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Who Has a V6 With Automatic Conversion?

Posted by LittleBritishCar

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Who Has a V6 With Automatic Conversion? #1
LittleBritishCar Rick Anderson Napa, California, USA 1966 MG 1100 "Julia" 1975 MG MGB "Chiquita"	Posted: November 17, 2011 11:06AM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 853

I am wondering about the feasibility of a 2.8 V6 with an automatic. Has anybody done this and, if so, which transmission did you use and what modifications were needed to the body of the car?

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Re: Who Has a V6 With Automatic Conversion? #2
BMC Brian Mc Cullough Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA 1959 Austin A40 Farina 1959 Austin-Healey Frogeye (Bugeye) 1961 Austin-Healey Sprite MkII "Green Sprite" 1969 MG MGC GT "CGT" 1979 MG MGB → more	Posted: November 17, 2011 11:59AM Registered: 13 years ago Posts: 4,346

Rick,

It has been done.

http://www.britishv8.org/MG/SteveDeGroat.htm

We have also installed one for test fit. You need to do a little welding but not too bad.

-BMC.

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BMC British Automobile – Minneapolis, MN USA BMC British Automobile is a Restoration and Repair shop north of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Our time is spent solely on British vehicles and British Conversions. MG and Austin are our specialties.

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Re: Who Has a V6 With Automatic Conversion? #3
LittleBritishCar Rick Anderson Napa, California, USA 1966 MG 1100 "Julia" 1975 MG MGB "Chiquita"	Posted: November 17, 2011 06:08PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 853

Thanks for all the information. I was just curious about the automatic but I am definitely going with the setup we talked about on the phone today.

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Re: Who Has a V6 With Automatic Conversion? #4
BMC Brian Mc Cullough Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA 1959 Austin A40 Farina 1959 Austin-Healey Frogeye (Bugeye) 1961 Austin-Healey Sprite MkII "Green Sprite" 1969 MG MGC GT "CGT" 1979 MG MGB → more	Posted: November 17, 2011 08:01PM Registered: 13 years ago Posts: 4,346

No Problem. Good information is always worth searching out.

-BMC.

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Re: Who Has a V6 With Automatic Conversion? #5
rjs581 Robert Shaw holyoke, Ma, USA 1980 MG MGB	Posted: November 23, 2011 07:29PM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 90

just finished bolting mine in..1980 B w/ 2.8 700r4..write when you start if i can help, there's a few things i wish i did with it out before i dropped it in

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Re: Who Has a V6 With Automatic Conversion? #6
Billava Bill Heath Ava, Missouri, USA 1969 MG MGB 1973 MG MGB V6 Conversion	Posted: November 23, 2011 08:36PM Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 72

Robert;
My project is a 3.4 with the 700r4. I would be interested in your observations.
Thanks,
Bill

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Re: Who Has a V6 With Automatic Conversion? #7
rjs581 Robert Shaw holyoke, Ma, USA 1980 MG MGB	Posted: November 24, 2011 10:34AM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 90

if the block is different on the 3.4 disregard but on the 2.8 it's quite tight on the driver side, it kicked the tranny over so the e brake was up against the u joint. there's a small boss on the block that i had to cut off. also the s-10 bell housing on that side could use a shave but i punched the tunnel in a little, it was right by the gas pedal. not sure if it's enough at this point. both of those operations would be a lot easier before. also there's no way to get to the cooler lines on tranny so make sure you install them on your way in or you'll be cutting the tunnel or pulling it back out. you may want to cut the crossmember before but there's diff length tailshafts and mine rests right in the middle of it. not sure if that was cut first if the tranny would drop enough to get lines on. i'll cut it when and if i have to. that's about where i am at this point, if i run into anything else i'll let you know..bob..btw i didn't have enough length with my cherry picker to drop it all in without removing bumper. again it's an rb 80..what are your plans to cool this tranny? i'm kicking around a couple of ideas but always open to anything else.

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Re: Who Has a V6 With Automatic Conversion? #8
260mgb Jim Nichols Sequim,WA, USA	Posted: November 24, 2011 11:29AM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 1,354

90's Ford pickups had nice tranny coolers about the same size as the MGB oil cooler.

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Re: Who Has a V6 With Automatic Conversion? #9
ntaousakis Nickolas Taousakis Alexandria Va, USA 1977 MG MGB	Posted: November 24, 2011 11:39AM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 59

I am picking up a 3.4 sfi engine from a 93 camaro. I am considering getting the auto trans for only a little more. The trans is the non electronic one. Would this trans be a straight forward install for the mgb? Can i use the cross member from the v6 install kit? I was contemplating getting the t5, but if I can save 2 grand (bmc t5 kit) by having auto, i will get auto. Any insight will be helpful

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Re: Who Has a V6 With Automatic Conversion? #10
rjs581 Robert Shaw holyoke, Ma, USA 1980 MG MGB	Posted: November 24, 2011 01:11PM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 90

i have the kit crossmember and it'll work with some mods (upside down, forward of old one and moving the mount tab), the price difference from the kit without it was only $75 so i'm going to use it but making one or an old mgb may be just as good..not sure if the old b one would work cause i had a t35 auto that i took out.the length of the tailshaft from the camaro could be different too, mine's out of an s10...

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Re: Who Has a V6 With Automatic Conversion? #11
rjs581 Robert Shaw holyoke, Ma, USA 1980 MG MGB	Posted: November 24, 2011 01:17PM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 90

jim..any experience with that cooler on a 700r4?..does it keep it below 200 or so? i have an old cooler and a tci racing cooler with (2) 10" fans..thinking of plumbing them in series with the tci on the radiator with a mechanical puller for eng cooling..i'd love to use a water cooled radiator type but hate to waste a new recore from last year.

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Re: Who Has a V6 With Automatic Conversion? #12
260mgb Jim Nichols Sequim,WA, USA	Posted: November 24, 2011 01:30PM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 1,354

It would work with any automatic. My 94 Ford F150 with 5.8 and E4OD used to tow and haul heavy loads up Snoqualimie pass,never overheated. It is a modern stacked plate type. You would have to adapt the fittings as necessary. I plan to use one with the AW4 behind the aluminum 4.9 caddy V8.

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Re: Who Has a V6 With Automatic Conversion? #13
rjs581 Robert Shaw holyoke, Ma, USA 1980 MG MGB	Posted: November 24, 2011 01:33PM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 90

jim..with the ford i'm assuming it was an auxillary cooler???..are you using it solo with the caddy?

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Re: Who Has a V6 With Automatic Conversion? #14
260mgb Jim Nichols Sequim,WA, USA	Posted: November 24, 2011 01:40PM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 1,354

Yes,Solo. Another trans that you can use behind the GM V6 is the 92-96 AW4(Jeep Cherokee 2WD)or Toyota A340. The Isuzu V6 bell is GM small V6 pattern. Have to adapt the Torque Converter to the GM flexplate. Narrow pan fits better than GM trans. Jeep has a stand alone Controller and TPS. You can do manual shift (solenoid control)and Torque Converter lockup also. The newer 5 and 6 speed Toyota and Lexus versions have separate bell also. Jim Blackwood is going 8 speed. There are older threads on this board and BritishV8 with more info.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/24/2011 01:53PM by 260mgb.

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Re: Who Has a V6 With Automatic Conversion? #15
Britpit Wayne Pearson Northern VA, USA 1973 MG MGB 1975 MG MGB	Posted: November 24, 2011 06:51PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 244

Nickolas,

Tell me quick whether you want the trans or not - I'm about the break it apart from the engine!!

Wayne

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Re: Who Has a V6 With Automatic Conversion? #16
scotabbott Scot Abbott Pittsburgh, Pa 15216, USA 1974 MG MGB "Bee"	Posted: November 24, 2011 10:05PM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 2,078

Your question brngs few issues to mind.
First ask yourself :
Do you want an automatic transmission or std tranny? Std and automatic transmissions give quite different driving experiences.

Remember It isnt really prudent to install an automatic transmission with near 100K on it unless you have it at least partially rebuilt, so the economy/money issue you imply is a false one.

You dont really need to spend $2000 for a reasonable std transmission for the car. Some people simply use the V6 transmission (plenty around, inexpensive ($200 or so), and usually not beat up like the V8 ones). The downside to that is the ratio of gaering in the V6 tranny makes it somewhat similar to the original B transmission: first gear is a little too low, and high gear could be higher. Nonetheless, they are pretty good and a lot of V6 B's use the V6 transmissions. A good way around the V6 shortcomings is use a different rear end, e.g. the 3.45 ranger rear, which gives makes the V6 tranny qite fine.. Cost is about $500 ready to use.

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Re: Who Has a V6 With Automatic Conversion? #17
TeamEvil / / Gone, /, Kiribati	Posted: November 25, 2011 04:03PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 1,443

I've been trying to sort trough a handful of engine and transmission combinations, just recently got to thinking about a 200R4 (?) or possibly even a turbo 350 against a 4.3 Chevy V6.

Wondering if an automatic might be less strain on the stock MGB rear end and also make better use of the stock 3.90 MGB gearing. I know that there are a ton of facts about the differences between the V8 and V6 T-5 standard transmissions and how they work with different gear sets, is there any info or opinion on the usual choices of automatics?

The MGV8 site has some build date, but no way to contact the owners to ask anything of them concerning parts info, still there HAVE been a few automatic conversions done and still up and running.

Any help would be HUGE ! !

TC

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Re: Who Has a V6 With Automatic Conversion? #18
scotabbott Scot Abbott Pittsburgh, Pa 15216, USA 1974 MG MGB "Bee"	Posted: November 25, 2011 11:52PM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 2,078

For high horsepower setups in a B you might want a'taller' rear end ratio than the stock 3.90, since the automatics only have .8 overdrives, and with the powerplants you're contemplating you'l be smoking the tires a lot. You might want to re-examine the desired power to weight ratio and check why you want so much 'fire' in a street machine.

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Re: Who Has a V6 With Automatic Conversion? #19
TeamEvil / / Gone, /, Kiribati	Posted: November 26, 2011 11:26AM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 1,443

"why you want so much 'fire' in a street machine."

Tiny appendage . . . obviously.

I was thinking that the 3.9 rear might be OK because a LOT of Mustangs are running them with automatic transmissions.

Thanks,

TC

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Re: Who Has a V6 With Automatic Conversion? #20
scotabbott Scot Abbott Pittsburgh, Pa 15216, USA 1974 MG MGB "Bee"	Posted: November 26, 2011 02:48PM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 2,078

tHE FORD AUTOMATIC aod UNIT common to the mustang,HAS A .67 OVERDRIVE,. WHICH WOULD SEEM TO BE A GOOD MATCH FOR THE 3.9.
(apologies for the cap lokproblem)

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