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Automatic MGB

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Automatic MGB
#1
mrkenmgb Avatar
mrkenmgb Ken DeLEEUW
Ormond Beach, FL, USA   USA
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1996 MG MGF "Green Machine"
I saw a 4 cyl MGB GT on ebay last week for sale in the UK. It had an automatic Transmission. I would think it was factory installed. I would like to get some info on the automatic for a 4 cyl B. Does anybody know where to get one and does anybody know anything about the performace of one? I think the GT was a 74 but they all seem to have the metal dash, or one that looks different than we have in the states. Any info on the automatic would be helpful, wife would like to drive my GT I am fixing up now. I have an overdrive transmission later model from a 1980 LE, might be interested in a trade.
Ken

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Re: Automatic MGB
#2
Ryan Reis Avatar
Ryan Reis
Beatrice, NE, USA   USA
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1968 MG MGB
I don't know much about them except that they are very rare in the States. An elderly gentleman in our local club has one, not even sure of the year, but it's a gt.


Ryan

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Re: Automatic MGB
#3
blundgren Avatar
blundgren Brian Lundgren
Elgin, Elgin, TX, USA   USA
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1975 MG MGB
1979 MG MGB
One sold on Ebay a few months back in Illinois, I believe. Kinda' different???


Brian Lundgren
Central Texas
'79 B with wires and OD
'75 Yeller B

I always wanted to be a procrastinator, but never got around to it! :beer:

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Re: Automatic MGB
#4
David64MGB Avatar
David64MGB David Loken
SK, Canada   CAN
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1963 MG MGB
Wasn't the automatic common on the MGC? Could someone have taken an MGC transmission and put it on a B?

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Re: Automatic MGB
#5
David64MGB Avatar
David64MGB David Loken
SK, Canada   CAN
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1963 MG MGB
Just checked, the Borg Warner automatic was an option from 1967, but only in UK.

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Re: Automatic MGB
#6
wrenchpuller Ric Willis
Kitimat, BC, Canada   CAN
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Auto was an option for a few years, although I believe it never caught on in the US. Useed the Borg Warner 35 trans, which was a good tran but with an engine under 2 litre was not known for performance. They were also available for the C series and made a lot more sense there. Just a little trivia.. the hole in the rear engine plate with the large grommet in it, was for access to the bolts attaching the torque converter to the drive plate.
Cheers Ric

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Re: Automatic MGB
#7
dwengdahl Avatar
dwengdahl David Engdahl
Henrietta, NY, USA   USA
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There is an automatic "B" in our club (Western NY). Hopefully George Herschell will pop in here with a contact name.


Dave E.
1972 MGB GT RED
"Every path has a few puddles"



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-01-30 05:19 PM by dwengdahl.

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Re: Automatic MGB
#8
dc mgb Avatar
dc mgb Dan E
Washington DC, USA   USA
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1971 MG MGB "Blue B"
Kind of interesting that the auto wasn't popular in the US, which has generally led the way in the slow killing of manual trannies. MG customers were a different breed I guess

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Re: Automatic MGB
#9
RSS Avatar
RSS Platinum Member Rick Stevens
Northern, VA, USA   USA
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1973 MG MGB
dc mgb Wrote:
Quote: Kind of interesting that the auto wasn't popular in the US, which has generally led the way in the slow killing of manual trannies. MG customers were a different breed I guess

Ohhh, yeahhhhh! :thumbsup:

Actually, a C with an auto trans would be a great find.

R.



A great man is hard on himself. A weak man is hard on others.

“When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” ~Maya Angelou

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Re: Automatic MGB
#10
ingoldsb Avatar
ingoldsb Silver Member Terry Ingoldsby
Calgary, AB, Canada   CAN
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1971 MG MGB
I believe the automatic transmission was a very commonly used model (in other brands of cars). Parts are supposed to be easily available (mind you that is based on hearsay). According to Burgess the automatic is a Borg-Warner type 35 three-speed epicyclic unit and it is the same as the MGC. It was discontinued in 1973. They were apparently available in North America but seldom sold. Australia took a few (228). The ratios were different between the 1968 version and the 1969-73 version - I suspect this was done by changing the rear end ratios. I would speculate that you might have troubles finding rear end parts if they were an odd ratio.

Here are some more Burgess figures. From 1969-71 there were 7 left hand drive export cars manufactured and 30 LHD GTs built. The figures are similar for 1972-73.


Terry Ingoldsby
terry.ingoldsby@DCExperts.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-01-30 05:56 PM by ingoldsb.

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Re: Automatic MGB
#11
twigworker Avatar
twigworker Jack Austin
Blowing Rock, NC, USA   USA
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Find the correct ar an adaptable bell housing and some other smaller bits and then go hunting for a BW type 35 out of a Rambler. I know that at least some of the Rampblers came with that transmission. The valve body might not be set up exactly for the characteristics of a B motor but it would be a beginning. Otherwise I believe that I have heard of sticking a GM automatic in a B, but for the life of me I can't remember where I saw or heard of that swap.

Jack

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Re: Automatic MGB
#12
filospinato Avatar
filospinato Jake V
Manassas, VA, USA   USA
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1954 Austin-Healey 100 "Field Healey"
1977 MG MGB MkIV "Martin" ~ For Sale ! ~
The magic car for this swap is the Austin Marina. It used a B series engine very similar to the MGB engine and the automatic versions used the BW 35. The manuals used a spitfire tranny. Auto B rearend ratio was 3.7:1, like the late MGC. The brake pedal was wider too I think, like the MGC. My dad sells this swap kit every now and again, he has rows of Marinas that aren't good for much else.


Click the image to visit my V8 site.

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Re: Automatic MGB
#13
dwengdahl Avatar
dwengdahl David Engdahl
Henrietta, NY, USA   USA
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Jake - Interesting that you bring that up. George Herschell just informed me that the car I was referring to above was most likely one with the Marina setup. He may very well have bought it from your Dad.


Dave E.
1972 MGB GT RED
"Every path has a few puddles"

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Re: Automatic MGB
#14
David64MGB Avatar
David64MGB David Loken
SK, Canada   CAN
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1963 MG MGB
An automatic B would be OK for inner city commuting, but the horsepower would not be there for highway driving or acceleration. Particularly in later Bs. I don't think 1970s era automatics were known for their efficiency. Typically gas milage can suffer by 25% going from standard to automatic.

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Re: Automatic MGB
#15
Limey Avatar
Limey Eric Marshall
Pentwater, MI, USA   USA
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A lady in our club has (or had) an auto MGC. She may have sold it.

I knew a young lady when I first came to the US that had an auto B - it wouldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding!


Eric Marshall

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