MGB + M42 = Win

[deutschman]

subscribed! very cool project!

[Wh33lhop]

x2 will this affect operation? I presume it will improve the balance though!

How's that? All it would do is raise the CG a bit.

Excellent project--how much does this thing weigh again?

[dude8383]

How's that? All it would do is raise the CG a bit.

Excellent project--how much does this thing weigh again?

I'm thinkin since the motor is straight up it will improve balance...you know like the S42's, I guess thats the logic I'm applying here.

Who know's maybe he's going to go with ITB's?

[LJ851]

Not sure about M42s but most BMW engines only have oil drains in the head on the right hand side of the motor. If you stand them up the intake valve guide seals will be under oil permanently and it will smoke like crazy. Not to mention the oil pump pickup will not be on the bottom of the pan anymore so it will prob suck air on right hand corners. Plus the trans will be at a crazy angle. All fixable issues with time and expertise and would be nice for the wow factor.

[Wishno87]

MGBGT?

I was in the process of building a 12a spitfire before I got Into bmws.

[AndrewBird]

I was actually thinking about this very thing the other night as M42s are plentyful. Is there an effect on the mechanics having the engine upright?

The engine is normally only tilted 20-30º from upright normally, which really isn't much. I believe BMW did it mostly to spread the weight out width wise and lower the CG. I'm going to have to make a new oil pump pick-up and a new oil pan to go with it. Otherwise, I don't think I should have any other problems.

x2 will this affect operation? I presume it will improve the balance though!

Looks awesome, can we see some pics of the engine mounts?

Engine mounts are not done yet It is currently sitting on jack stands while I finalize it's position.

Very cool. In the pic it looks like the TB is almost up against the sheet metal of the inner fender. Do you have a fix for that or is it just a trick of the picture?

It is not an illusion. I'll gain a bit of room after I remove throttle body heater plate, but more then likely, I'll have to modify the inner fender well. Not a big deal though. The nice thing is that the stock intake boot is basically a right angle, so there doesn't need to be a ton of room.

How's that? All it would do is raise the CG a bit.

Excellent project--how much does this thing weigh again?

Weight is about 200lbs LESS then the stock MGB engine.

I'm thinkin since the motor is straight up it will improve balance...you know like the S42's, I guess thats the logic I'm applying here.

Who know's maybe he's going to go with ITB's?

Considering using Euro S50 throttle bodies and going ITB's, but we'll see.

Not sure about M42s but most BMW engines only have oil drains in the head on the right hand side of the motor. If you stand them up the intake valve guide seals will be under oil permanently and it will smoke like crazy. Not to mention the oil pump pickup will not be on the bottom of the pan anymore so it will prob suck air on right hand corners. Plus the trans will be at a crazy angle. All fixable issues with time and expertise and would be nice for the wow factor.

As I said before, the tilt is only 20-30º. A flat surface still drains oil very well, and with good valve stem seals, I fail to see how it will smoke. I have also considered mount it at a slight tilt to help with drainage, but have not fully decided yet. Nothing is finalized. Trans isn't an issue at all. The tilt only moves the fluid level line roughly an inch over, which is less then it would see under hard cornering I would think. Shift linkage will all be easy as it is only ~1" over and down from center. And as I said before, a new oil pan and pick-up will be made.

[LJ851]

intake valve guide oil seals are not designed to operate under oil. This is one reason oil flow is restricted to the top of the head.It will suck oil past the seal under higher rpm closed throttle (high vacuum). Im aware that all engines and valve seals are different, but i am speaking from personal experience not talking out of my ass. PM me if you want to hear the story.

[Dj Buttchug]

as said above. i believe theres going to be oil flow issues...

good luck tho

[Streichholzschächtelchen]

intake valve guide oil seals are not designed to operate under oil. This is one reason oil flow is restricted to the top of the head.It will suck oil past the seal under higher rpm closed throttle (high vacuum). Im aware that all engines and valve seals are different, but i am speaking from personal experience not talking out of my ass. PM me if you want to hear the story.

Sounds thinking going on here.

[BrooklynMW]

Very subscribed.

I got a '77 Midget collecting dust in my dad's garage in CT. After you're done with your's maybe I can hire you to do mine.

[AndrewBird]

intake valve guide oil seals are not designed to operate under oil. This is one reason oil flow is restricted to the top of the head.It will suck oil past the seal under higher rpm closed throttle (high vacuum). Im aware that all engines and valve seals are different, but i am speaking from personal experience not talking out of my ass. PM me if you want to hear the story.

Look, I'm not calling you out or anything, so chill out. I am also speaking from my experience. As I said before as well, nothing is finalized yet. I still have a lot to look into for how this is going to work. It obviously isn't a simple bolt in swap. I honestly haven't even gotten to the point of pulling the valve cover to see what's up.

Yes, there are problems. There will also be solutions.

[LJ851]

No offense taken or meant towards you. You have a neat project there. In the past i have seen vertical M10s where the builder ran external oil drains on the left side of the head with AN fittings and lines down to the oil pan. Good luck.

[AndrewBird]

No offense taken or meant towards you. You have a neat project there. In the past i have seen vertical M10s where the builder ran external oil drains on the left side of the head with AN fittings and lines down to the oil pan. Good luck.

That might not be a bad idea. Thanks for the input.

[AndrewBird]

While working on the car a bit today, I pulled the valve cover and had a look at the oil drains. There are two under each cam between the 3-4 journal and the 4-5 journal. It looks like in the stock position, the exhaust side would actually hold a bit of oil over the valves. Not much, but a bit. Rotating it would lessen this and only slightly increase the amount that puddles on the intake side, less then the exhaust would have in the stock position. This is very good news as I now know for a fact that tilting the engine will not cause drainage problems.

Currently, I am waiting on parts to fab engine mounts and a trans mount (and to get over this stupid cold!), so don't expect many updates soon.

[LJ851]

Sweet!