Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

I have a little conundrum and a possible solution id like to run by you cats for ideas.

At the moment, I have the MGB (with a tired engine that needs rebuilding). I also want to start doing a lot more track days and as much as I love the B, it is a slug. Sarah and I both really enjoy using it for 'touring' and it would be a shame to ruin that for track use and still have a relatively slow car. I am also enjoying the couple of track days I have done with the MGs on Track lot - they are good bunch and it is all very civil.

Options:

1. Bomb the B/V8/engine transplant route. some obvious benefits, including being able to continue doing the MGoT days. However, may ruin the car for it's normal duties. i need SPACE for bucket seats and the biggest seats you can fit are way too snug for the motorway driving part.
   2.Buy a BGT V8 for track duties and keep the B. Same benefits as above, and i do know my way around one, now. however, do i really want 2 MGBs?
   3.Buy another car for the track (2002/kit/etc). this again has obvious benefits, but is expensive. i would also not be able to do the MGoT days. i really don't fancy the track days with wankers in m3s and clios*.
   
   

I have (up until the track day at donington) been convinced that a rebuilt basic engine in the b and a 2002 was the way to go. after the track day (the 2nd with MGoT), i am now not so sure. they do about one a month at all of the good tracks and are well organised. i am still very much a novice, so this part appeals.

The possible solution: I spoke to a dude that runs a reputable MG garage who has a MGB GT shell that has been converted to a 130hp1.8 Zetec out of an RS1800 Fiesta. It runs and drives, but the shell is bare. From what i have read, this is the silvertop to have, with better cams, inlet manifold and ecu (it runs everything from the Festiva). There is obviously scope for gains, with exhaust, ecu and itb upgrades possible.

It has all the bits there to convert mine, with no chopping of firewalls or xmembers, and would be available for about 750 beans. the dude could even fit it in a week for me, if i wanted. that would look at about £2-2.5k, for double the hp and a pretty reliable engine with room o improve, if i needed. i could even get a fair chunk of that back selling on all of the bits i pull out.

a worked b series could be at least the top end of that budget and a v8 8-10k. a good bmw 2002 starts at about 5k without any mods for the track.

any thoughts? i am really leaning towards this idea of the zetec. it will be about the same as replacing the engine in it, and give me a significant boost in ponies to improve the track fun as i get more experience with the mg dudes. it will also, presumably, be much better on the annual holiday duties to whitby/scotland/cornwall. there is always the opportunity for the track only car later on down the line

the originality thing doesn't really bother me. i have always wanted it to be a driver, but i am a bit worried it will lose the character of a mgb. oh well, i can always buy another if i miss it that much. i doubt it.

anyone familiar with the zetec conversions to escorts and the like? i am slowly making my way throw the biblioteca de la interweb - but there is wuite a bit to wade though. i'd just like to know what to look for if i go and check out this guys conversion.

right, might be a step closer to this happening.

i spoke to the bloke selling the gt and he is keen, but he would like to sell me the whole car as a package. if he were to convert it, it wouldn't be until well into the spring. i also spoke to the blokes at my mg garage and they think it seems a pretty good idea. they also think that having the two cars side by side for the swap will be useful.

so i think i may soon be the owner of two mgbs, if all goes well. the guys at the garage are cool with me taking a week or two off work and doing as much as i can there to save a bit of cash. i am considering putting my engine in the gt shell and trying to recoup some of the costs by selling it on as a project. i also have truckloads of spares that i will be ebaying too.

now, to go and look at the gt. i hope it works out.