Change MGB front end to Tubular A-arms?

[67JET]

I found a website http://www.fastcarsinc.com/ifs.htm but im not sure it's the answer to my problem. I want something adjustable and i like the tubular front ends on all the other Cobras and wonder if i should try to totaly change my set-up. I don't want to change the entire front frame section but would cut and weld on what i got. How bout some opinions. For the money 3825.00 i can get an entire front end with bigger brakes and coil overs with rack and pinion already set up --- or--- cut it all apart and start over. Where do i look for the right tubular front set-up and brakes and coil overs and rack to do it myself? Some opinions from all you trained professionals with years of experiance would make my decision easier. Thanks

[SoTxButler]

I'm not a trained professional...but, I replaced my MGB front end with a Fast Cars front suspension and could not be happier.

The car steers and tracks so much better, has a tighter turning radius and is light to steer and is fully adjustable. The MGB setup was beginning to pump up my arms...LOL.

Take a look at my gallery and you will see his work. He installed the suspension as I am not capable, but there are some who have installed the suspension without much problem.

I can only tell you that Ted does great work and I don't think you can go wrong.

Good Luck

[mickmate]

There's a lot to the geometry of a front end. If you take a look at someone like Heidts web site they have some good simple explanations. http://www.heidts.com/pdf/Understanding_IFS.pdf
It's certainly not just getting something that will bolt on and work the whole thing has to work together and be safely welded, fixtured up, engineered etc etc etc. That seems like a few bucks to buy but for a one off and doing it yourself you'd get all that into it. I've made a few different parts for suspension and steering but trust my engineering, welding and machining background. I've drawn up components in CAD but would like to see the parts in a 3D program. If you do decide to go ahead I'd recommend finding a tubular hi po geometry you can copy close to your track width, wheel offset, brake size that will fit in the wheel etc.

[Ozgur_Tan]

take a look @
http://www.hoyle-engineering.co.uk/

[SoTxButler]

Mickmate is certainly right about the complexity and structural aspects of a good suspension. I am not going to show my ignorance by stepping out too far...but, Ted builds a beautiful suspension incorporating adjustments for caster, camber and addressing bumpsteer and ackerman. He knows his stuff. He builds a lot of suspensions for the MG V8 conversion folks.

He built special spindles to adapt the JFZ Grand National calipers on my car as well as the 6-pin hubs and a beautiful sway bar. He uses Wilwood and Carrillo parts and builds the rest. Don't sell him short without talking to him.

[67JET]

SoTx- Your front end is bad A$$. Did you get it chromed or is that an opition? Is it just that simple -- unbolt the MGB front end and bolt in the Fast Cars front end? I'm going to do new brake lines and new steering column anyway so that part is covered.

[SoTxButler]

I first asked Ted about chroming the control arms and he was reluctant. Then, about a week later we talked and he said what if I were to chrome the K member and all. I told him to go for it. He did it all.

Remember, I didn't install it, but 4 bolts hold the K member in place. The rest comes as a complete front end, K member, rack, everything including Wilwood brakes, rotors, etc. It should not be difficult according to Ted. Mine was a little different because he had to make special spindles for the brake calipers and the 6 pin hubs. None of that will be a problem if you use his front end as a package. Give him a call, he is a real nice guy and tell him I asked you to call. He is great to work with and he will help you with anything you need.

His complete setup should bolt right in. I assume you have a Butler or Arntz, is that right? If not, it should not matter because his kit replaces K member and all and it is built for MGB.

Hope this helps.
Russ

[Tony Ripepi]

Hi guys,

I made this change when I was building my Unique. It came with the Moss Motorsports upgrades but I wanted tubular A-arms, Coilovers and the rack & pinion steering gear. The folks at Unique sold me the complete unit and since it was a Unique chassis it was a bolt in replacement. I sold the MG unit to a guy in Salinas. The unit from Unique included spindles, brakes, SS brake lines, shocks, coilovers etc. etc.

Talk to the Weavers and see what they can do, in your situation you would be welding the unit in or welding plates, drill holes and then bolt the Weavers front end onto your chassis. It is a well built and sorted out front end installed on many high performance Cobras.

Here is a pic at Sears Point, I do not have any close ups of the actual parts.



Tony R.

[SoTxButler]

Here is another pic of the K member for you.

[67JET]

Actually my Cobra is a Daryl Holliday Motorsports. I know he is not well thought of but it was a good price and when i get finished it won't matter. I bought it sight and brand unseen. It took a month to figure out who made it. I thought it was a Buttler or Arntz but after talking with Mr. Buttler on the phone i continued the search. I found DHX 001 on the frame, Googled it and through alot of searching found Mr. Holliday. He is a fast talker. I could hardly understand him. He wanted me to bring it to him for all the upgrades that he has to offer now but i would rather do them myself.

[Monster]

67Jet,

I did a lot of research on this subject when considering my suspension conversion. I just did the conversion in April/May from stock MGB to the Hoyle system on my Arntz. I posted on the Arntz forum LINK at that time my reasoning for going Hoyle vs Fastcars.
I'm pretty happy with my choice and my assumptions have proved correct. I'm still dialing in the spring rate, with my big block I had thought I would need heavier springs but this has not proved to be the case. I'm currently running 400#'s, since I also have 300# & 350# sets, I'm going to go to the 300# next.

Let me know if you would like to discuss this in more detail.

BTW: SoTxButler your suspension looks great, if I had the $$$budget I may have gone your route, but as I said I'm happy with my results.

Mike

[SoTxButler]

Mike,

I looked at going with Hoyle, but decided on Fast Cars because I wanted to use the 6-pin hubs and the JFZ calipers. Making the spindles and adapting the 6-pins was above my paygrade. So, for that reason I decided to go Fast Cars.

The only thing important here is that you are happy.

Jet,

I believe Holliday is in Huntsville, Tx. Heard some good and some bad about him. You probably made the right decision to do the upgrades yourself. I believe Fast Cars suspension should fit if Holliday used the MGB K-member.

Anyway, hope it works out for you whichever way you go.

Guys, thanks for the nice comments.

[Monster]

Russ,

I looked at going with Hoyle, but decided on Fast Cars because I wanted to use the 6-pin hubs and the JFZ calipers. Making the spindles and adapting the 6-pins was above my paygrade. So, for that reason I decided to go Fast Cars.

I'm not sure I follow your hub/spindle comment, I used my 6-pin SPF hubs and have JFZ calipers on my car

Jet- Since I'm only framiliar with the Hoyle upgrade proceedure I can say that the mods to the X-member do require you to cut & weld (it is pretty easy). The whole conversion took about 8hrs. to complete.

As we have both said, either way you go you will be better than the stock lever shock set up you currently have with the MGB suspension.

Mike

[67JET]

Thanks Monster. I've looked at the Hoyle set-up and the fast car-- the only differance that concerns me is the ease of steering. Now i have a pipe with a piece of cold roll for a steering column. I intend to fix this arm pumping problem and that is one reason my car is a pain to steer but i have never driven a Cobra other than mine so i have nothing to compare it to. The cost savings is the only reason for me to go with the Hoyle because the install is so easy. I will still need to price the bigger brakes and coil overs to make a fair comparison.
SoTx i realy like the look of the Fast Cars front end (even with paint) and the ease of installation is also a plus but the main thing is the promise of lite - agressive steering. I guess the anti-sway bar is extra.
I like all this input, it makes me think harder about what is important --The Cobra!

[lal Naja]

I would pick the Fastcars IFS any day. I installed mine on my Butler. The physical installation to bolt it in place takes 10 minutes. It is a better than perfect replacement for the tired MGB technology. Everything else that I have researched, that is MGB retrofit, is still using tired king-pin non adjustable technology. DON'T DO IT! You and your Cobra deserve the best. After I did my IFS I redisigned the MGB steering column to make Teds IFS happy, Built a custom stainless steel column with Graphite impregnated MDS bushings to replace non-fitting 'Felt' and split nylon column bushings. Love my new setup! A few years ago it cost me $3,000.00 to completely rebuild my MGB front suspension with disk brakes, waste of money.