversion: Petrol pros- done by professionals (so no work required on your end), lower upfront cost, retain the sound, retain that manual gearbox, lighter car Petrol cons- petrol is only getting more expensive (~1k more expensive per year than electric at current rates), more points of failure, harder to maintain on your own Electric pros- lower lifetime cost (less maintenance + save ~1k on fuel per year), more horsepower in a lighter package, less points of failure, benefits of instant torque Electric cons- can't get work done by professionals, have to do significantly more research, can be a lengthy process, may potentially be heavier than before (mine will be heavier by ~200kg, from 1.3T to 1.5T), less range (mine will have approx 115 miles) TLDR: This petrol conversion is brilliant, will fulfill it's intended purpose, will be incredibly fun, with a low upfront cost, but in the long run doing an ev conversion will be cheaper and more powerful. so If you can sacrifice the sound of a combustion engine and the fun of driving a manual, an electric car will be more powerful and cheaper (in the long run)
@@TheKaptainKernow my plan is to buy a written off Nissan leaf from copart + the inverter and transmission (which also acts as the motor) from a lexus gs300h. and them Frankenstein the components across. If you want some proper advice, from people significantly smarter and more experienced than me, make a post on the openinverter forum, or r/evconversions, or diyelectriccar.
some more cons: No garage is insured to have your vehicle in it, no roadside rescue firm should be towing it. You soon wont be able to legally park it within 50m of anyone elses vehicle, house or business especially with a battery from a "written off" vehicle that was likely written off as no repairer can be arsed with trying to get insured to have your vehicle within 50m of anything else on the site.
@@nickiemcnichols5397 Ah see, I'm converting a Nash Statesman to electric and doing it myself, doing it nice, lithium batteries of course, making it compatible with a few public charger varieties and I see the 30k price as entirely reasonable, not to mention the time to wire things up beautifully. Petrol engine swaps can be a pita, but a Duratec to an MX5 transmission is a well supported, documented swap into most old, 4 cylinder things. Plus, you can keep the limited space most of them have and you can stay under the limited GVWR such ancient sheet metal supports, leaving it all for passengers and 1 piece of luggage. Back when I did petrol car projects all the time there's ALWAYS someone saying 'this is as cheap as I did it' and I generally found it an unreasonable pissing contest with not grasp of reality. Doing it yourself, they can both be cheap if you're willing. Paying someone else, I think the petrol will be cheaper, gas spent and all for the amount most people drive a hobby car.
I have always liked the MGB GT. I think this is a good budget conversion and I agree that an upgraded MG block would be more expensive. You could have put in a V8 but that might not be within the rules of the racing category. On the other hand if you are on a budget the V8 would not be a good choice. I think it sounds good which for me is part of the experience. Well done to Jacob and good luck with his continued work on the car. Thanks Jack for the video.👍👍
This is NOT TRUE! So long as you keep the car within the DVLA's notoroius "8 point rule" you keep historic status, tax exemption and ULEZ exemption too. You can change the engine, gearbox and axles and still stay within the regs. You do still need to get it MOT'd, but I would and do on any standard classics I happen to own anyway, as well as the 2 restomods. It's not a high price to pay!
Love that MGB. I'm so tired of seeing countless MX-5s. Those are a dime a dozen. The MGB has such classic lines and is immediately recognizable. Great job Jacob.
🥲about the MX5. They are a "dime a dozen" for very good reason, and even here, he's using the MX5 gear box and driver's seat! . That being said, I'own an MX5 now (hence my bias 😜) but have also owned an MGB, and that engine sound is epic!! I also LOVE this conversion rather than an EV 👍👍👍
Imagine sitting in your garden on a beautiful summer evening, enjoying the sound of birds, like nightingales, then suddenly your peaceful tranquility is ripped apart by one of these (or almost any car) passing by? This is the age of annoying noise almost everywhere, mostly caused by combustion engines. We've all grown up with this and - without too much thinking about it - regard this as "normal" - however, it isn't... People are so accustomed to this that they even like the sounds of their cars and seemingly don't care to those around them... Go electric! You'd still have the sound of tires and wind, but that is a lot better than with combustion engines!
@@tedvga Indeed ... I love a fast car but our weekends nowadays are ruined by noisy bikes and cars out to have some fun. We literally have to halt conversations (inside the house) because of the noise.
@@tedvga Most road noise is caused by tyres on the road, not engines. Electric cars are noisier because they are a lot heavier. Electric is also far worse for the environment than ice. Also nothing sounds better than a nice raspy engine. A triumph triple is heaven to my ears.
Nope, not for me - Ford engine in an MG! 😮 Me I'm looking for a accident damaged MG4 to transplant into my daughter's MGF (maybe even twin motor X-Power 😁). For me, most cars' souls are in their chassis - Every car I've ever driven, the engine has been some form of compromise. Sure, some cars are about the engine and you wouldn't want to touch them, but for most it's just the weak point. Then again for 5 years my daily was a Westfield SEi Wide, so maybe my perspective is skewed 😆 Each to their own I suppose, as long as it's reversible. Just spare me the armchair generic 4-cylinder jockeys who don't like EVs because a Nissan Leaf isn't as much fun as a TVR; neither of which they've ever driven. Great videos by the way - keep them coming!
1:38 you nailed it right there with your comment about the sound. I used to be able tell what car was coming before I saw it by the sound. Engines sounded unique. Even the boring shopping trolley cars.
I've always loved the MGB GT and that was fantastic. The way it sounded, the power and the way it swept around 'Jacks Bend' was so smooth. Thanks again Jack for showing such a unique car. Regards, Bob M. South Wales
I can see a comments war kicking off over who found that bit of road first - Jack or Harry! Obviously it doesn't matter, both have given us all some great videos over time.
This conversion is also "Greener" than an electric conversion since the carbon impact of a used engine and gearbox is 0 tons of carbon per year, unlike a new electric motor and a new set of batteries.
@tedvga Not really. It's well documented that electric cars don't pay-off (carbon wise) until ~100k miles have been put on the vehicle. A conversion is no different than a new car in that regard.
I bought an MGB GT as a project and it thankfully has the upgraded brakes and suspension already done which is a good stating point. I believe people can be a bit 'sniffy' about unusual engine transplants tin the MGB thus when you come to sell the car the resale price would be negatively impacted. The route I have investigated is the V8 from a Rover SD1along with it's 5 speed gearbox, this will give you about 170 hp but way more torque than the Duratec and has the benefit of not being so frowned upon as there was a factory version with a Rover V8 albeit with only 137 hp, I think the lazy power delivery and sound also suits the car better and it would likely be cheaper to do. It's a personal choice of course and as an alternative putting an R1 or Hayabusa lump in there would give a phenomenal power to weight ratio but not a very relaxed drive.
Interesting engine set up... being a Ford Duratec I'm guessing it was fuel injected with a computer control... Interested to know how all the electronics and computer were ditched for carbies.... carbies!... just great.
I love it. There is nothing like the involvement of shifting gears and working with the engine and transmission. Like you said, the car has a soul. I have both electric and gas powered cars and as wonderful as the electric car is in so many ways, it is a cold mistress. My TVR, Caterham's and MX-5's have so much more grasp on my heart despite the fact they are nothing like as good as the Jaguar.
2 ratios + say, 3 levels of energy recovery - effectively letting u change down several 'gears' approaching a bend and ability to shift up once during acceleration is both doable and desirable?
One disadvantage of not going electric is that you're depriving the child lithium mining labourers of their income. Some may consider this to be A Good Thing, of course.
Hoyle Engineering sell an IRS that does away with leaf springs and allows for a bigger diff and rear disc brakes.. pick a Mazda power plant or BMW 2 litre and the recipe is a good one. Lots of fun to be had.
Biggest cost of an EV conversion is usually the batteries, which are second hand to start with. 10 years down the line if lucky and will need replacing again. A well built internal combustion engine used a few weeks each summer in a classic car, would last 50 years plus between rebuilds.
Yep, I have nothing against electric powered vehicles, love them in fact, but if your toy sits for a large part of its ownership, batteries are not a good choice. At least with the current tech.
Interesting. I've driven a couple of MGBs over the years, one very regularly, and in particular the steering has been heavy and ponderous, sapping most of the enjoyment. Good to hear it can be sorted.
Can't see the point of electrifying a classic. The cost, energy & materials involved will unlikely be offset by the lower CO2 of the Sunday drives to the local pub.
Great review Jack. I agree, electric conversions remove the soul of a classic. Nothing like the sound an feel of a combustion engine - hearing a classic MGBT or Aston whirrrrrr is not the same.
People have always done engine swops, it's not an alternative to an electric conversion, it's an engine swop for increased performance, maybe economy, I'd have thought that at 5k you could tune a b series up pretty good, supercharger (?) good old reliable engine the B series, had loads, we used to go to France in a bgt, 38 mpg and could cruise at 90 (ish) in overdrive, you were very brave in flying around in something with, shall we say undeveloped suspension, can't see how double wishbone front suspension is antiquated. Great video tho, you look like you can drive a bit as well.
Although not a big fan of the BGT’s I have always thought, with a good engine there is no reason why they can be a daily drive. It’s a practical car, easy to handle and hatchback for shopping
Rear axle location on a MGB is fairly decent, it's those horrid lever arm dampers in standard form that can ruin things. A firm front/softer rear setup is the general rule of thumb, which you can do just by changing the oil in the units (shocks is a better option though), and with decent new bushes all round they drive fine. Can't abide the B Series engine though, that damn lump of iron haunted the business for decades longer than it should.
@@rjbiker66 Yes you can still get them, and there's also a multi-link rear setup available which from memory is a bolt-on job. If you don't have the cash then just taking the springs off, getting the surface rust off them, a good layer of Hammerite or Hard Hat and then a thin skim of oil/grease between the leaves will make a difference to them. Poly bushes are a good option as well but they do need a smear of copper grease to preventing squeaking.
Here in the States, all Ford Focuses from 2005-2010 were gifted the lovely little Duratec 2.0L It is a wonderfully revvy little lump that sounds surprisingly good. I have one in my Focus, turbocharged with a GTX2871R, and a Cosworth intake. The car makes 260whp and is really really fun to drive. Keep up the great work Jack!!
i did the same with my first gen crx 2.0 out of a newer accord and a rack of 34 mm mikunis off a kawasaki easily doubled the power and added 50 mph at least of top speed
Let's be honest - never seen a BGT move off the line like that! Strange to say, a fair few Elise owners have ended up with the Duratec - it's capable of fairly high outputs.
The Muncie M22 (rock crusher) is certainly a robust and reliable transmission, however the same cannont be said about the compromised shift mechanism which was fairly agricultural even when new. It's likely another case of the GM 'bean counters' overiding the more costly but better engineered solution.
@@mrdainaseMost Australians are wine drinkers, they don’t drink Foster’s in Australia. As far as lager goes, it’s Victoria Bitter, Carlton or Castlemaine that’s drunk. Cooper’s Sparkling Ale is good.
Two of us were driving back from a car show in my Frogeye last week when I mentioned to my mate that I was considering fitting a K-series engine, 5-speed gearbox and disc brakes to make the car more usable. We're both in Motorsport so this would be a DIY project. His reply was a classic - "But I thought you wanted a Frogeye."
There should be a law against doing electric conversions on classic cars like these, its just not British! A brilliant, informative and entertaing video, as always!
I really liked this episode, what a smart conversation. I read somewhere that Yamaha had a lot of input into Fords Duratec/Zetec engines so the carbs from an R1 make sense.
Haven't heard you smiling during a road-test for a long time. Well done! The Ford Ecotec engine is brilliant! But on the continent, a VAG 1.8Turbo is probably the more obvious choice.
There are lots of classic cars with shit engines. Typically the not sporty ones. Don't sound great, no power and unreliable. They are great for EV conversions. Especially nice when it improves as much to the point people start daily driving the classic car.
Removing the old "B series" and putting the MUCH LIGHTER duratec in the engine bay, would improve the balance of the car no end! Having that MX-5 box to "stir", also loses weight, and adds SO MUCH FUN! Even if you decided to go "full leather" inside and all the "mod cons", like electric widows, air-con and posh seats, you'd never have a heavier car than stock! 1960's class, but with 2020's reliability and performance? ...NO BRAINER! (Not sure I could live without the old 1800 long stroke torque and "rasp" though? I wonder if there is a lighter, and maybe a racier version of the "B"? My old "Forza4" virtual car, was bored out to 2.0ltr and lightened and had a sport box and rear end, which made it a REAL weapon on the track!)
The MGB GT is a great looking car in my opinion, dropping a ford 2.0 engine into it is a fun idea.... Looks like a barral of laughs for not silly money 🤑. Cracking stuff as always Jack buddy 👌....oh almost forgot to say I'm all for internal combustion for as long as possible! Especially on toys like this MGB, the sound of the engine is a lot of the feel and fun in a car like that!
Having the Mazda gearbox means you don't have that fabulous overdrive unit. Secondly the standard back end slides all over the place so I would make some drastic upgrades before driving it in anger.
I once drove one of those Lotus Elan +2, with Spyder Chassis, Scorpio brakes, Z-tec on throttle bodies, the works. That was so close to being the perfect everyday classic, and I was so close to being able to afford it. 😂😂😂
A great video and enjoyed watching it however it is has little relationship to an electric conversion. you could not drive that in a low emissions zone, you could not charge at home and its not silent and still burning fossile fuel etc. Personally I would probably go for a v8 but people that want electric typically want for the reason above.. It may make a v8 conversion redundant but not even sure about that, would that really be more. When I had my B 20 years ago a V8 conversion could have been had.
Electric cars are not the answer that would give much more fun but as its modified will it still get the free tax and no mot even though I still think it should have to pass a mot or at least a safety test but we will still be able to get fuel till about 2050 so as long as the screws don't get turned to much we can still drive our cars for the for the next 25 years or so I hope
Resto Mod what's not to like a 4 wheel alignment Hunter session will sort the geo it sounds great good mpg and in reality a much smaller carbon print as it's recycling at the end of the day.
Interesting engine choice. I have a MGB roadster and am installing a 3.5L Rover V8, which will make for interesting driving, as the rebuilt motor has 250bhp. Being alloy the V8 is a lighter engine than the standard 4 cylinder, which should improve the car's balance.
@@davidgerrard8661 doing the maths 100% agree, I feel a 3.08 is too tall maybe a 3.3 as a 3.7 is not that much different to a 3.9. I also adding a Quaife LSD, Kpnis, Panhard and Tramp Rods to handle the extra power
Again, it will need an MOT forever as it classes as significantly modified. Something to consider as there are issues with non period engined cars registered as historic.
I constantly come up against MGB's at our local hillclimb (Mt Cotton) and they give me and my MGTF 160 race preped a good run. I have been tempted a few times but the B series engine always stopped me. I will have to rethink now what I should do. There are some really potent Honda engines around too. Thanks Jack another great video about cars that we can all afford and relate to.
Very nice restomod conversion. Thise engines are very robust. I think I might have just used the stock EFI with the Duratec, though. It would have made things simpler.
Thanks very much. You can get bike throttle bodies which are efi that are only a few hundred more than the carbs I went with. I completely agree with you: in fact it's just about the only regret I have on this conversion. Will upgrade in future.
I’ve seen a number of engine swaps involving bike carbs on TH-cam and none of them have fitted air filters. One of the channels then complained of low compression on the front two cylinders, “air filters are for wimps” he said. Maybe he’ll find scoring down the bores and pistons, maybe not. Air filters are cheaper than a rebuild if so.
When I was at school [in the Dark ages] they used to put Ford Cortina 1600 OHV engines in Morris Minors.Apparently it mated quite well to the existing gearbox if I recall correctly.I remember my dad [who was a mechanic by trade] saying that it was too much power for the Minor to handle!
Seeing this MGB the tiny Honda 800 cc SS comes in mind. These had chain driven motorcycle engine with a long stroke. Would be nice if NR 27 could make a review about those Honda's.
We took our black MGB GT to northern Spain in 1982. Wherever we parked in a town, there'd be a crowd of folks gathered around it when we returned. They were iconic machines with a fairly gormless engine. I used to catch the Harwell bus from Abingdon in the early seventies and sat on the top deck so I could see into the MG factory yard as we drove past, I never had the money to buy one in those days.
I put a Vauxhall 2.0 red top in my MGB about 27 years ago, Lumenition throttle bodies, standalone ecu, custom ex manifold, stainless V8 rear exhaust, ford 5 speed box and quaife diff, I helped develop the Willwood 4pot disc brake conversion with Rally Design which worked brilliantly, in conjunction with cooper s cylinders on the rear with uprated shoes.. I also had the coilover front conversion which made getting the right spring rate fairly easy, together with a thicker front ARB, lowered rear springs with anti-tramp bars and spax shocks.
That's an absolute no brainer. 1/6 of the cost, better range, thousands of more places to re-fuel, way easier to get a mechanic to work on it in future and sounds great.
Hey! I have seen your videos before I did the engine swap in the video. Unless I'm mistaken you're the same guy who has the photo next to my school mates Ford T bird? With the r500 engine in the mgb gt?
In my younger days, I owned a Datsun 2000 Sports, which was a natural alternative for the MGB. The former was a superior car in just about all metrics except the exhaust sound. I do miss the induction sound from a carburetor engine. Modern fuel induction engines, like the one in my ND MX5, just don't have the raw sounds from bygone days.
But, Jack...the body is a little bit - um - dinged up...I mean, no issues - we all have small 'fender-benders' - but why, oh why would someone let the sheet metal rust that way under the right headlamp? Also, it seems that the tach isn't working...I know that original Smiths tach is run by a cable - but with a bit of ingenuity...that Duratec should be able to drive an electronic one...either mounted where the original one is - or, just dash-mounted...I agree with you about the 'sanitized sound' - needs a freer exhaust for sure...however, lest I sound too negative - it's a nice swap and seems to be not TOO difficult with fabricated new engine mounts...
Hey, it’s called the patina look. Those bits are laquered over so they won’t get worse. I quite like it. Also Jacob is a student.. so money is an issue!
Thank you for another great video! You have me wondering how a swap like this might work in my 1959 MGA coupe project. Even though they do differ in construction- the A being body-on-frame and the B a unitary- they share a great deal of bits, as the B had a lot of developed (and undeveloped) components from the A. Here in the States it's easy to get more than one version of Zetec/Duratec (or MXR) and and many MX-5 transmissions. Do keep us posted on his progress and feel free to give more particulars on the conversion as it goes along, please!
Hi there - a lot of people seem to use the mk1 mx5 engine and gearbox in the mgb and I've heard of people putting those in MGAs. No reason why this duratec wouldn't fit but I've not measured. Give it a go.
Except in many countries engine replacement with more power is banned, or requires individual re-homologation, and the process is ridiculously expensive and convoluted, at least in Belgium it is
I am certain that the Insurance would be invalid, unless you go through the Declaration Process. The whole car has a much higher performance now. If we do anything like that here in Australia, the car must pass severe inspection before it can be road-registered. This could be a downside.
@@ragsbiker7316 with the engine swap to the modern Ford Duratec, it should already have hardened seats. but true if the original engine were still used hardened seat for unleaded fuel would be a must. The tank might be a bit of a squeeze, but LPG is far cheaper than petrol any day around my area.
In 100 years there will be Number 34 saying that if you are a true enthusiast you need to keep the battery and electric motor like in the old days, and skip the modern fusion drive everyone else does. :) I agree the ICE is far more involving, but there are many other things other than engine noise that make a great driving feel, times change, we change. :) I believe extreme puritanism keep us back. :)
What the MGB could have been l am all for engine conversions on british classic as l say how do you make a classic british car reliable and put another motor in it anything and the lovely noise it makes in the interior and you are right Jack EVs have no soul and this MGB has it in bucket loads more engine conversions please
I have a 1981 MGB GT (yes you read that right, 1981, even though the factory closed in 1980!). After the factory in Abingdon CLOSED down in 1980, all the remaining MGB GT parts were shipped to British Leyland in South Africa as CKD (Completely Knocked Down), where only 200 was ever built from imported CKD kits.
I drove a stock BGT 'banger' as my daily commuter for a couple of years during the mid-90s recession. It was way more fun than leaf springs and rear drums ought to have been. However, your grin when you drove this one says it all! Looks like it's going to be even more fun when the handling's sorted! All the best to Jacob! 👍👍
It's great value for sure. But two major parts of the appeal of an electric conversion for my 1968 Spitfire convertible are the the lack of exhaust stink and being able to get about quietly. I drive my Spitfire year round (even on drizzly days) and only with the top down. I am totally fed up with the stink of the carb engine (even though it is finely tuned - 45 MPG). Plus I am equally fed up with other people's raucous exhausts which are entirely for the self-centred benefit of the driver. And this is even before we get into the silky smooth power delivery and 100% low down torque of electric motors. New tech exists and that is what I want. (Just waiting for the prices to come down below 10k - and they will).
I always loved the little brit sports cars...until I drove them. The owner of a company i used to work for as a mechanic was part of a club for these types of cars and I had to service them every spring (de-wintering) and fall (wintering)...and I grew to hate them. They feel so dainty...specifically the shifters. They dont feel anything like a Miata. I do still think they look cool.
![[Live] ศึกมหึมันส์มวยไทยสังเวียนเดือด เวทีมวยชั่วคราวสวนสยาม | จันทร์ 30 กันยายน 2567](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/pM1k6f7JXUc/mqdefault.jpg)
This was a great day and I'm glad you liked the car. Your observations about the steering were spot on and I've changed the springs and the geo since as a result. Feels a bit less "sketchy death wagon" more "oh a real car".
Thank for coming down Jacob, really enjoyed driving it!!
Sounds as though you have achieved something really neat there. Well done!
Please can we ink "Sketchy Death Waggon"/SDK into the reviewing lexicon, Jack?
@@Lemma01 Seconded!
Great job Jacob, thats inspiring me to do a similar upgrade to my B. was going to do the MX5 gearbox conversion, but may as well mate it to the right engine! Wilwood brakes are a good idea too :)
Nice to know that I am not the only person who tries to use Jedi mind control to influence decisions by other drivers! 😁
Like that I do it myself 😂
Yep, with a healthy dose of "Come on, come on" 😊
I wish I had .30 caliber gun turret on my truck...that pushes the decision making to the other drivers.
Would be a travesty to destroy any classic car with an electric engine. No sound no soul no fun. Would make driving like using your mother’s electric sewing machine
To hell with going electric. An MG B with a modern twin cam , finally caught up with the Italians only 45 years late
And with the MGA twin cam
@@robertwheeler993 The MGA twin cam engine was released in 1958, however due to various deficiencies which included fueling via the SUs it was not a successful engine and was (sadly) dropped after the manufacture of circa 2000 examples.
@LOTPOR //
HILARIOUS.
The important thing is they're still here
Yea, the Fiat twin cam…. How reliable.
My god, even through phone speakers that sounds amazing! Why can't modern cars reproduce this symphony of intake honk, exhaust bark and mechanical whirling? Love it!
Because they have multiple systems designed to meet emissions requirements, efficiency requirements and noise requirements. So if you are happy to compromise on all of these and aren't too worried about the consequences this is what you can get.
@@MrAdopado I know -- drive-by noise regs in particular likely have a lot to do with how modern cars sound. The modern performance car approach (loud, popping exhaust and piped in sounds) doesn't do anything for me.
Because of governments
@@sbrenx7132No, because of a@%*holes overdoing it, p#*&ing people off enough to complain to the police, who've got enough to do without answering nuisance calls, so lobby for tighter restrictions.
@@garyallsopp6369Not really, if anything it’s easier now to make a car louder with a simple map.
Traffic noise and air pollution are health concerns. Adding particulate filters in the exhaust muffles the sound. A turbo (there’s nearly no new NA car on sale) goes on the exhaust, where it quietens it further.
The loudest modern city traffic is a 50cc scooter.
Wow. Got to be one of the best budget upgrades I’ve seen. Definitely a worthwhile alternative.
I used to love electric cars but i could never see the logic in converting classics. Now i can't stand electric cars I'm saddened that anyone is doing it
Blasphemy
Posers and the naive do electric cars
I haven't done it so take some solace
@@doithimaceabhard7457 excellent work keep it up! 🤣👍what sort of classic?
That is a good conversion. Been thinking of doing something similar. If using a third generation Miata drive train (NC Miata), it comes with the 2.0 engine, an easy torque upgrade that is a direct bolt-on the the transmission is to use either the 2.3 or 2.5 engines from the same family of Ford products that use the Duratec engine (e.g. modern Escort/Fusion).
I'd also use the rest of the Mazda - suspension, brakes, body .... oh, hold on.....
@@larry9580 You would get the same amount of rust thrown in for free too!
Wow awesome love it would be even better in my opinion if it was a 1960s sebring MGB roadster replica with the hardtop fitted... But credit to the guy what a great conversion a real wolf in sheep's clothing now you could have some real fun at the lights leaving some modern cars in your wake the drivers would think what the hell is going on 😂👍
Yup, endless tuning options too. Not dead yet? Time for a turbo!
Two things... I run a daily driver MGB GT with a second hand 2ltr fully rebuilt engine, ( bought the car with the engine swapped it and resold the car). The engine with very few miles on it was...Iver Searle Power Plus 2000cc engine, reconditioned, lightened flywheel with new ring gear, electronically balanced crankshaft, flywheel and clutch assembly, conrods end to end balanced and pistons balanced.
So it cost me a days work and a couple hundred pounds .... the resultant car pulls like a train , and is reasonably original.
Also it has been said , at about 1500 miles use per year .... my car can be driven 46 years before it reaches the same amount of carbon as the production of a single new electric car. So how green am I !!
Always had a soft spot for the BGT.
And this looks likes the way forward to be able to keep these beauties on the road for a while.
Kudos to Jacob. Cool vid Jeff.
Thank you thank you sir.
Keeping them going is not a matter of power plants….it’s a matter of RUST
I saw a clip of a Triumph stag being electrified. I lost all hope. The very essence of a Stag is the v8 burble. So electrify away. But some cars need to be left as they are.
The only thing worse than modern electric cars are classics with an electric conversion.
Fewer emissions though. Something has to change.
Depends how much you drive it, though. The motor itself has emissions - potentially more than those of the conventional ICE, and if you don’t do high miles it could be quite a while until it crosses over. Especially comparing an existing repurposed engine with a new electric motor
There is absolutely nothing wrong with leaf springs in the back and a lot that is really right ! Having the right spring rate and the dampers to suit will provide excellent handling.
As for the front end this car has a bit more negative camber than maybe is ideal for the street and also looks to have a good bit of toe out. This set up is ideal for the race track where you have a lot more slip angle than you are going to have on the street.
A modern, real engine! Definitely better than electric.
Brilliant conversion. As someone planning an ev conversion i do have a couple of qualms with the figures used. that 30k+ figure is the price charged by high end shops that fully restore cars and use brand new overly expensive electric components (going off that 110hp figure). Many of these shops use stupidly expensive incredibly underpowered components.
If you were to convert the car yourself using used components from a written off electric car, a budget of 5-7.5k is very reasonable. My own conversion I expect to cost approximately 5k and will provide me with a motor that is rated at 250hp but has been tested at up to a bit over 400hp.
I'm going to do a little pros and cons list for doing the conversion featured in the video vs a diy electric conversion:
Petrol pros- done by professionals (so no work required on your end), lower upfront cost, retain the sound, retain that manual gearbox, lighter car
Petrol cons- petrol is only getting more expensive (~1k more expensive per year than electric at current rates), more points of failure, harder to maintain on your own
Electric pros- lower lifetime cost (less maintenance + save ~1k on fuel per year), more horsepower in a lighter package, less points of failure, benefits of instant torque
Electric cons- can't get work done by professionals, have to do significantly more research, can be a lengthy process, may potentially be heavier than before (mine will be heavier by ~200kg, from 1.3T to 1.5T), less range (mine will have approx 115 miles)
TLDR: This petrol conversion is brilliant, will fulfill it's intended purpose, will be incredibly fun, with a low upfront cost, but in the long run doing an ev conversion will be cheaper and more powerful.
so If you can sacrifice the sound of a combustion engine and the fun of driving a manual, an electric car will be more powerful and cheaper (in the long run)
Have you gat a link to a parts list or supplier for the conversion bits you plan on using?
@@TheKaptainKernow my plan is to buy a written off Nissan leaf from copart + the inverter and transmission (which also acts as the motor) from a lexus gs300h. and them Frankenstein the components across.
If you want some proper advice, from people significantly smarter and more experienced than me, make a post on the openinverter forum, or r/evconversions, or diyelectriccar.
The comparison is ridiculous. No ICE can compete with batteries.
some more cons: No garage is insured to have your vehicle in it, no roadside rescue firm should be towing it. You soon wont be able to legally park it within 50m of anyone elses vehicle, house or business especially with a battery from a "written off" vehicle that was likely written off as no repairer can be arsed with trying to get insured to have your vehicle within 50m of anything else on the site.
@@nickiemcnichols5397 Ah see, I'm converting a Nash Statesman to electric and doing it myself, doing it nice, lithium batteries of course, making it compatible with a few public charger varieties and I see the 30k price as entirely reasonable, not to mention the time to wire things up beautifully. Petrol engine swaps can be a pita, but a Duratec to an MX5 transmission is a well supported, documented swap into most old, 4 cylinder things. Plus, you can keep the limited space most of them have and you can stay under the limited GVWR such ancient sheet metal supports, leaving it all for passengers and 1 piece of luggage. Back when I did petrol car projects all the time there's ALWAYS someone saying 'this is as cheap as I did it' and I generally found it an unreasonable pissing contest with not grasp of reality. Doing it yourself, they can both be cheap if you're willing. Paying someone else, I think the petrol will be cheaper, gas spent and all for the amount most people drive a hobby car.
Excellent conversion, I ran an MGB GT for 13 years, I wish I had thought of this during my ownership.
get another
I have always liked the MGB GT. I think this is a good budget conversion and I agree that an upgraded MG block would be more expensive. You could have put in a V8 but that might not be within the rules of the racing category. On the other hand if you are on a budget the V8 would not be a good choice. I think it sounds good which for me is part of the experience. Well done to Jacob and good luck with his continued work on the car. Thanks Jack for the video.👍👍
Should also point out that with engine swaps you lose the MOT and tax exemption as well as historic vehicle status so have to pay the ULEZ charge
Another way to screw people 😡
This is NOT TRUE! So long as you keep the car within the DVLA's notoroius "8 point rule" you keep historic status, tax exemption and ULEZ exemption too. You can change the engine, gearbox and axles and still stay within the regs. You do still need to get it MOT'd, but I would and do on any standard classics I happen to own anyway, as well as the 2 restomods. It's not a high price to pay!
Disregard the ULEZ charge.
Just don't pay like the television licence. Don't engage and don't enter into a contract by acknowledgement of it.
Love that MGB. I'm so tired of seeing countless MX-5s. Those are a dime a dozen. The MGB has such classic lines and is immediately recognizable. Great job Jacob.
🥲about the MX5. They are a "dime a dozen" for very good reason, and even here, he's using the MX5 gear box and driver's seat! . That being said, I'own an MX5 now (hence my bias 😜) but have also owned an MGB, and that engine sound is epic!! I also LOVE this conversion rather than an EV 👍👍👍
Dime a dozen??? I’ll take three dozen. I only have four of them and need some more.
It's a really good noise. Sounds like a big 4-cyl bike. The exhaust is nice too.
Imagine sitting in your garden on a beautiful summer evening, enjoying the sound of birds, like nightingales, then suddenly your peaceful tranquility is ripped apart by one of these (or almost any car) passing by? This is the age of annoying noise almost everywhere, mostly caused by combustion engines. We've all grown up with this and - without too much thinking about it - regard this as "normal" - however, it isn't... People are so accustomed to this that they even like the sounds of their cars and seemingly don't care to those around them... Go electric! You'd still have the sound of tires and wind, but that is a lot better than with combustion engines!
@@tedvga Indeed ... I love a fast car but our weekends nowadays are ruined by noisy bikes and cars out to have some fun. We literally have to halt conversations (inside the house) because of the noise.
@@tedvga
Most road noise is caused by tyres on the road, not engines. Electric cars are noisier because they are a lot heavier. Electric is also far worse for the environment than ice.
Also nothing sounds better than a nice raspy engine. A triumph triple is heaven to my ears.
Nope, not for me - Ford engine in an MG! 😮 Me I'm looking for a accident damaged MG4 to transplant into my daughter's MGF (maybe even twin motor X-Power 😁). For me, most cars' souls are in their chassis - Every car I've ever driven, the engine has been some form of compromise. Sure, some cars are about the engine and you wouldn't want to touch them, but for most it's just the weak point. Then again for 5 years my daily was a Westfield SEi Wide, so maybe my perspective is skewed 😆 Each to their own I suppose, as long as it's reversible. Just spare me the armchair generic 4-cylinder jockeys who don't like EVs because a Nissan Leaf isn't as much fun as a TVR; neither of which they've ever driven. Great videos by the way - keep them coming!
1:38 you nailed it right there with your comment about the sound.
I used to be able tell what car was coming before I saw it by the sound. Engines sounded unique. Even the boring shopping trolley cars.
I've always loved the MGB GT and that was fantastic. The way it sounded, the power and the way it swept around 'Jacks Bend' was so smooth. Thanks again Jack for showing such a unique car. Regards, Bob M. South Wales
I can see a comments war kicking off over who found that bit of road first - Jack or Harry!
Obviously it doesn't matter, both have given us all some great videos over time.
@@mrdainase //
Harry needs a
pacemaker tune-up.
@@mrdainase Harry’s Road, Jack’s Bend 🤗😂
This conversion is also "Greener" than an electric conversion since the carbon impact of a used engine and gearbox is 0 tons of carbon per year, unlike a new electric motor and a new set of batteries.
Aren't you forgetting something? E.g. the carbon impact of burning fuel and its production process?
@tedvga Not really. It's well documented that electric cars don't pay-off (carbon wise) until ~100k miles have been put on the vehicle. A conversion is no different than a new car in that regard.
If you don't like classic engines, you don't like classic cars.
I bought an MGB GT as a project and it thankfully has the upgraded brakes and suspension already done which is a good stating point. I believe people can be a bit 'sniffy' about unusual engine transplants tin the MGB thus when you come to sell the car the resale price would be negatively impacted. The route I have investigated is the V8 from a Rover SD1along with it's 5 speed gearbox, this will give you about 170 hp but way more torque than the Duratec and has the benefit of not being so frowned upon as there was a factory version with a Rover V8 albeit with only 137 hp, I think the lazy power delivery and sound also suits the car better and it would likely be cheaper to do. It's a personal choice of course and as an alternative putting an R1 or Hayabusa lump in there would give a phenomenal power to weight ratio but not a very relaxed drive.
Yes,and twice the fuel consumption.
Yes,and twice the fuel consumption.
And twice the comments apparently@@johnwalker283
Wow, now this is an excellent conversion. Props to the man
Interesting engine set up... being a Ford Duratec I'm guessing it was fuel injected with a computer control... Interested to know how all the electronics and computer were ditched for carbies.... carbies!... just great.
Throttle bodies, not carbs....fuel injection.
@@johnnygeorgopoulos4072 Equally great
I love it. There is nothing like the involvement of shifting gears and working with the engine and transmission. Like you said, the car has a soul. I have both electric and gas powered cars and as wonderful as the electric car is in so many ways, it is a cold mistress. My TVR, Caterham's and MX-5's have so much more grasp on my heart despite the fact they are nothing like as good as the Jaguar.
2 ratios + say, 3 levels of energy recovery - effectively letting u change down several 'gears' approaching a bend and ability to shift up once during acceleration is both doable and desirable?
One disadvantage of not going electric is that you're depriving the child lithium mining labourers of their income. Some may consider this to be A Good Thing, of course.
True, but oil companies make a hell of a mess, especially in corrupted 3rd world countries? oil spills polluting refineries, cancer etc.?
yeah, because all children aspire to work in lithium mines.
Hoyle Engineering sell an IRS that does away with leaf springs and allows for a bigger diff and rear disc brakes.. pick a Mazda power plant or BMW 2 litre and the recipe is a good one. Lots of fun to be had.
Biggest cost of an EV conversion is usually the batteries, which are second hand to start with.
10 years down the line if lucky and will need replacing again.
A well built internal combustion engine used a few weeks each summer in a classic car, would last 50 years plus between rebuilds.
Yep, I have nothing against electric powered vehicles, love them in fact, but if your toy sits for a large part of its ownership, batteries are not a good choice. At least with the current tech.
Good engines those duratecs. Only think that would worry me is the crash safety. Get hit by an SUV and you'll come off badly. No airbags or anything.
Absaloutly brilliant video jack ❤👍what a beautiful car brilliant
Jack, what kind of mpg's is he getting for normal driving with this conversion?
30-35mpg - probably more like 40mpg if I had efi
Interesting. I've driven a couple of MGBs over the years, one very regularly, and in particular the steering has been heavy and ponderous, sapping most of the enjoyment. Good to hear it can be sorted.
Can't see the point of electrifying a classic.
The cost, energy & materials involved will unlikely be offset by the lower CO2 of the Sunday drives to the local pub.
Great review Jack. I agree, electric conversions remove the soul of a classic. Nothing like the sound an feel of a combustion engine - hearing a classic MGBT or Aston whirrrrrr is not the same.
I am in 100% agreement that it is miles smarter to upgrade the powertrain to increase both power and reliability instead of batteries...
People have always done engine swops, it's not an alternative to an electric conversion, it's an engine swop for increased performance, maybe economy, I'd have thought that at 5k you could tune a b series up pretty good, supercharger (?) good old reliable engine the B series, had loads, we used to go to France in a bgt, 38 mpg and could cruise at 90 (ish) in overdrive, you were very brave in flying around in something with, shall we say undeveloped suspension, can't see how double wishbone front suspension is antiquated. Great video tho, you look like you can drive a bit as well.
Can't see many people spending 25k on a rusty bgt worth 2k tbh.
Although not a big fan of the BGT’s I have always thought, with a good engine there is no reason why they can be a daily drive. It’s a practical car, easy to handle and hatchback for shopping
Agree 💯
As a student I used to drive mine from nottingham to manchester frequently and in 3-years it never let me down!
Rear axle location on a MGB is fairly decent, it's those horrid lever arm dampers in standard form that can ruin things. A firm front/softer rear setup is the general rule of thumb, which you can do just by changing the oil in the units (shocks is a better option though), and with decent new bushes all round they drive fine. Can't abide the B Series engine though, that damn lump of iron haunted the business for decades longer than it should.
After late 1964, with the five bearing crank, it was smoother, albeit still heavy. That engine also was fitted to the Austin/Morris 1800S.
Was there a parabolic leaf spring upgrade for the mgb?
@@rjbiker66 Yes you can still get them, and there's also a multi-link rear setup available which from memory is a bolt-on job. If you don't have the cash then just taking the springs off, getting the surface rust off them, a good layer of Hammerite or Hard Hat and then a thin skim of oil/grease between the leaves will make a difference to them. Poly bushes are a good option as well but they do need a smear of copper grease to preventing squeaking.
@@john1703 The B Series and the Landcrab were made for each other, a bad engine in a bad car.
Interesting video Jack.
Can you clarify the costs, was that parts only or did it include Labour for a garage doing the conversion?
I'm also keen to know, since it sounds like the 5k was for parts and DIY and the EV conversion costs are from a shop
Yokohama tyres great in the dry. Terrifyling in the wet, which is why we called them Yokodramas.
Basically the powertrain from an mx5.
Here in the States, all Ford Focuses from 2005-2010 were gifted the lovely little Duratec 2.0L
It is a wonderfully revvy little lump that sounds surprisingly good.
I have one in my Focus, turbocharged with a GTX2871R, and a Cosworth intake.
The car makes 260whp and is really really fun to drive.
Keep up the great work Jack!!
NICE !
Love this !. Love to see more retro mods
Chev's Ecotec is a decent motor, too, for swaps like this. Ford even had a supercharged version of it.
dont both this and the 5 cly engine have fundamental design flaws that can cause total failure?
Can't allow the ICE to be forced off the road by the unelected "controllers".
i did the same with my first gen crx
2.0 out of a newer accord and a rack of 34 mm mikunis off a kawasaki
easily doubled the power and added 50 mph at least of top speed
Let's be honest - never seen a BGT move off the line like that! Strange to say, a fair few Elise owners have ended up with the Duratec - it's capable of fairly high outputs.
My brother has the last year the mg was made and he put a V8 aluminum Rover engine in there with a Muncie 4-speed it'll blow that thing away
Muncie gearbox? Pretty tough buggers but they whine worse than an Aussie served a warm Fosters.
@@mrdainase Not quite right - the whining begins as soon as they see the Fosters label - irrespeective of beer's temperature.
The Muncie M22 (rock crusher) is certainly a robust and reliable transmission, however the same cannont be said about the compromised shift mechanism which was fairly agricultural even when new. It's likely another case of the GM 'bean counters' overiding the more costly but better engineered solution.
@@mrdainaseMost Australians are wine drinkers, they don’t drink Foster’s in Australia. As far as lager goes, it’s Victoria Bitter, Carlton or Castlemaine that’s drunk. Cooper’s Sparkling Ale is good.
@@chrishenniker5944 .... and there's the sound of a joke whistling clear over your head ......
Definitely the way to go , the electric conversions are abhorrent.
Two of us were driving back from a car show in my Frogeye last week when I mentioned to my mate that I was considering fitting a K-series engine, 5-speed gearbox and disc brakes to make the car more usable. We're both in Motorsport so this would be a DIY project. His reply was a classic - "But I thought you wanted a Frogeye."
There should be a law against doing electric conversions on classic cars like these, its just not British!
A brilliant, informative and entertaing video, as always!
I really liked this episode, what a smart conversation. I read somewhere that Yamaha had a lot of input into Fords Duratec/Zetec engines so the carbs from an R1 make sense.
Yamaha also did the Tarus SHO engine for Ford. That is Special High Output or nickname was Shogan.
Haven't heard you smiling during a road-test for a long time. Well done! The Ford Ecotec engine is brilliant! But on the continent, a VAG 1.8Turbo is probably the more obvious choice.
Very enjoyable as always Jack. I was just left wondering who would consider an EV conversion on an old MG in the first place?
for me personally, I don't see the point in an EV conversion on any classic car. It ruins the car in my opinion
There are lots of classic cars with shit engines. Typically the not sporty ones. Don't sound great, no power and unreliable. They are great for EV conversions.
Especially nice when it improves as much to the point people start daily driving the classic car.
People are criticising the level of the car. If the guy is at University, that's amazing. I was So Broke in school.
Removing the old "B series" and putting the MUCH LIGHTER duratec in the engine bay, would improve the balance of the car no end! Having that MX-5 box to "stir", also loses weight, and adds SO MUCH FUN! Even if you decided to go "full leather" inside and all the "mod cons", like electric widows, air-con and posh seats, you'd never have a heavier car than stock! 1960's class, but with 2020's reliability and performance? ...NO BRAINER! (Not sure I could live without the old 1800 long stroke torque and "rasp" though? I wonder if there is a lighter, and maybe a racier version of the "B"? My old "Forza4" virtual car, was bored out to 2.0ltr and lightened and had a sport box and rear end, which made it a REAL weapon on the track!)
The MGB GT is a great looking car in my opinion, dropping a ford 2.0 engine into it is a fun idea.... Looks like a barral of laughs for not silly money 🤑.
Cracking stuff as always Jack buddy 👌....oh almost forgot to say I'm all for internal combustion for as long as possible! Especially on toys like this MGB, the sound of the engine is a lot of the feel and fun in a car like that!
Thanks Ryan.. hope you’re enjoying yours!
Having the Mazda gearbox means you don't have that fabulous overdrive unit. Secondly the standard back end slides all over the place so I would make some drastic upgrades before driving it in anger.
A car person would never go E!
I once drove one of those Lotus Elan +2, with Spyder Chassis, Scorpio brakes, Z-tec on throttle bodies, the works.
That was so close to being the perfect everyday classic, and I was so close to being able to afford it.
😂😂😂
A great video and enjoyed watching it however it is has little relationship to an electric conversion. you could not drive that in a low emissions zone, you could not charge at home and its not silent and still burning fossile fuel etc. Personally I would probably go for a v8 but people that want electric typically want for the reason above.. It may make a v8 conversion redundant but not even sure about that, would that really be more. When I had my B 20 years ago a V8 conversion could have been had.
Low emission zones are the spawn of the devil. I'd NEVER consider that as a reason for any auto decision I make.
Electric cars are not the answer that would give much more fun but as its modified will it still get the free tax and no mot even though I still think it should have to pass a mot or at least a safety test but we will still be able to get fuel till about 2050 so as long as the screws don't get turned to much we can still drive our cars for the for the next 25 years or so I hope
Great project car, & one far more in keeping with lower budgets. Thanks Jack! 🙏🙏
Resto Mod what's not to like a 4 wheel alignment Hunter session will sort the geo it sounds great good mpg and in reality a much smaller carbon print as it's recycling at the end of the day.
Always loved the lines of the MGB...and this engine transplant is a great bargain. Thanks for the ride.
Beats electric any day 👍
Interesting engine choice. I have a MGB roadster and am installing a 3.5L Rover V8, which will make for interesting driving, as the rebuilt motor has 250bhp. Being alloy the V8 is a lighter engine than the standard 4 cylinder, which should improve the car's balance.
I have a 3.9 in mine. Changing the diff ratio is a must
@@davidgerrard8661 doing the maths 100% agree, I feel a 3.08 is too tall maybe a 3.3 as a 3.7 is not that much different to a 3.9. I also adding a Quaife LSD, Kpnis, Panhard and Tramp Rods to handle the extra power
Again, it will need an MOT forever as it classes as significantly modified. Something to consider as there are issues with non period engined cars registered as historic.
I constantly come up against MGB's at our local hillclimb (Mt Cotton) and they give me and my MGTF 160 race preped a good run. I have been tempted a few times but the B series engine always stopped me. I will have to rethink now what I should do. There are some really potent Honda engines around too. Thanks Jack another great video about cars that we can all afford and relate to.
Bonnet height tends to rule out a good few alternatives. The Busso V6 or Vauxhall Y32SE engines would sound great while throwing you up the road.
Electric motor is good for washing maschine, 2 yo kids toys and for wifes vibrator - not for cars, especially classic
The only time you'll get me in an electric car is if my hearse is one
That's your loss.
I'd love A Jag V12 pulling my hearse😅
Very nice restomod conversion. Thise engines are very robust. I think I might have just used the stock EFI with the Duratec, though. It would have made things simpler.
Thanks very much. You can get bike throttle bodies which are efi that are only a few hundred more than the carbs I went with. I completely agree with you: in fact it's just about the only regret I have on this conversion. Will upgrade in future.
I’ve seen a number of engine swaps involving bike carbs on TH-cam and none of them have fitted air filters. One of the channels then complained of low compression on the front two cylinders, “air filters are for wimps” he said. Maybe he’ll find scoring down the bores and pistons, maybe not. Air filters are cheaper than a rebuild if so.
In this case the filters were taken off for the photo..... There's a panel filter the rest of the time.
Love to see your giddy reaction on the pulls. Good stuff.
When I was at school [in the Dark ages] they used to put Ford Cortina 1600 OHV engines in Morris Minors.Apparently it mated quite well to the existing gearbox if I recall correctly.I remember my dad [who was a mechanic by trade] saying that it was too much power for the Minor to handle!
Fiat twincams mated to Fiat’s 5spd box was another way of updating the old Morrie.
Cortina engines were 1500.
Electrifying a Classic like a B GT should be a punishable criminal offence.
Seeing this MGB the tiny Honda 800 cc SS comes in mind. These had chain driven motorcycle engine with a long stroke.
Would be nice if NR 27 could make a review about those Honda's.
This looks like the same roads Harry Metcalfe, Harry's Garage, uses to review cars.
We took our black MGB GT to northern Spain in 1982. Wherever we parked in a town, there'd be a crowd of folks gathered around it when we returned. They were iconic machines with a fairly gormless engine. I used to catch the Harwell bus from Abingdon in the early seventies and sat on the top deck so I could see into the MG factory yard as we drove past, I never had the money to buy one in those days.
Probably the best description of the B Series engine ever!
I put a Vauxhall 2.0 red top in my MGB about 27 years ago, Lumenition throttle bodies, standalone ecu, custom ex manifold, stainless V8 rear exhaust, ford 5 speed box and quaife diff, I helped develop the Willwood 4pot disc brake conversion with Rally Design which worked brilliantly, in conjunction with cooper s cylinders on the rear with uprated shoes.. I also had the coilover front conversion which made getting the right spring rate fairly easy, together with a thicker front ARB, lowered rear springs with anti-tramp bars and spax shocks.
That's an absolute no brainer. 1/6 of the cost, better range, thousands of more places to re-fuel, way easier to get a mechanic to work on it in future and sounds great.
I put the same engine in my GT back in 2011. Made a fun car a great car, so well done on the conversion. Looks a lot neater than what mine was too.
Hey! I have seen your videos before I did the engine swap in the video. Unless I'm mistaken you're the same guy who has the photo next to my school mates Ford T bird? With the r500 engine in the mgb gt?
@@jacobyoung1671 that's the one
Very nice . My grandad used rag my MGB on a drive .
In my younger days, I owned a Datsun 2000 Sports, which was a natural alternative for the MGB. The former was a superior car in just about all metrics except the exhaust sound. I do miss the induction sound from a carburetor engine. Modern fuel induction engines, like the one in my ND MX5, just don't have the raw sounds from bygone days.
Hello old chap!! Hope you’re doing well!
@@Number27 Livin' the dream here downunder Jack. 👍 I just wish it was a little warmer. Currently reminds me of an English "summer" 😁
But, Jack...the body is a little bit - um - dinged up...I mean, no issues - we all have small 'fender-benders' - but why, oh why would someone let the sheet metal rust that way under the right headlamp? Also, it seems that the tach isn't working...I know that original Smiths tach is run by a cable - but with a bit of ingenuity...that Duratec should be able to drive an electronic one...either mounted where the original one is - or, just dash-mounted...I agree with you about the 'sanitized sound' - needs a freer exhaust for sure...however, lest I sound too negative - it's a nice swap and seems to be not TOO difficult with fabricated new engine mounts...
You redeemed yourself.
Hey, it’s called the patina look. Those bits are laquered over so they won’t get worse. I quite like it. Also Jacob is a student.. so money is an issue!
Thank you for another great video! You have me wondering how a swap like this might work in my 1959 MGA coupe project. Even though they do differ in construction- the A being body-on-frame and the B a unitary- they share a great deal of bits, as the B had a lot of developed (and undeveloped) components from the A. Here in the States it's easy to get more than one version of Zetec/Duratec (or MXR) and and many MX-5 transmissions. Do keep us posted on his progress and feel free to give more particulars on the conversion as it goes along, please!
Hi there - a lot of people seem to use the mk1 mx5 engine and gearbox in the mgb and I've heard of people putting those in MGAs. No reason why this duratec wouldn't fit but I've not measured. Give it a go.
Except in many countries engine replacement with more power is banned, or requires individual re-homologation, and the process is ridiculously expensive and convoluted, at least in Belgium it is
I am certain that the Insurance would be invalid, unless you go through the Declaration Process. The whole car has a much higher performance now. If we do anything like that here in Australia, the car must pass severe inspection before it can be road-registered. This could be a downside.
As a final part of the conversion, would it be possible to make this an LPG Liquid Propane Gas instead of Petrol???
Probably but you would need to harden the valve seats and then find somewhere to put the LPG tank
@@ragsbiker7316 with the engine swap to the modern Ford Duratec, it should already have hardened seats. but true if the original engine were still used hardened seat for unleaded fuel would be a must. The tank might be a bit of a squeeze, but LPG is far cheaper than petrol any day around my area.
In 100 years there will be Number 34 saying that if you are a true enthusiast you need to keep the battery and electric motor like in the old days, and skip the modern fusion drive everyone else does. :)
I agree the ICE is far more involving, but there are many other things other than engine noise that make a great driving feel, times change, we change. :) I believe extreme puritanism keep us back. :)
Dacia Jogger now comes with a TENT!!
A Dacia tent!
A chap at the weekend had a duratec engine making 240 bhp in his Elise good strong engine
What the MGB could have been l am all for engine conversions on british classic as l say how do you make a classic british car reliable and put another motor in it anything and the lovely noise it makes in the interior and you are right Jack EVs have no soul and this MGB has it in bucket loads more engine conversions please
I have a 1981 MGB GT (yes you read that right, 1981, even though the factory closed in 1980!).
After the factory in Abingdon CLOSED down in 1980, all the remaining MGB GT parts were shipped to British Leyland in South Africa as CKD (Completely Knocked Down), where only 200 was ever built from imported CKD kits.
I drove a stock BGT 'banger' as my daily commuter for a couple of years during the mid-90s recession. It was way more fun than leaf springs and rear drums ought to have been. However, your grin when you drove this one says it all! Looks like it's going to be even more fun when the handling's sorted! All the best to Jacob! 👍👍
It's great value for sure.
But two major parts of the appeal of an electric conversion for my 1968 Spitfire convertible are the the lack of exhaust stink and being able to get about quietly.
I drive my Spitfire year round (even on drizzly days) and only with the top down. I am totally fed up with the stink of the carb engine (even though it is finely tuned - 45 MPG).
Plus I am equally fed up with other people's raucous exhausts which are entirely for the self-centred benefit of the driver.
And this is even before we get into the silky smooth power delivery and 100% low down torque of electric motors.
New tech exists and that is what I want. (Just waiting for the prices to come down below 10k - and they will).
Brilliant and accessible conversion.
The words "enthusiast" and "electric" CANNOT be used in the same sentence.
I always loved the little brit sports cars...until I drove them. The owner of a company i used to work for as a mechanic was part of a club for these types of cars and I had to service them every spring (de-wintering) and fall (wintering)...and I grew to hate them. They feel so dainty...specifically the shifters. They dont feel anything like a Miata. I do still think they look cool.