Chris,
I was inclined to answer "I'm building a V8", but decided that was too
brief!
I saw the head on a B when I went to the Red River (NM) meet this fall.
It looks great. However I think that your recollection is right on. You
need to make some engine modifications before bolting on the head does
much good. It doesn't do much to increase breathing unless you change
the cam, and add more carburetion. I figured the cost of the head would
be about $2500. You need, at the minimum: a cam, the head (with valves
about $1500), I figured two Weber DCOE's, manifolds, etc. I believe
Steve Darby will sell these items directly to you at a fairly good
savings (read: don't buy from Moss). Of course carbs are available used.
His web site is gone but you can email him direct at: elan@highfiber.com.
I have not had much success when I have emailed him. He seems to "pop"
into the list once in awhile when he wants to sell something but he is
not good about responding.
So having said all this, I am doing a V8. I have the engine (Buick
215/Rover 3.5), the transmission (Borg Warner T5 World Class), and am
looking for a bell housing. Ya know where I can find a 1961 Buick bell
housing? The V8 will cost more than the crossflow setup, I think I'll be
into it about $3000 (I have $750 into it now). But I'll have a car that
cruises at 71mph at 2500rpm. A calculated top speed of over 140mph, and
zero to 60 acceleration in less than 6 seconds. All of this with no
sacrifice in handling.
This all started cause I was tired of being smoked by Miata's. I think
my goal will be accomplished!
By the way it is easy to get 185hp out of the Rover engine and 200hp
isn't much of a trick, I have heard some get 300hp. I think the Darby
setup got about 145hp max??? And remember the V8 weighs less than the
stock 4 cylinder, and doesn't work as hard to do it's job.
Larry Hoy (MGB.Roadster@juno.com)
Denver, CO USA
1969 MGB Roadster
1987 Jaguar XJ6 Vanden Plas
It's not how fast you go ...... it's how fast you go fast.
===============================
On Sat, 03 Jan 1998 21:19:12 -0500 Chris Delling <saschris@flash.net>
writes:
>Larry-
>
>Do you have experience with the crossflow head? A while back I was
looking
>at the Sportcars International (Steve Darby's) website. He had some
dyno
>runs done on 3 MGB motors in varying stages of tune. For a stock motor,
it
>seemed that the crossflow head resulted in a lot less power down low,
and
>really insignificant gains on the very high end with a stock motor. It
>wasn't until the motor was really breathed on (3/4 race cam, very high
>compression ratio, and BIG carbs) that the head did much of anything,
and
>that was still at very high revs. Didn't seem like a good choice for a
>street car.
>
>Any comments?
>
>Regards,
>
>Chris Delling
>
>At 01:21 PM 1/3/98 -0500, larry.g.unger@lmco.com wrote:
>>I wrote ...
>>
>>>> IMHO, you could achieve the same results by fitting a crossflow
>head
>>>> andit would be 'alot' more reliable.
>>
>>... and Kai replied ...
>>
>>> But, IMHO, a crossflow head just isn't as cool as having a Judson
>on an
>>> MGB. ;-)
>>
>>The Judson is a nice period accessory and does look really 'cool' ...
>
>>especially when fitted to an 'A' so that the finned aluminum valve
>cover,
>>with built-in oiler, can be used ... but, the Judson is an expensive
>item
>>to purchase and maintain when compared to the crossflow head.
>>
>>Safety Fast! ... larry.g.unger@lmco.com
>>'61 MGA 1600 MkII
>>
>>
>>
>
>
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