Hi
I am at the stage on my restoration (1968 MGB Roadster) when it comes to
engine rebuild time and I am trying to put together pros and cons and a cost
comparison of different options.
Just to let you know where I am.
The 1800 is stripped right down and on Saturday I took it to some chaps in
the know. They confirm what I suspected that the engine is toast. The
pistons are scored very badly and the bores are very well worn. I would say
about a 0.5mm ridge at the top of the bore.
Option 1:
I have been looking at dropping a V6 chevy 60deg in now for a while. The
problem is I am struggling to find one in this country. Will be calling
around today to find out about having one shipped in.
Option 1.1:
Trying to find out if anybody has dropped a Nissan V6 in to a B before.
This engine should be easy to come by and spares etc would be accessible.
Option 1.2:
The VW Golf VR6 is very popular here is South Africa and as such they tend
to get rapped around things quite a bit. The problem here would be the
engine management system and the VR6 is mounted transversely.
Option 2:
A Rover V8...... these are not to hard to come by and it will be keeping it
in the family. I get conflicting advice here. Do I need to change the diff
if I go V8 or would the current 68 diff be ok. (I would look at changing it
in a few years but at the moment I would really like to get the car back on
the road without spending all my life savings.)
I must still look into what gearbox would be suitable.
Front disks would be changed to grooved and vented with green stuff pads.
(Suspension is already modified)
Option 3:
Replace the engine with a different 4 cylinder. This option seems viable and
I would probably look at a Toyota Black Top (20 valve) or Ford Ztec. Again
problem here would be engine management systems and what gearbox to use.
Option 4:
Machine the block.
If I am going to spend the kind of money I am being told it will cost me to
just get this block back to standard by sleeving it and putting original
pistons in, then I would rather do some more work to it and bore it out to a
1930 or 1950 as advised previously.
Could somebody give me input as to what off the self pistons I could use and
what machining work would have to be done with said pistons. (Moss stuff is
just a little to hectically priced here) Nissan, Toyota, VW, and dare I say
it BMW are all very popular here and I don't think the parts could be that
expensive.
Thanks for any input you can give me. At the moment I am at odds and ends as
to what to do and to be honest, loosing all this sleep over an engine is
starting to make me feel like I am getting closer to that visit to the
padded room.
Thanks,
Ross
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