MGB Front Suspension upgrade (buy)

[Monster]

This is a long over-due upgrade for my car, so I started looking into it again.

I looked at what is out on the market and really what I wanted (expected) to get out of this upgrade i.e. better ride and handling.


FastCars Inc. www.fastcarsinc.com : Has a great product. Compared to the Hoyle Eng. option the advantages I see after talking to FASTCars are lighter weight (good for track) and greater camber/caster adjustment plus with the geometry changes to the spindle/steering lever and rack ratio it provides easier turning. But I have difficulty justifing the $3825 price tag

Hoyle Eng. www.hoyle-engineering.co.uk : $1047 Kit retains much of the original MGB design (which isn't necessarily a bad thing).The issue (aside from the lever shocks) is generally with Kingpin spindle ware & no caster/camber adjustment. The Holye upgrade provides camber adjustment and limited castor adjustment and greese will resolve the ware issue. The changes are mainly to the suspension components with a redesign of both upper & lower A-arm allowing for the addition of coil-overs which will improve the ride and handling "similar" to what FastCars provides BUT.... Hoyle does not change the steering components, so the rack and steering are expected perform similar to what they did prior to the upgrade; result steering will not be as effortless as FastCars.

There are numerous posts on MGB-V8 sites which site the virtues of each but bottom line for me I've decided to stick with the MGB cross-member and do the Hoyle Eng. upgrade. My reasoning being "ROI" (return on investment) for what I'm expecting to gain. I'm looking for ride and handling which both provide, granted FASTCars steering will add more improvment to handling. But with a change to my current 275/15 tires to a smaller size I expect to experiance an improvement to eaze of steering anyway. So though it won't be at a level that FASTCars would provide, it will be a great improvement for significantly fewer $$$ (including replacing my tires). I've also found that I can machine the spindles should I find that I need to lower the front an additional 1".

All of this said if there is anyone else that is interested in upgrading their stock MGB suspension to a Hoyle Eng. solution I spoke with Hoyle and they will give a group discount of 15% on a purchase of 3 kits (mine is 1 so 2 others are needed for this discount). Note shipping from UK is expensive (approx. $230 to the US)

Let me know soon (monster email) I am hoping to place my order March 6.

Thanks,
Mike

[mk2gt40]

Have you looked at Hawk cars in the UK?
Ross

[Monster]

Yes,

Hawk uses the Hoyle Engineering suspension system. It was designed and developed by Gerry Hawkridge of Hawk Cars and John Hoyle former owner of NG Cars (owner of Hoyle Engineering), both highly respected specialist car manufacturers producing Cobra replicas and thirties style roadsters based on MGB components.

Thanks,
Mike