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Renault in a MGB?

Posted by keithwwalker

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Renault in a MGB? #1
keithwwalker Keith Walker Portland, USA	Posted: June 16, 2012 02:49AM Registered: 11 months ago Posts: 31

Wondering if there were ever a conversion of a B' with a Renault engine.
Lotus used them in the Europa and the power was relatively good. The later fuel injected Douvrin engines pushed out ~140hp.

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Re: Renault in a MGB? #2
kerbau53 Geoff Morton Naples, Florida, USA 1978 MG MGB V8 Conversion "The Wreck"	Posted: June 16, 2012 05:24AM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 1,073

French engine in an English car? Sacrilege!!!!

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Re: Renault in a MGB? #3
keithwwalker Keith Walker Portland, USA	Posted: June 16, 2012 06:07AM Registered: 11 months ago Posts: 31

Sacrilege? That's what I think of V-8's in a MG!

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Re: Renault in a MGB? #4
11budlite Bruce Wiser Wolcott, Ct, USA 1964 MG MGB 1972 MG MGB GT	Posted: June 16, 2012 07:09AM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 23

In reply to # 2095065 by keithwwalker Sacrilege? That's what I think of V-8's in a MG!

Even this one? smiling smiley

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/?cmd=ViewItem&_trksid=p5197.c0.m619&item=261043084391

To the original post, I've never heard of a Renault engine being used in an MGB. There are certainly easier conversions that would give you better performance with much better parts availability. If you did manage to do the conversion I would think if you wanted to sell the market would be extremely limited.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/16/2012 07:45AM by 11budlite.

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Re: Renault in a MGB? #5
Ralph 7h Ralph Siebenhaar Viersen, Germany	Posted: June 16, 2012 03:37PM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 1,772

Geoff,

why not? Morris Motors bought the production line for their engines from Hotchkis, a French car builder.
O.K., there are smarter ways to power up an MG than to make use of a Renault power train but most MG engines until the Austin A and B series (after MG became part of BMC) were used, had their roots in France.
Old No. 1 to the MG TF midget used them and only a few years in the 1930's brought different OHC engines of British origin to Abingdon.

Ralph

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/16/2012 03:40PM by Ralph 7h.

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Re: Renault in a MGB? #6
BritishV8 Curtis Jacobson Longmont CO, USA	Posted: June 16, 2012 07:10PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 1,659

Quote: Lotus used them in the Europa and the power was relatively good.

Quote: Sacrilege? That's what I think of V-8's in a MG!

Are you just goofing around, or what? A Europa with a Renault engine is a Europa that's waiting for a Lotus (Ford) Twin-Cam. Lotus switched engines for good reason. As for your second goofy statement, +/-2500 of the best cars ever built at Abingdon had V8 engines. Go here to learn all about them: Abingdon's Finest

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Re: Renault in a MGB? #7
kerbau53 Geoff Morton Naples, Florida, USA 1978 MG MGB V8 Conversion "The Wreck"	Posted: June 16, 2012 11:53PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 1,073

Ralph,

Please don't take me seriously! Disregard what was intended as a tongue in cheek political statement. I happen to like the idea of engine swaps. I just think if you're going to the trouble, something with a bit more grunt might be more appropriate.

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 06/17/2012 12:29AM by kerbau53.

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Re: Renault in a MGB? #8
keithwwalker Keith Walker Portland, USA	Posted: June 17, 2012 04:17AM Registered: 11 months ago Posts: 31

In reply to # 2095468 by BritishV8 Are you just goofing around, or what? A Europa with a Renault engine is a Europa that's waiting for a Lotus (Ford) Twin-Cam. Lotus switched engines for good reason. As for your second goofy statement, +/-2500 of the best cars ever built at Abingdon had V8 engines. Go here to learn all about them: Abingdon's Finest

No, I am not goofing, I realize that the BGT-V8 was the best production MGB in terms of HP, torque and engine weight. It's a real shame that they didn't produce more, it may of saved the marque. But, this is the engine swap forum is it not? Let's talk facts, and have a good discussion.

When I think of the MGB, and most other MG's, I think of inline fours.

Renault's advantages compared to the MGB four cylinder read like the opposite ends of the spectrum:

MGB:
Cast iron block
Cast iron head
OHV
Sidevalve breathing

Renault
Aluminum die cast block with wet liners
Aluminum head
OHC
Crossflow breathing

Later 2.2 Renault fuel injected engines made 120-140hp stock. I don't have engine weights for all the myriad configurations, but logic would say that a Renault four in a B-GT would be lighter than the V-8 version.

Disadvantages:
Parts source: France
Less torque than V-8
???

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Re: Renault in a MGB? #9
BritishV8 Curtis Jacobson Longmont CO, USA	Posted: June 17, 2012 10:38AM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 1,659

Renault 1.5L as fitted in Renault cars in the late sixties: rated 52hp.

Renault 1.5L as hopped-up and fitted in the Europa Series 1: rated 82hp.

Renault 1.6L as used in Europa "Series 2 Federal" in 1969-70: rated 80hp.

MG 1.8L from the same era: rated 92 hp.

What was the point of this swap supposed to be? There are so many better candidates! Perhaps a hopped-up ex-Lotus version of the Renault engine might suit a Spridget, but the sixties era engines don't produce enough power for an MGB. Just how many of them do you have out there in Portland USA anyhow? Fast forward to the modern era: Renault abandoned the U.S. market in 1989, after years of declining sales, with their reputation in tatters due to pathetic build quality. Renault's departure from the U.S. market made room for companies like Yugo... which I fear we'll be considering next.

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Re: Renault in a MGB? #10
keithwwalker Keith Walker Portland, USA	Posted: June 17, 2012 12:07PM Registered: 11 months ago Posts: 31

Don't assume I would put in a period engine that is smaller. I am not talking about 1.6l engines, but the larger later versions of 2.0 or 2.2l and fuel injection. Stock a 12v 2.0 makes 140hp. I am not even talking about the turbo versions which make more HP than the Rover/Buick V-8 did.

And if you wish to discuss the old versions, since they are wet liner you can put in new pistons and liners up to 2000cc. MECA parts in France has all the parts and intake manifold for a DCOE conversion.

fwiw, you know Portland is different! Or you should, there is a Feugo 4 blocks from me, a Citroen DS 1/2 mile, and a few more in town.

kww

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/17/2012 12:17PM by keithwwalker.

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Re: Renault in a MGB? #11
DavidMGA1600 David Lake Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia 1935 CycleKart Great Britain 1960 MG MGA "Dads Car"	Posted: June 17, 2012 07:02PM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 2,373

Go for it Keith, post pictures and text about how it all comes together. Do you have the B ready for the transplant?

David

1960 MGA 1600 Convertible,
Gold Coast, Australia.
The 5,791 Day Restoration

The CycleKart Club - Forums and more for builders & racers of home-built 200cc vintage-styled karts.

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Re: Renault in a MGB? #12
keithwwalker Keith Walker Portland, USA	Posted: June 17, 2012 08:42PM Registered: 11 months ago Posts: 31

I have an old 70' B-GT (w/o overdrive) but it is a parts car. When I was 18 I had another 70' B-GT, and I still have that engine and transmission with overdrive, seats, dash, carbs and some other items from that one.

I would do a stock engine, if it didn't breathe so poorly. I have read about aftermarket cross flow heads that when really tested, don't breathe any better than stock, or ported stock head. If there was a good crossflow head in aluminum, that would solve most of my issues. I am not after crazy power, but the B Series engine is not the best.

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Re: Renault in a MGB? #13
1744 Bill Guzman California, USA 1973 MG MGB GT "Green GT" 1974 MG MGB "Punking"	Posted: June 17, 2012 10:48PM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 4,821

Why not a DKW two cycle 1000 cc engine just as good. grinning smiley

In all seriousness, an engine swap is to create something better than stock. Several points come to mind, one being the reliability, improvement over the old engine, power gain ease of installation, parts and support. Just to mention a few of a long list.
That is the most common reason to do an engine swap. ask yourself the following, man hours of work = gain.
In the long run how much would you gain in the future.

If you are stock in the idea of a I4 then look at the Toyota, Nissan etc...

It is our attitude that will determine the outcome

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Re: Renault in a MGB? #14
bills Bill Spohn W. Vancouver, BC, Canada 1956 MG MGA 1958 MG MGA Twin-Cam 1962 MG MGA MkII Coupe 1965 Jensen CV8 1969 Lamborghini Countach → more	Posted: June 23, 2012 01:04PM Registered: 8 years ago Posts: 9,160

The result using a later larger capacity Renault engine might be just dandy, but you'd be committing yourself to an engine with little or no North American support. I think Bill's suggestion of looking to Toyota or Nissan has a lot going for it - they have some really spiffy modern lightweight DOHC 4 cylinder engines that have a lot of tuning expertise available on the net and easy parts availability. They also have nice compact 5 speed trans out of the RWD sedans that save having to try and mate up something else.

Bill Spohn www.rhodo.citymax.com/carstuff.html
1958 MGA Twincam (race car), 1962 MGA Deluxe Coupe
1969 MGC roadster, 1957 Jamaican MGA
1965 Jensen CV8, 1971 Jensen Interceptor
1969 Lamborghini Islero S, 1988 Fiero GT turbo
2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe
West Vancouver BC

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Re: Renault in a MGB? #15
keithwwalker Keith Walker Portland, USA	Posted: July 05, 2012 02:06PM Registered: 11 months ago Posts: 31

Another tidbit for consideration: The R21 turbo made 175hp and 200ft-lb. torque. That matches the stock BGT V8 in torque.

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