Supercharged MG C GT
Discussion
Hi all,
Thought some of you might like to see the work so far on my MG C GT. A friend of mine designed and built all of this by hand in Australia (www.hi-flow.com) including the ceramic coated headers and exhaust system. This is a Cali car I acquired over ten years ago.
Now it's my turn to get it running and restore the car in general. It has no engine controls at the moment but all the prototyping for the EFI and Supercharger is complete. It's going to be one helluva beast!
I've waited over a decade to get my hot little hands on him and I can't wait to hear that engine kick into life for the first time.
There is a huge amount of work to be done to take the power, gearbox, diff, suspension, brakes etc etc etc.
Cheers,
LL
Thought some of you might like to see the work so far on my MG C GT. A friend of mine designed and built all of this by hand in Australia (www.hi-flow.com) including the ceramic coated headers and exhaust system. This is a Cali car I acquired over ten years ago.
Now it's my turn to get it running and restore the car in general. It has no engine controls at the moment but all the prototyping for the EFI and Supercharger is complete. It's going to be one helluva beast!
I've waited over a decade to get my hot little hands on him and I can't wait to hear that engine kick into life for the first time.There is a huge amount of work to be done to take the power, gearbox, diff, suspension, brakes etc etc etc.
Cheers,
LL
pilbeam_mp62 said:
Looks impressive.
Please tell us some more about the cylinder head, the inlet manifold and the injection system.
Also, are you using the stock exhaust manifold ?
Thanks
Regards
Not a lot more to add really at the moment as the rest will be a work in progress. The head is unchanged but will get the seats replaced to move to unleaded, the valves will undoubtedly be looked at and the combustion chambers and ports opened up/matched. The crank, rods, flywheel and pistons will all be upgraded or replaced with parts to cope with power in the region of 300 bhp. Please tell us some more about the cylinder head, the inlet manifold and the injection system.
Also, are you using the stock exhaust manifold ?
Thanks
Regards
The EFI system is yet to be decided, but maybe a Wolf system. It has a throttle body upstream near the firewall on the RHS and will run a MAF. Various places have been drilled and tapped for the various sensors required in an EFI installation.
If you look closely between the intake runners you should be able to see the custom tubular exhaust manifold, this is an equal length system. When I get the car up on the ramps I will post a few more photos. The exhaust system really is amazing, it's completely ceramic/jet hot coated from manifold to just before the rear muffler.
Would love to hear advice from anyone as the build begins and progresses as a lot of this is unknown territory.
I've worked and raced MG's for quite a long time Dave and I've seen plenty of these buses produce in excess of 220 BHP on triple webers plus all the usual mods. You are certainly right that in stock form it's a pig of a motor, it is. But, if I don't get between 250 bhp and 300 bhp when I'm done with EFI, a blower and the raft of other changes I'm making I'll happily eat my rotor arm and post a picture of it. 
lol The limiting factor here is going to be the blower sizing which is a bit smaller than I'd like but necessary to actually fit within the constraints of the engine bay.
lol The limiting factor here is going to be the blower sizing which is a bit smaller than I'd like but necessary to actually fit within the constraints of the engine bay. Sorry mate, didn't want to negative. You look like you are putting in the $$s and time, so I hope it works out OK. Should come up magic as a tourer when all done. I looked at buying a "C" once and I've never been so diappointed with the test drive..........I guess thats got me offside with this model.
You are 100% right Dave. They really are a very poor drive in standard form and a B is a much, much better car. I've had several of them too, last being a CB V8 in Black Tulip with lovely 70's beige interior!! That was a great car and I drove it 40,000 mls across the UK and Europe. Your car looks like a fantastic conversion and that must absolutely fly?
The C, well it's a challenge I want to see if I can make it handle, stop & go. So it's really going to be a massive job end to end and yes I am mad. All the work so far was done in Victoria btw, not sure where you are in Aussie.
I was tempted by an option I had long ago to go for an alloy head but cost stopped me. That would be a very useful addition to a C to get rid of some of that weight over the front. Not sure if these are available now. Of course the Sebring cars had full alloy engines which I'm sure made them handle a lot better. One day I might be able to buy Mabel but until then this is my project!
That was a great car and I drove it 40,000 mls across the UK and Europe. Your car looks like a fantastic conversion and that must absolutely fly?The C, well it's a challenge I want to see if I can make it handle, stop & go. So it's really going to be a massive job end to end and yes I am mad. All the work so far was done in Victoria btw, not sure where you are in Aussie.
I was tempted by an option I had long ago to go for an alloy head but cost stopped me. That would be a very useful addition to a C to get rid of some of that weight over the front. Not sure if these are available now. Of course the Sebring cars had full alloy engines which I'm sure made them handle a lot better. One day I might be able to buy Mabel but until then this is my project!
There is an alloy head about, but I think my old man has his eye on it, maybe already taken the plunge? so can't say until I know.
But at a few £000 it's quite expensive!
Surely the head will need expensive modifications, it flows really poorly, even worked heads aren't great, and 300bhp will be a massive task! Good luck though, keep us updated!
I have just started what I thought was a new topic on supercharging an MGC, but there you are. My name is John Caffin and I live in Sunbury which is just near Melbourne Airport. I have watched progress on your C at Hans Petersons when I visit Hans.
You can be confident of achieving 300 bhp if not it will be that close it wont matter. The motor will give tremendous torque right from 1500rpm. My installation, which I built myself uses an Eaton M90 Blower and twin 1-3/4" HIF6 SU (late MGB)carburettors. It has an auto transmission which my wife will not let me change and I'm now glad as with all the power why bother changing gear. After 50 years of racing, mainly in the Historic catagories I'm now in my geriatric years and the auto is just fime.
At this stage I wont start talking crap regarding horsepower etc until I finally get around to putting the car on a dyne in February, however a couple of years ago when I only had a single 2" SU fitted and the car would not rev over 4000rpm on the day, it did 15.5 secs at a timed 1/4 mile.
It did give 215 bhp at only 4000rpm on a dyno during our final attempt to get it to run with the single SU. My next 1/4 mile drag meeting in in late march so I will report then. This time alone is a hell of an improvement over a standard MGB V8 of 16.4, and its an auto.
I have not attempted to modify the engine at all, the head is not ported or modified all all and the compression in 8.8. I tried a hot cam but now have a very standard grind, I should have left it standard. The motor is balanced and has an extractor exhaust and electronis ignition. otherwise it is standard.
As for the handling, yes the C is no Lotus 7 but I have fitted a 7/8" front roll bar and made my own 5/8" dia rear bar, the suspension and wheels are standard.
When some one tell me how to put photos on this modern electronic thing I will put some on the site I have started on this MG forum today.
If any one likes to email me on caffin@alphalink.com.au I would be happy to email copies.
The C was made to be supercharged.
Regards for now.
John Caffin
The C is a much malighned car but the engine is bullet proof
You can be confident of achieving 300 bhp if not it will be that close it wont matter. The motor will give tremendous torque right from 1500rpm. My installation, which I built myself uses an Eaton M90 Blower and twin 1-3/4" HIF6 SU (late MGB)carburettors. It has an auto transmission which my wife will not let me change and I'm now glad as with all the power why bother changing gear. After 50 years of racing, mainly in the Historic catagories I'm now in my geriatric years and the auto is just fime.
At this stage I wont start talking crap regarding horsepower etc until I finally get around to putting the car on a dyne in February, however a couple of years ago when I only had a single 2" SU fitted and the car would not rev over 4000rpm on the day, it did 15.5 secs at a timed 1/4 mile.
It did give 215 bhp at only 4000rpm on a dyno during our final attempt to get it to run with the single SU. My next 1/4 mile drag meeting in in late march so I will report then. This time alone is a hell of an improvement over a standard MGB V8 of 16.4, and its an auto.
I have not attempted to modify the engine at all, the head is not ported or modified all all and the compression in 8.8. I tried a hot cam but now have a very standard grind, I should have left it standard. The motor is balanced and has an extractor exhaust and electronis ignition. otherwise it is standard.
As for the handling, yes the C is no Lotus 7 but I have fitted a 7/8" front roll bar and made my own 5/8" dia rear bar, the suspension and wheels are standard.
When some one tell me how to put photos on this modern electronic thing I will put some on the site I have started on this MG forum today.
If any one likes to email me on caffin@alphalink.com.au I would be happy to email copies.
The C was made to be supercharged.
Regards for now.
John Caffin
The C is a much malighned car but the engine is bullet proof
Interesting write up John, sounds like a great upgade to a C.
Regarding photos, you need to copy them here from a photosharing site such as Photobucket.
I opened up a Photobucket account, easily done, then upload photos to that, then each photo will give you a selection of link options. Copy the IMG link and paste on your post on this website.
Look forward to seeing them.
Regarding photos, you need to copy them here from a photosharing site such as Photobucket.
I opened up a Photobucket account, easily done, then upload photos to that, then each photo will give you a selection of link options. Copy the IMG link and paste on your post on this website.
Look forward to seeing them.
John... seconded for PHOTOBUCKET.
Had several MGBs back in the 1960s and sold my last one, an MGB GT in 1984. Although visually very similar, the B and C are chalk and cheese ~ something not all the journos of the day could appreciate so were not too enthusiastic after appraising the C ~ usually around some unsuitable track or aerodrome which is not its natural habitat. That is the mile munching longer journeys and for the that, even by today's driving values, it is still a nice experience.
Nice cars...
.
Had several MGBs back in the 1960s and sold my last one, an MGB GT in 1984. Although visually very similar, the B and C are chalk and cheese ~ something not all the journos of the day could appreciate so were not too enthusiastic after appraising the C ~ usually around some unsuitable track or aerodrome which is not its natural habitat. That is the mile munching longer journeys and for the that, even by today's driving values, it is still a nice experience.
Nice cars...
.
As an MGC GT owner of over 20 years standing I am fascinated by this. For the doubters, a C was easily capable of 175bhp with a little head work and the addition of a third SU. The blower here, plus EFI should give interesting results.
The engine on mine is standard (bar K&N fiilters and electronic ignition) but I fitted the handling kit from the MGBHive which consisted of a telescopic rear damper conversion, 4 gas adjustable dampers and a huge front anti roll bar. Add some decent tyres (185/55 x 15) and you can transform a C's handling.
The engine on mine is standard (bar K&N fiilters and electronic ignition) but I fitted the handling kit from the MGBHive which consisted of a telescopic rear damper conversion, 4 gas adjustable dampers and a huge front anti roll bar. Add some decent tyres (185/55 x 15) and you can transform a C's handling.
I saw a supercharged C at Cadwell park in Novemeber it did go well. My C is now upto 250hp on a highly modified triple weber setup but has cost thousands to get this far, the supercharger route is by far the most cost effective. As for handling the C can handle very well for only modest changes to the suspension and removal of the brain, it will out run evo's round the bombhole at snetterton.
I have fitted Yoko 048 tyres as the old dunlop D84 are hard to get now.
My only problem now is the exhasut is shot and the db is running at 110db so I really don't know which way to go twin pipes as now but with maybe center 3" boxs or one big 2.5" pipe.
I have fitted Yoko 048 tyres as the old dunlop D84 are hard to get now.
My only problem now is the exhasut is shot and the db is running at 110db so I really don't know which way to go twin pipes as now but with maybe center 3" boxs or one big 2.5" pipe.
Good to hear there are a lot of powerful C's out there as I suspected. Unfortunately this is not a cost effective solution either, the R&D involved and time so far has been immense and this project started in 2000 believe it or not. I hope one day that Hi-Flow will be able to offer a kit as they do for the B and other cars but it will never be cheap solution due to the cost of the positive displacement blower not to mention the limited market.
By the time the system is set up with the ECU and controls I would hate to even contemplate what I have in this car. But that's not the point, it's always been done with a no compromise approach and we haven't even started looking at the engine internals yet or the general restoration/modification of the car to bring it up to standard and cope with the extra ponies. Hopefully I will get onto this later in the year as other projects on the go at the moment.
By the time the system is set up with the ECU and controls I would hate to even contemplate what I have in this car. But that's not the point, it's always been done with a no compromise approach and we haven't even started looking at the engine internals yet or the general restoration/modification of the car to bring it up to standard and cope with the extra ponies. Hopefully I will get onto this later in the year as other projects on the go at the moment.
chormy said:
My only problem now is the exhasut is shot and the db is running at 110db so I really don't know which way to go twin pipes as now but with maybe center 3" boxs or one big 2.5" pipe.
Have a chat to Hans - http://www.hi-flow.com/HPEH3.HTM - he's a top bloke and builds the most stunning hand built stainless exhaust systems, jet hot coated etc. He made an equal length header for my car above, haven't got a pic of it unfortunately but there's a small pic on the above link. There's some good photos of his exhaust work on the website. Edited by Lagerlout on Thursday 3rd February 20:37
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