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MG MGB Technical - 1996 or newer GM 3.8V6 in to a MGB

I am at present gathering information on installing a GM 1996 3.8V6 engine and 5 spd transmission into my 72 MGB. I have the engine/transmission, wiring harness for the power module. Information concerning headers,drive shaft, wiring, fuel system, cooling system, engine /transmission mounts, clutch cylinders and miscellaneous would be apreciated geatly.
E Moore

E More please. We gotta talk fellow dreamer as I am smack in the middle of the same folly. I have a 2001 Camaro 3.8 90* EFI with the auto trans for a 1980 mgb roadster swap. My current conundrum is conversion of the drive- by- wire to a physical accelerator cable or some such. E- I suggest we collaborate offline on the headers. My intent is to use flex 1 1/2 PVC conduit to get the bends set from a wooden mockup of the header plate, through the fender well and splash box, then to a competent welder ( which I ain't). Try-fit and adjust as required, then when its all good, have the 3 bent pipes welded and collected. I will use the new V-8 gas tank available with depressions each side for separate exhaust and then the swirl pot weld-in for the EFI. Much of Roger's "V-8 Power for the MGB" applies, with the good news that our V-6's are 5 inches shorter than the Rover V-8. I intend to keep the installed auto trans, as the bell on the Camaro V-6 auto-trans is smaller than the V-8 auto-trans and seems to be an excellent fit with no tunnel mod. As I understand, your earlier pre-74 roadster has a smaller bay and is not the first choice recommended for this swap. But where there is stubborn will there may be withering way. My lump is rated 210 HP outta the box with refigure chips available ( I'm advised) to reprogram the electrics for lower end torgue and slightly more HP. The whole thing is 40 # lighter than the existing 1800 with OD. It looks to me the front motor mounts will be welded on the x-member, and the rear trans mount appears to be a no brainer aft of existing. I'm using the cut-down Camaro disc brake rearaxle, with wheel lug studs reset for stock MGB Rostyle. Once the Camaro cut down rear axle is installed with new leafs and rebuilt stock dampers, I'll measure the driveshaft, have it cut down to complete the Camaro running gear from trans to third member So which tranny are you going with? The T-5 or T-56? In either case the HTO is universally used they say. Are you going to get her under the bonnet, or will you go to an MGC? Story goes that with the mudshield and front air damn used on the LE, cooling is doable with the stock radiator/overflow setup. I'd guess you could go 4-core if needed on the 72 chrome bumper then. Finally the panhard rod and sway bars are all recommended along the way. Vic
vem myers

If the clutch from the Camaro is hydraulic then a 1500 midget slave cylinder and bracket may be used in place of the original slave cylinder. You will probably have to fabricate some type of adaptor to use the Midget mounting bracket. A new pushrod made to length and you should be ok for the clutch.
I don't know if the bell housing from the 3.8 mounted the transmission at the 17 degrees from verticle like the 2.8 Camaro bellhousing, but if it is you may find that the verticle mounts are cast in but not threaded. Mounting the transmission vertically will give more room in the tunnel width, but will probably require adding some height. For the rear mount, make up an adapter which will correct for the angle difference and use a 60's through 70's Chevy pickup transmission mount.
Any good drive shaft shop should be able to make up a shaft from the Chevy front and MGB rear sections to work.
If you plan on using the fuel injection, then you will have to either add a return line to your tank or use a swirl pot, I chose to modify the tank and install the Chevy electric fuel pump as well.
The wiring from the original pump can be extended to the tank and tied into the ECM wireing harness at the front.
Lots of other information, contact me directly for more details if you wish.
Bill Young

The Camaro 3.4 , 60 degree V6 engine is waaaay better swap. Almost the same weight as the original engine, and the kit is available.
E-mail my son Brian at; brian@bmcautos.com
He has done several of these, with very good results.
Safety Fast
Dwight
Dwight McCullough

Dwight- Waaay better unless a guy has the 3.8 90* with 8793 original miles sitting in his shop! Can Brian make me a set of huggers???? Regards, Vic
vem myers

This thread was discussed between 19/09/2004 and 21/09/2004

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