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Re: MGAs/MGBs and the Dreaded Twincam

To: mgs@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: MGAs/MGBs and the Dreaded Twincam
From: WSpohn4@aol.com
Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2000 16:07:01 EDT
In a message dated 06/06/00 11:45:47 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
owner-mgs-digest@autox.team.net writes:

> What year of B do you have? A 72 or earlier B should be quicker than an A 
>  (well, maybe not a T.C.)...
>  

Whaddaya mean 'maybe??

A Twincam in proper order (not one of the sick cars that a couple of 
magazines reviewed in the old days, not knowing the difference) will blow any 
B (or stock C, for that matter) into the weeds.

Show me an MG that gets anywhere near 10 seconds 0-60 and I'll show you a 
modified MGB or a stock Twincam! Put the optional 4.55 diff and close ratio 
in the Twincam, and wave bye bye (of course you can also put the same stuff 
in an MGB, but then it would still look like an MGB, and still have an engine 
out of a tractor....well not exactly as true as it would be for the 
Triumph/Standard/Ferguson engine, but they did build Nuffield tractors with 
the B series engines).

Only modified Bs can compete, but then of course you can also modify a 
Twincam, if you are crazy enough. One friend was touching 190 bhp at 7800 rpm 
(I run a bit lower state of tune due to laziness in not wanting to change 
bearings every race).
Getting above 13:1 is always a bit touchy in the Twincam, as you start to run 
out of valve clearance, the more the space in the chamber must be taken up to 
increase the compression ratio.

I agree that the B is generally a bit more comfortable - the A seats are not 
what they could be, and if you have the Deluxe seats and are a shall we say 
generously proportioned individual, there will not be enough space for you.

The coupe is pretty civilised though, and it's seats are a little better than 
the roadster ones.

Bill S.
(Defender of the Twincam Faith)

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