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RE: Beefing up

To: "'Kelvin Dodd'" <kdodd@West.net>,
Subject: RE: Beefing up
From: Christopher Delling <saschris@flash.net>
Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 21:01:06 -0500
Tom what year is the B?  I just did some beefing up of my RBB.  Nothing to 
radical, but comparable with pre-smog B's.  

Regards,

Chris Delling


-----Original Message-----
From:   Kelvin Dodd [SMTP:kdodd@West.net]
Sent:   Wednesday, March 18, 1998 6:09 PM
To:     mgs@autox.team.net
Subject:        Re: Beefing up

Tom Buchanan wrote:
> 
> With in the next year, I plan to beef up my engine. These are the things I
> intend to do. Please, everyone jump in if you think I'm making a mistake.

        Buy the Pete Burgess book!!!!  The advice is sound and very readable.
        
> 1) Aluminum cross_flow head.

        I have one, I think it is the coolest thing that you can do to a 4 cyl. 
MGB.  
That said, they are cubic bucks and as stated by others only really come into 
their own 
at the top end.  Combined with a 2L piston kit they make a new car out of the B.

> 2) Roller rockers (How does the extra valve lift compare to a mild cam?)

        Again cubic dollars, small performance gain on stock or modified head.  
Targeted 
at the "more money than sense" crowd.  Very high cool factor, but you will be 
the only 
one at the show that knows they are there. (Plexiglass valve cover anyone?)
        Cam choice depends on use and also if you decide to go for the xflow 
head.  270 
duration is tops for street use in a stock engine.  I understand the xflow will 
take a 
lot more lift and duration.

> 3)Dual side draft Weber carbs (Would someone expound on the absence of
> vacuum     advance with these carbs or a way around it?)

        Ultra cool setup.  The 1 3/4 Su are more drivable with less setup time. 
 I'm a 
Weber kid and have always wanted twin Webers.  (Anyone want to buy a "split 
Weber" 
manifold for a B, mounts two Weber DCOE on a stock B head, one barrel of each 
carb feeds 
 one port).  It's tough to balance power and economy with the Webers, the SU's 
will give 
a better balance for street driving, plus they are ported for vacuum advance.  
The Weber 
setup does have manifold vacuum tap and a HIF equipped B distributer may have 
suitable 
advance curve for this application.
         
> 4)A 2" diameter full flow headers and exhaust. (Who's got the best,
> quietest, and best sounding? I don't want to loose that lovely stock sound.)

        The Paeco system is a nice setup, gives you increased ground clearance 
and shows 
 good figures.  The Moss LCB header is made by either Maniflow or ANSA, fit and 
finish 
is better than the Paeco, but lots more money.  Figure either way you will 
spend time 
with a grinder or file getting the weld spatter off and ensuring a good fit.
 
> 5)Electric fan.

        I put one on my 65B, the jury is still out.  The 73-76 plastic fan is 
real good 
but whiney.  Yep, thinking about it, the electric is kinda nicer.


Tom:  If this is your only MGB I suggest going as conservative as possible.  
Enjoy the 
car for what it is.  It will never be a Maserati.  Mostly stock will give you 
dependability, good mileage, forgiving handling and repairability.  
Modifications will 
tend to empty the pocket and can produce an unforgiving car that is no fun to 
drive.  
But there is lots of fun stuff to bolt on the B and lots to do, if that is your 
idea of 
fun.  There will always be people willing to salvage the car later.  Just don't 
rumple 
it into a ball.

regards   Kelvin.
> Tom Buchanan
> buchanan@preferred.com
> http://pages.preferred.com/~buchanan/mg.html
> 1974 MGB-GT
> Kingsport, TN



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