Issue link: http://grassrootsmotorsports.epubxp.com/i/501675
HOW TO: ENGINE SWAPS STEP 1: FIND THE RIGHT MATERIALS The MGB engine mounts are located at the front of the engine, while the Miata's are lower and toward the middle of the block. We decided to make a cradle that bolted the new engine to the MG's unibody subframe. Measuring the width of the sub- frame rails told us that a piece of 3x3-inch square tubing would work for the subframe mount once we cut off one wall. STEP 2: START A CRADLE PATTERN Since we're trying to make this a single-donor swap, and since we don't like having to engineer anything that the factory already did well, we chose to use the stock Miata rubber engine mounts. First, we bolted a short piece of 2x2-inch steel to each mount for use as a locator for our paper patterns. Then, we mounted the U–the piece that we created in the previous step–to the subframe. Now we could start to make a pattern for the next part of our cradle. File fold- ers make great paper patterns for fabrications, so we cut some 2-inch strips and got started. Magnets held the pattern in place while we worked. 1 2 Grassroots Motorsports 137