Development V8 Auto VIN 07

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11-02-2010, 11:20 AM
tonybubble

Development V8 Auto VIN 07

I am now posting this in the Public Section, to broaden the audience, as suggested by Keith.

Well after four or more years at A E Wilcox, 07 is on the way to a new home and hopefully a re-incarnation. All donations gratefully received, particularly a complete set of ECUs!!!

John Wilcox still belives that this car was once a supercharged auto, but Nic (Rincewind) tells me that no such beast existed. It has, however, definitely been/is an auto, having only two pedals.

I have been in contact with Ian Pogson and Gary Egan at MG Motors Ltd to enquire whether there is any chance of liberating one of the V8 development cars, still at Longbridge, to act as a donor car. A very long shot and I'm not holding my breath. Failing a miracle, the search is on for a suitable (written off) donor car. Again, I would be grateful for any pointers.

In the meantime, I have entrusted the restoration to Corin Messenger from the Gentlemen's Forum and together we will try and come up with a cunning plan!

http://i709.photobucket.com/albums/w...ble/007001.jpg

http://i709.photobucket.com/albums/w...ble/007002.jpg
11-02-2010, 04:01 PM
dobbo

That is one hell of a project Tony!

Different wheels on each side - just like the 75 restoration happening on the 75/ZT owners club, quite a co-incidence.

Am I right in thinking the hairpins aren't strong enough for a V8? Otherwise you could beg the two hairpins they have got and make up a set.
11-02-2010, 04:50 PM
tonybubble

Quote:

Originally Posted by dobbo

That is one hell of a project Tony!

Different wheels on each side - just like the 75 restoration happening on the 75/ZT owners club, quite a co-incidence.

Am I right in thinking the hairpins aren't strong enough for a V8? Otherwise you could beg the two hairpins they have got and make up a set.

Hi Ben, Yes, it is and will be one hell of a project!! The wheel count is one Apex, two Hairpins and one Straights. You are right, the Hairpins are not suitable for a V8 - I'm planning to end up with four Straights down the line.
11-02-2010, 06:27 PM
SH4RKY

There seems to be something missing from it inthe first pic... cant quite put my finger on it though...
11-02-2010, 06:29 PM
ColinE

Quote:

Originally Posted by SH4RKY

There seems to be something missing from it inthe first pic... cant quite put my finger on it though...

The white van - it's missing a headlight, easy to miss though:D
11-02-2010, 06:41 PM
SH4RKY

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ragman

The white van - it's missing a headlight, easy to miss though:D

Ahhh Bingo! have your self a cookie!

:) good luck with the project. Nick at Austin Garages has a preproduction V8 and may be able to shed some light on any odd parts you find. His has Rover springs and an odd custom airbox amongst other things.
11-02-2010, 08:21 PM
black olive

wonder if Scooter will donate a supercharger
11-02-2010, 08:24 PM
ColinE

Not if Tony keeps it as an Auto
11-02-2010, 10:00 PM
scooter

Sorry can't do Autos, we did not do a fuel map for it. The Auto would need a very different map.
11-02-2010, 11:39 PM
black olive

nice get out clause :D
12-02-2010, 08:34 AM
scooter

Managed to help with the gearchange.:~
12-02-2010, 09:02 AM
tonybubble

Managed to help with the gearchange.:~

I haven't forgotten this Brian - just spent too much this week! :(
Will be in touch, shortly.
12-02-2010, 09:14 AM
Phil

Will this be the only MG badged auto then Tony?
Is that how it started its life?
If it is, then surely Rincewind would have some memory of it.

By the way, are you having to respray the car?
12-02-2010, 11:57 AM
ksilver

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonybubble

just spent too much this week! :(

And with this sort of project you will again next week, and the week after and the week after that.... :eek:
12-02-2010, 12:20 PM
scooter

No problem have put your name on it so its reserved for you.
12-02-2010, 06:40 PM
SH4RKY

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil

Will this be the only MG badged auto then Tony?
Is that how it started its life?
If it is, then surely Rincewind would have some memory of it.

By the way, are you having to respray the car?

There are a few Auto MGs in Oz...?
12-02-2010, 06:50 PM
tonybubble

Hello Phil,

I received this note from one of the development engineers (I have left his name out for reasons of privacy).

Firstly may I introduce myself, my name is ***** ***********, I was the Powertrain Project Leader for the X12/13 programme, namely the V8 ZT's.

The car, or at least what is left of it, was the first usable auto V8 built by MGR, not the first V8 auto built, but certainly the first capable of being driven. Nic Fasci is correct it was never Supercharged. It is due to this car that the RD12 (Rover V8) programme was born.

The car was in essence a skunk project, I think the difficult birth of the whole V8 project is fairly well known and during the time that the project was 'shelved' this car was engineered by a few of us kept on the project.

This car (I cannot recall the SDV number, T7 I think) was originally a manual ZT, we took the car, removed the powerunit, cut out the trans tunnel, fitting the wider tunnel necessary for the auto trans, installed a new powerunit, electrical harness etc and made the remaining modifications required to complete the car.

The car was then presented to the Board for assessment, the results were far more favourable than expected, the original remit was to produce a V8 Auto MG, but the refinement of the car was such that the decision was taken to engineer the Rover V8.

This particular car was then used for a number of engineering activities including pass by noise certification in Idiada, Spain. Whilst this was taking place a new 'Rover' body was being prepared and ultimately the powerunit, being unique, was transplanted into the 'Rover' derivative and NVH/Interior trim work continued.

So there you have a little history, if you are to restore it to its original state you will have an MG ZT V8 Manual, alternatively you could restore it to the one and only MG ZT V8 Auto that ever existed.

*****

PS the auto ECU's are unique, a manual ECU does not have the hardware to control the Auto Transmission.
http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...er_offline.gif
13-02-2010, 09:39 AM
scooter

Now you see the reason we do not do the Auto:~
13-02-2010, 10:17 AM
tonybubble

By the way, are you having to respray the car?[/quote]

Forgot to answer this bit. The body is in good, certainly useable, condition so probably we will only be respraying the front bumper and bonnet (which needs replacing anyway).
13-02-2010, 04:00 PM
colintf

Quote:

Originally Posted by SH4RKY

There are a few Auto MGs in Oz...?

thats also my belief

:cool:
13-02-2010, 05:12 PM
greeners

Auto's in OZ

well I've done a bit of Googling and found this

If you scroll to page 5 you'll see that lot 127 is an auto MGZT 260.

Andy - you might want to make a note of the VIN's for the register
________
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13-02-2010, 05:20 PM
greeners

Quote:

Originally Posted by greeners

Auto's in OZ

well I've done a bit of Googling and found this

If you scroll to page 5 you'll see that lot 127 is an auto MGZT 260.

Andy - you might want to make a note of the VIN's for the register

and it does indeed come back as

VIN:SARRXXLGJ5D000783, MG Rover, Rover 75 V8 and MG ZT260, Class 5.1, 4 door, Saloon, Normal Aspiration, V8, MPi, Petrol, 4600cc, 4 Speed, RHD, Automatic, Model Year: 2005, S/N: 000783
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13-02-2010, 06:13 PM
Keith

Toms silver ZTT in Lituania was an auto
19-02-2010, 06:50 PM
colintf

possibly politically incorrect, but is this any good to you Tony?
http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...ewpost&t=54335

:~
19-02-2010, 07:11 PM
tonybubble

Quote:

Originally Posted by colintf

possibly politically incorrect, but is this any good to you Tony?
http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...ewpost&t=54335

:~

Colin - you should be ashamed of yourself!!

I am keeping an interested eye on it, though.
19-02-2010, 07:12 PM
colintf

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonybubble

Colin - you should be ashamed of yourself!!

I am keeping an interested eye on it, though.

Yeah I know....but....

:~
19-02-2010, 09:26 PM
ColinE

Shame a lovely example too good to break - Tony want to make it three????
19-02-2010, 09:29 PM
greeners

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ragman

Shame a lovely example too good to break - Tony want to make it three????

that would be number 4

007 - development car
700 - Silver MKII from across the water
454 - Black MKII - salvage.....
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19-02-2010, 09:32 PM
ColinE

Never said I could count!!
19-02-2010, 09:36 PM
AndyG

Quote:

Originally Posted by greeners

.....
454 - Black MKII - salvage.....

Is this not a ZTT?

:confused:
19-02-2010, 10:29 PM
greeners

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyG

Is this not a ZTT?

:confused:

I'm guessing the VIN...I know it's a combination of 4's and 5's
________
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19-02-2010, 10:34 PM
tonybubble

Quote:

Originally Posted by greeners

I'm guessing the VIN...I know it's a combination of 4's and 5's

Thought it had been engraved on your soul!!
455 - A close relation to Ragman's.
19-02-2010, 10:40 PM
greeners

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonybubble

Thought it had been engraved on your soul!!
455 - A close relation to Ragman's.

you'd think so wouldn't you....:D
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First-generation ford mustang
19-02-2010, 10:51 PM
tonybubble

Quote:

Originally Posted by greeners

you'd think so wouldn't you....:D

Corin got it to move a few inches in fourth gear today. Engine, though, is sweet as a nut.
19-02-2010, 10:56 PM
ColinE

Bloody hell - hadn't even clicked you had the sistership to mine!
20-02-2010, 07:38 PM
colintf

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonybubble

Corin got it to move a few inches in fourth gear today. Engine, though, is sweet as a nut.

thats good Tony!

:cool:
14-03-2010, 05:27 PM
tonybubble

Behind the scenes, we have made some progress:
Corin has got the TV working, this despite the tuner being in 18" of water for the last few years!! (never let it be said that we don't concentrate on the important issues).
All the electrics including seats work, bar the sunroof (needs a new motor). The IPK shows a mileage of 7000. The all important ECU is present and is marked as experimental not for commercial use - apparently it has RAM rather than ROM.
We have purchased a brand new complete engine and auto box and sundry other bits including rear lights, new slam panel and crash bar, front bumper with headlight wash, door mirrors and a boot spoiler.
The story will continue.......
14-03-2010, 05:33 PM
colintf

so far so good then Tony!

:cool:
14-03-2010, 05:56 PM
ksilver

You seem to be making amazing progress, but as they say, the proof the pudding ...

Hope it continues to go well.
15-03-2010, 01:28 AM
MG mad

Nice project you've got going there :) There are at 2 auto MG 260 saloons here (NZ), along with 2 manuals (1 NZ new, the other imported last year), Jennie's ZT-T, and I believe 3 Rover V8's, one of which is BRG and lives nearby.