MG Car Repair: MG engines, torque curve, mgb gt

Question
Howard: Would you be so kind as to tell me if it is possible to use an alternate modern small 4 cylinder engine and drive train to replace engine and transmission in an MG 1973-1978?

Answer
Hi Tom,
There are many conversions done on MGs, both MGB and Midgets. However, if you are talking about a "Bolt In" conversion, there may be one somewhere but I don't know of any. John's Cars in TX has conversion kits for several British cars, so you might check with them to see what is available.
I am presently doing my own conversion (Olds V-8)to an MGB GT but I would not recommend doing it the way I did mine.
I can understand converting to a V-6 or V-8 but I can't think of many 4 cyl. engines that will out perform the "B" 1800 engine.(if you are talking about an MGB) You can easily find higher horse power rated engines but the torque curve on most everyone I looked at had all that horse power at an extremely high RPM and then required a 5 or more speed box to be of any use. And most of those had a poor torque curve.
Take a look at what John's Cars has to get an idea what is the easy way to do it.
Howard