David,
I have a little experience with this. Starting with the front suspension, the
rear a-arm is exactly the same part from TD through MGB, the a-arm bushings
are also the same, though the MGB V8 bushings are a more modern/better design
and will work for all.
The front a-arms and spring pans are different on a B due to the mount for
the sway/anti-roll bar. There is a thicker section welded into the a-arm
where the sway bar mounts. The standard MGB sway bar can be used on the TD
even though the TD is actually about 1 1/2" narrower than the B. The MGB sway
bar links must be shortened from over 8" in length to, as I recall, 3 1/2". I
think that I stuck with the same front springs. You would have to check on
spring rates and lengths to determine if you'd want to change them. The
shocks would probably have to remain as TD ones though I'm sure some
experimenting with valving could be done. Between the shock and the a-arms is
the major difference between the TD/MGA front suspension and the MGB.
Probably either would work, though I'm not sure. If you can find the parts,
it may be worthwhile to try to use either the MGA 1600/MkII or MGB front disc
brake setup. I've never felt really good about the drum brakes on my TD,
either the original TD brakes or the MGA 1500 ones that I have on it now. If
you use standard steel disc wheels you could use the MGA wheels which are 4
bolt compared to the TD 5 bolt. They look very similar and the TD hub caps
will fit on them. MGB wheels are 14" vs. 15" required for the TD, but with
most Bs having wire wheels you could use those hubs and convert to wires.
The rear axle on my TD now is from an MGA 1500 as I stated before. It is
around 1/2" wider than the TD axle where it mounts. I just forced the springs
on my car to take up that 1/4" on each side. It sqeaks a little but there
have been no problems with it for over 20 years. The standard A rear axle
ratio is 4.3 : 1 which works fine for the power that a standard TD engine
produces. The MGA MkII has a 4.1 ratio and the B is 3.90. Both of which would
improve cruising, but the standard engine doesn't have enough power. Since
you have a B engine it would make sense to check on the width of the B axle
vs the TD. To look at an MGA rear axle vs an early B with the banjo type
axle, they look the same but may be different lengths. With the power that
the B engine puts out, I would definitely check out that option, both from
the cruising speed aspect and also to keep from breaking axle shafts.
Hope this helps. If you need more help, I can take some time to research this
and check the shop manuals. All of this has been off the top of my head.
Good luck,
Charlie
David C Littlefield wrote:
> I don't receive the NAMGBR publication, but I am interested in this
> discussion. I recently purchased a TD that had a B engine installed (I
> didn't do it, I swear!). The car is not restorable to original
> condition, due to lack of parts (including a TD driveline) and the major
> modifications made to the chassis to accommodate the B engine. Not the
> least of which was a relocation of the pedals to the firewall to use a
> hydraulic clutch. Given the poor body condition of the car, I would like
> to strip it down to make a vintage racer out of it. It would have to run
> with the MGB's, of course, but what it lacks in aerodynamics it would
> make up in less weight and more style.
>
> However, I would like to put B disc brakes on it, as well as install a B
> or A rear end. It currently has the TD rear end and I am afraid it would
> tear up halfshafts pretty quickly if I don't swap it out. The 5.125
> ratio is great for plowing the back forty, but not much good on the
> racetrack (even though the transmission I have has an overdrive (!!)).
>
> Anyone actually have any experience with these conversions? What does it
> take to swap the B front suspension with the TD? How 'bout the rear
> ends? I'm told that that A rear end works better because the spring
> mounts are the pretty much the same, whereas the B rear end requires more
> work. Anyone confirm this?
>
> Thanks.
>
> David Littlefield
> Houston, TX
> '62 MGA MkII
> '51 MGTD
> '88 Jaguar XJ-S
>
> On Mon, 30 Nov 1998 17:57:18 -0500 Charlie Baldwin <ewsinc@BlazeNet.net>
> writes:
> >Bud,
> >
> >I just received my copy of the Driver today and immediately read the
> >"offending"
> >article.
> >Actually, from your description and having some knowledge of Ian's
> >lack of political
> >correctness, I expected something much worse. He's cutting down the
> >people who do
> >not drive their cars, that only go in for the picnic thing and worry
> >only about how
> >their car looks, not how it runs and drives. If you drive yours as I
> >also drive mine
> >he's not talking about us. The MGB world has similar people who
> >trailer their car
> >around to shows just to gather up the trophies. Those of us who
> >understand that the
> >real pleasure to be had from an MG is to drive it know that those
> >people just aren't
> >having as much fun as the rest of us.
> >
> >As for the bastardization of the car, even that isn't as bad as it
> >could be. I'm not
> >sure why someone thought it needed a Ford rear end when a standard B
> >one should work
> >okay, but the rest of the mechanical "improvements" don't sound too
> >bad. At least MG
> >components were used. The MGB front suspension is very similar to the
> >TD but would
> >gain the addition of disc brakes and a sway bar. My own TD has an MGA
> >rear axle
> >which gives me a 4.3 vs 5.125 ratio and also wire wheels. I also used
> >the MGA front
> >hubs and brakes(1500-not disc) and this summer I got tired of
> >wallowing around
> >curves and added an MGB sway bar and plan to go to an uprated B sway
> >bar to make an
> >even bigger difference in body roll. Not only do these changes make
> >the car more
> >drivable on today's highways, they also make it safer. Most anyone
> >would agree that
> >TDs could use some more power, better brakes, and a fifth gear or
> >higher rear end to
> >make them more of a pleasure to drive.
> >
> >His TD sounds like an interesting and fun car, but it probably won't
> >win at many car
> >shows, concours or popular vote, though I doubt that he cares. Most
> >likely Ian could
> >also care less about going British with a picnic basket since he is
> >British along
> >with the current chairman of NAMGBR. Most likely they think the picnic
> >basket set is
> >somewhat silly.
> >
> >Charlie Baldwin
> >TD14552
> >'60 MGA
> >'66 MGB
> >
> >Bud Krueger wrote:
> >
> >> Received my November/December copy of NAMGBR's MG Driver today. It
> >really irks
> >> me that the editors would allow such TD-bashing as Ian Pender's
> >article 'The
> >> Full Monty'. Granted, I'm not happy to hear about another TD that's
> >been
> >> bastardized, but that's not the point. A lot of us TD-owners work on
> >and drive
> >> our cars because we enjoy the real MG spirit that one finds in MG's
> >without
> >> windup windows, etc. Those owners who enjoy 'going British' with
> >their picnic
> >> baskets seem to identify with something from the other side of the
> >pond. I think
> >> that they are a small minority compared with those of us who see our
> >TD's as
> >> cars to be driven.
> >>
> >> If Pender's article represents the NAMGBR's editorial attitude
> >then I
> >> certainly know to save another $25 next year.
> >>
> >> Bud Krueger
> >> 52TD (being driven)
> >> 77MGB (being worked on)
> >
> >
>
> ___________________________________________________________________
> You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
> Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html
> or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
|