Reg Kennedy's MGB V8's
as published in British V8 Newsletter, Volume XII Issue 2, May 2004by: Greg Myer
Reg Kennedy is a Brit who moved to the U.S. about 12 years ago. He and his brother
raced MGB's in England. Reg also did 10 or 12 V8 swaps over there, thus he has
different perspective on these cars than most of us.
I met Reg when visiting my parents. I was out walking the dog and saw an MGB in a
driveway down the block, so I stopped in to introduce myself. At that time Reg had
a 2.0 Liter MGB 4-cylinder engine in his car (a rubber-bumper car that he converted
to chrome bumpers). This was a very strong motor that he built with Cosworth pistons,
etc.
He had gotten hold of a Buick 215 and it was in the machine shop at the time. On my
next visit to my folks, Reg said he needed some sort of rear for the swap. He had
used MGC rears in the past, but they were hard to come by in the States. I knew of
a postal Jeep that was available. I checked it out and it was a Dana 44 with 3.07
gears. I got it, but it didn't seem to be a posi. On the next visit to my folks we
swapped and were both happy.
A few months went by and we went back to visit my folks (they like all the visits,
but why was I always wandering off with the dog? Surely, she didn't have to go out
that often!) Anyhow, Reg had the swap completed. We went for a ride. Lo and behold,
the rear turned out to be a posi and Reg loved it. None of the MGC rears he had used
were posi and it made a huge difference!
We went out on rain soaked roads. Light car, lots of torque: a recipe for trouble?
Nope! The car handled it wonderfully! I didn't feel the least bit uneasy even though
he pulled some gears. The car handled great! Reg says the posi makes the car better
than the others he had built.
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Reg gives quite a bit of attention to detail. One area of concern is the larger brake
area in the Dana rear. Reg obtained an adjustable proportioning valve to deal with
this potential problem. It works well, but he still wants to improve it more.
At first he used a 4-barrel carburetor, as it was available, but on a trip back to
Merrie Olde England to visit family, he picked up an original SU set up. He says
there's not much difference, horsepower-wise. He knows the SU's and likes them.
With the Rover 5-speed, it makes things more authentic. He's also upgraded from a
stock hood to one from an MGC. Reg is well known in the Philly area as he's a member
of the MG Car Club there. A fellow member got the 2.0 MGB motor that had been in his
car, and if you don't have a V8...keep your distance or he'll show you up. It's strong!
Reg has a British Car shop in Norristown, PA where he does all sorts of wonderful
things with all makes British. That's where the pictures were shot, so some may be
a bit dark. We'll try to get more on the next visit to my folks. He is fabricating
motor mounts to swap Chevy 60 degree V6's into the MGB without cutting anything.
His yellow, rubber bumper V6 is getting a quick exhaust weld and would be out on the
street later the same day. His friend's white MGB is in the middle of a V6 swap too.
I can't wait to my get a ride in one of these, just so I can report to the Newsletter,
of course. (Editor's Note: It is the selflessness of devoted readers like Greg that
make this a great publication. Likewise, I've had to repeatedly explain to my wife
that I don't WANT to go to the Import Show at Carlisle, but I MUST go, for the sake
of the Newsletter.)
