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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