They don't come cheap, and there are some differences between the one used in the ISF and the 460. For sure, the ISF uses faster solenoids. Other than that I'm not real sure. So there will be some difference in shifting speed. Prices for the ISF unit are high. The weird deal I ended up with cost me nearly $2700 and I've seen prices in the $3500 range. The 460 version can be had for maybe half that much. That's still pretty steep for a used tranny. Then there is the shifting control and there is no straightforward solution for that either. I'm planning to use an industrial PLC (programmable Logic Controller) but it'll take some more research and perhaps a good bit of development to make that work. I wasn't planning on making another adapter and don't expect to pull the engine and tranny from my car to do it so that presents a bit of a problem also as without a pattern on hand I'd have to have hard parts to match up to. All this represents a significant barrier, but if you really want it we can make it happen. Pittsburgh isn't an insurmountable distance away. JB
yes, i just seen one on ebaywith 20k for 3200..(isf) I guess the thing that'll determine my route will be when you actually figure out how to shift it with our dino engines. other would be if turbos **** out my th350 and i need something now lol
I do still have the case to my 2004r which I used as a pattern before so that just leaves the tranny pattern. No real need to scare up a spare block and crank, although it would make finding the center a little easier. I've been in communication with a couple guys who might be able to help some with the shifter controls. But I still need to tidy up some loose ends before I can start in on that part in earnest. JB
Yes I have, sorry to be slow in getting back here. Front end mods to the car are done, the radiator mounting is complete, a few required front suspension mods are done, The headers had to be shortened a little for the wider engine and I added bungs for egt probes at the ports. (those will be plugged initially) and I'm getting set up to cermachrome coat the headers. I've also modified the sealing bead in the Rover MLS stainless exhaust gaskets to match the 300 exhaust ports by using a formed wire and the hydraulic press, I'll try to post some photos of those tomorrow. Those gaskets are pricey but it's a permanent solution. Very, very nice parts. I had them on the 215 and they never leaked, despite being used and reused. I also redrilled the front hubs, rotors, and space saver wheel (an aluminum Lincoln piece) for the GM pattern which matches the Jag rear and I'm saving my pennies for a new set of wheels. Next up, things like the driveshaft, shifter, fuel rails, throttle linkage, A/C compressor and mounts, serpentine idlers, condenser for the A/C, condenser for the intercooler, routing of lines, a number of small details and then to cap it all off, the throttle body and air scoop/filter housing. I also have to make a new mechanism for the tilt front end and linkage (probably hydraulic) for the rear wing. It sounds like a lot, but many of those things can be completed quickly once I get to them. Others, not so much. But I'm hoping to drive it before cold weather sets in. If not, I'll have the winter to sort everything out. JB
Yes, Bill Jacobson did that on his blown Rover motor and he's already got his MS-III up and running. He says the adaptive autotune works very well with the egt inputs. But the probes are about $50 each. I'll have to run with MS-II to start probably but hope to upgrade before too long. The tranny controller plays into that scenario, it'll be MS based as well. JB
Do you have a link to his updates? I am also planning to use a MS 3 setup, it is here ready to go....
Hey, great! http://forum.britishv8.org/read.php?6,19823,page=3 There's Bill's link, I think there's about 3 pages on that thread and I linked to the last one. Lots of good info there. He's offered guidance to me, I'm sure he'll do the same for you. Also, Photos! as promised. Two shots of the stainless MLS Rover exhaust gaskets with the sealing beads modified using the wire loop (tig welded ends, now that was fun) and plastic pads shown on the press in the photo. Plus three shots of how you extend the size of your oven's cavity. Self cleaning oven plus extender box equals 700 degree bake for Cermachrome header coating! That's what I call ingenuity! (not my idea) JB
After much adoo I got the headers coated acceptably well and sent them out for polishing. NOT a fun job. Stripping the old coating was a real pain, learning to apply and bake the cermachrome was difficult, and the first time through was bad so I had to strip the headers twice which was so much fun I wished I'd just started from scratch, built new headers, and sent them out. But they should be back in a week or so. Real expensive to ship though. I have the new wheels and tires on the car now, I've made up a very attractive stainless adjuster bracket for the alternator, found the upper and lower radiator hoses and installed those. If anyone has a junk SBB distributor with a good gear lying around I need one to cut down into an oil pump drive. Actually all I really need is the gear. Once the headers come back and I have those installed, I need to buy a compressor for the A/C, build mounts for that (and possibly modify the sheet metal for clearance) and then I can get to work on the accessory drive. I've begun work on the inlet scoop for the blower. It will be an Enderlie style and have the characteristic shape, though possibly longer and definitely narrower. I think this time around I will cut my own butterflies for it. That will be some tricky work. JB
Jim, just wondering, but with all the torque that your engine will produce isn't a 7 speed tranny a lot of over kill? With the SC you'll probably have a fairly flat torque curve, so I can't see the extra gears adding much to performance, JMHO. However, I admire your enginuity in adapting this tranny to your MG. I bet it's one of one!
Well Marc, there's no kill like overkill. (it's an 8 speed: AA80E) I dunno, call me crazy, I've always been a gear freak. And as if that wasn't enough, I've built the engine for a potential 7K redline. But where it all comes into play is on a long sweeper, or even a series of them. The typical problem is that you are accelerating through the turn but just shy of the exit you run out of rpms. What to do, what to do? You could shift, but that will upset the traction and skip the rear end out, which is already sliding a smidgen anyway. You could let up, but that's just wrong. You pretty much have to do one or the other though. If you get to practice you can feather the throttle so that you hit your shift point just as the car gets straight but wouldn't it be better if you could drop a few revs coming in (shift to the next gear) and still be in the powerband? Or if you had just a bit more headroom? Are 21 speeds too many on a bicycle? Ask the guy who rides one. Pretty cool "wow" factor anyway. In everyday use I'll probably be hitting that shift button a whole lot. My plan is to outrun the MG-Roadmaster with it's BBB 455. I made the bottom plate and intake spacer for the scoop yesterday. They came out nice but I need to get more aluminum plate and some tubing. So... anyone got a junk dizzy they're willing to pass along? JB
So you will have a paddle shifter setup for your cool 8 speed trans right? That car is going to be SOOOOO cool!!! Blown 340 with forged pistons etc, with custom headers and side-pipes, custom induction, custom EFI.... I love it!!!!:3gears:
The paddle shifters will have to wait until I re-do the dash and that won't happen before next winter at the earliest. Until then I'll use a floor shifter with a + - gate (which I also might have to make). Incidentally, the headers are true equal length within less than 1/4" in all 8 tubes. They really do wake up an engine. A little oversized for the 215 as I built them for a 300 but I think the 340 will be OK with them. Oh, and you didn't mention the custom intercooler... and it's also got a custom fluid damper... and a custom crank trigger...and....... I'm planning on having some FUN with this car. JB
My wife forced me add up all the $ I have into my Buick collection (many different cars, 22 spare engines etc) and I was shocked to see I am a little under 60,000 into the stuff LOL... I would have thought it was more LOL!!!!!:TU:
Been awhile since I posted on this and an update is probably in order. Plus I'll try to get a photo or two in a few days. The air scoop is finished and the throttle body nearly so. I still have to make the shaft to hold the butterflies and hope to do that this week. The A/C compressor is mounted and I've made some idler pulleys for the serpentine drive. Still some buffing to do there and then make the mounting brackets for them and then it's on to the fuel rails and throttle linkage. Then a surge tank and the top of the engine will be nearly completed except for the wiring. There is still a lot to do but I hope to have it back on the road by early summer. Jim
Ok, here are a couple of photos. After it's finished I'll update my avitar. Anyway, the throttle body came out really nice, More like jewelry almost. The serpentine drive still needs an adjuster, which I'm working on now, and then the fuel rails need to be machined and the throttle linkages finished up. That should keep me busy for awhile. Jim
That is looking great! The car is looking more complete than it has in years!!! Great work! I am sure you will hit your 400 HP goal!!!!
