RE: MG ZT-T V8 260: Spotted
Discussion
sxturbo said:
300bhp/ton said:
That's a rather optimistic torque figure quoted 
Lovely cars these, I drove an early purple pre facelift saloon one when they first came out. Superb handling for something so heavy, it really did feel like a dirty great go-kart.
Not as speedy as you'd hope though, sadly the 2v SOHC 4.6 is not Fords finest moment. Wheezy, doesn't rev, not very tunable, physically huge (almost as big as a 60's big block!) and a massively heavy.
JUST DONE A BIT OF RESEARCH ON THE 4.6 2 VALVER, AND THEY ARE PRETTY TUNEABLE FROM THE US http://www.onallcylinders.com/2012/11/09/two-valve...Lovely cars these, I drove an early purple pre facelift saloon one when they first came out. Superb handling for something so heavy, it really did feel like a dirty great go-kart.
Not as speedy as you'd hope though, sadly the 2v SOHC 4.6 is not Fords finest moment. Wheezy, doesn't rev, not very tunable, physically huge (almost as big as a 60's big block!) and a massively heavy.
OVER 100BHP JUST FROM CHANGING THE HEADS :P
Bash Brannigan said:
260 bhp from 4.6 litres? That's an impressively crap specific output.
I don't get this car. To me it's a 10 year old gas guzzling, nippy (as opposed to fast) estate that looks like a rover 75 with a bad body kit.
And unreliable/difficult to get repaired/expensive on some parts/difficult to source some parts.I don't get this car. To me it's a 10 year old gas guzzling, nippy (as opposed to fast) estate that looks like a rover 75 with a bad body kit.
Nick Young said:
Took mine on a track day, mixed it up with Imprezas and Evo's of the time at Castle Combe. I would be quicker on the straights but they left me for dead particularly coming out of corners (to be expected really). Brakes lasted about 3 laps before the inevitable fade, and I'm a light braker.
Also used to go through a set of rears in about 6000 miles on normal commuting, plus 5000(I think?) mile service intervals meant it wasn't a cheap car to run!
Fantastic car though, I was talking about these just last night about how it was in my top three favourite cars I've ever had... I had mine for about 2 years and it was awesome. I misguidedly replaced it with a VW EOS Diesel, which conversely is in the bottom one of all my cars ever!
I din't know that you'd tracked yours Nick!? Also used to go through a set of rears in about 6000 miles on normal commuting, plus 5000(I think?) mile service intervals meant it wasn't a cheap car to run!
Fantastic car though, I was talking about these just last night about how it was in my top three favourite cars I've ever had... I had mine for about 2 years and it was awesome. I misguidedly replaced it with a VW EOS Diesel, which conversely is in the bottom one of all my cars ever!
PoleDriver said:
But because of the 'unique' combination of 3 different manufacturers ECUs and the very limited space above the heads, where they go under the bulkhead, any tuning is very difficult/expensive!
yep your right, but then most tuning these days is difficult and expensive on whatever motor, except the generic remap option.also i thought at the time of release, mg rover had a modifications list that they could bolt on the v8 version of the zt (i may be misguided on this though)
sxturbo said:
JUST DONE A BIT OF RESEARCH ON THE 4.6 2 VALVER, AND THEY ARE PRETTY TUNEABLE FROM THE US http://www.onallcylinders.com/2012/11/09/two-valve...
OVER 100BHP JUST FROM CHANGING THE HEADS :P
edit: sorry for caps, am at work, and there was more than heads but the idea is there
Those heads look interesting. It's says they were new in 2009, which is about the time I stopped looking at these. OVER 100BHP JUST FROM CHANGING THE HEADS :P
edit: sorry for caps, am at work, and there was more than heads but the idea is there
Edited by sxturbo on Thursday 8th August 15:51
That said, the article you linked too says the gains were with a full cam kit, different induction manifold and a host of other bits. And it doesn't say what the actual config was or even if the engine was in a vehicle. And I hate to think how much it would all cost.
kambites said:
So would the more powerful DHOC version just bolt into the MG's engine bay?
Probably, but you'd have to REALLY want a V8 estate - factor in purchase price, engine swap, maybe, clutch, brake, suspension upgrades etc......if you were considering a saloon then you'll have to reconcile with the elephant in the room.....an E39 M5Went to buy one close to me.
Test drove it, very disappointed with the performance, the build quality was poor, the economy was obviously rubbish, and I couldn't find enough redeeming features to get me to part with under £5k for a 40k car.
On reflection, at the price, it was probably a bargain, but I would have always been hankering Fter a supercharger conversion....
Test drove it, very disappointed with the performance, the build quality was poor, the economy was obviously rubbish, and I couldn't find enough redeeming features to get me to part with under £5k for a 40k car.
On reflection, at the price, it was probably a bargain, but I would have always been hankering Fter a supercharger conversion....
PoleDriver said:
And unreliable/difficult to get repaired/expensive on some parts/difficult to source some parts.
Did parts supply really get that bad? Seems like 5 minutes ago since I had mine and supply was fine, although I've just realised it's been at least 6 years since we parted ways (gulp, time flies!!!)How about this delivery miles sleeper 75 instead... Ouch!
http://users.autoexposure.co.uk/vehicle.cfm?Accoun...
http://users.autoexposure.co.uk/vehicle.cfm?Accoun...
TEKNOPUG said:
kambites said:
So would the more powerful DHOC version just bolt into the MG's engine bay?
Probably, but you'd have to REALLY want a V8 estate - factor in purchase price, engine swap, maybe, clutch, brake, suspension upgrades etc......if you were considering a saloon then you'll have to reconcile with the elephant in the room.....an E39 M5Best bang per buck would be a few bolt on mods and 125 shot of nitrous. They do take boost well too. But a blower kit is likely to set you back £4-6k and the stock internals of the motor are only good for around 400-450hp. A built and boosted motor could be good for over 600hp though.
Kyle Fortune said:
How about this delivery miles sleeper 75 instead... Ouch!
http://users.autoexposure.co.uk/vehicle.cfm?Accoun...
Yowser, that's..... optimistic!http://users.autoexposure.co.uk/vehicle.cfm?Accoun...
300bhp/ton said:
Isn't clearance a bit tight with SOHC unit. Suspect a DOHC would need a fair bit of work. These engines are physically massive.
Best bang per buck would be a few bolt on mods and 125 shot of nitrous. They do take boost well too. But a blower kit is likely to set you back £4-6k and the stock internals of the motor are only good for around 400-450hp. A built and boosted motor could be good for over 600hp though.
c£7.5K from Dreadnought last time I checked! Best bang per buck would be a few bolt on mods and 125 shot of nitrous. They do take boost well too. But a blower kit is likely to set you back £4-6k and the stock internals of the motor are only good for around 400-450hp. A built and boosted motor could be good for over 600hp though.
300bhp/ton said:
Isn't clearance a bit tight with SOHC unit. Suspect a DOHC would need a fair bit of work. These engines are physically massive.
Best bang per buck would be a few bolt on mods and 125 shot of nitrous. They do take boost well too. But a blower kit is likely to set you back £4-6k and the stock internals of the motor are only good for around 400-450hp. A built and boosted motor could be good for over 600hp though.
As I say, you'd have to really want an estate, otherwise there are much better options for the spend.Best bang per buck would be a few bolt on mods and 125 shot of nitrous. They do take boost well too. But a blower kit is likely to set you back £4-6k and the stock internals of the motor are only good for around 400-450hp. A built and boosted motor could be good for over 600hp though.
Epic car - my brother had a 04 SE Saloon for a couple of years atound 2006. Had the xpower exhausts fitted which made the car sound fantastic.
yes it wasn't massively fast (but had a decent turn of speed), yes it was wheezy and wouldn't rev, and it didn't handle like a 3 series, but it was very predictable and easy to catch on opposite lock - and that's what made it special, it had bags of character and was great fun to be in and to drive, and in the time he had it was utterly reliable too!
Was known to one and all as George (as in Best) due to its tremendous thirst.
Contemopary tests at the time - Clarkson on Top Gear and Steve Sutcliffe in Autocar raved about them.
yes it wasn't massively fast (but had a decent turn of speed), yes it was wheezy and wouldn't rev, and it didn't handle like a 3 series, but it was very predictable and easy to catch on opposite lock - and that's what made it special, it had bags of character and was great fun to be in and to drive, and in the time he had it was utterly reliable too!
Was known to one and all as George (as in Best) due to its tremendous thirst.
Contemopary tests at the time - Clarkson on Top Gear and Steve Sutcliffe in Autocar raved about them.
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