Bill Davidson's 1974 MGB GT with GM 3.4L V6 Engine
as published in BritishV8 Magazine, Volume XX Issue 1, July 2012
Owner: Bill Davidson
City: Overland Park, KS
Model: 1974 MGB
Engine: GM 3.4L V6
Conversion performed by: owner
"How It Was Done"
| Engine: | GM 3.4 V6, bored 0.030" over.
Mild aftermarket camshaft.
1.6:1 roller rockers.
Edelbrock lower intake manifold with Classic Conversions Engineering upper manifold (CC-105).
Holley 390 carburetor.
Edelbrock air cleaner.
GM style distributor with electronic module.
Lucas ignition coil.
Accel Super Stock - Spiral Core 8mm spark plug wires.
Classic Conversions Engineering motor mounts. |
| Cooling: | stock size aluminum radiator.
Dual 8" electric cooling fans.
Flex-a-lite fan shroud.
Oil cooler. |
| Exhaust: | Classic Conversions Engineering headers.
2" Y-pipe.
Single Magnaflow muffler. |
| Transmission: | Borg-Warner T5 5-speed (Chevy V8 ratios). |
| Rear Axle: | stock MGB Salisbury axle (open differential and 3.909:1 ring and pinion.) |
| Front Suspension: | stock MGB with polyurethane control arm and anti-sway bar bushes. |
| Rear Suspension: | stock MGB except for Victoria British "rally" rear springs. |
| Brakes: | (master) stock later model MGB (Lockheed) cylinder and power booster, (front) slotted and drilled front rotors with stock MGB calipers, and (rear) stock MGB drums. |
| Wheels/Tires: | VTO Classic 8 15" aluminum wheels.
General Altimax HP (185/65R15) tires. |
| Electrical: | wiring harness kit from EZ Wiring (12 fuses).
Dolphin gauges purchased from EZ Wiring.
Sony stereo (52Wx4).
Delco-Remy alternator. |
| Interior Mods: | changed to 1964 dashboard.
Power door locks.
Power windows.
Ergonomic steering wheel.
Tilt steering column from Flaming River.
Cruise control.
Pull-out cup holder in radio console.
Air conditioning from Nostalgic Air. |
| Body Mods: | custom grille.
MG RV8 fiberglass hood, purchased from Dave Craddock at Preform Resources.
Bumpers removed.
Sebring front and rear valances fashioned from sheet metal.
It's a Snap Wire and Cable headlamps.
LED front turn signals.
Shaved side marker lights.
Side (belt line) trim removed.
Early MGB taillights.
Shaved back-up lights.
Fuel filler relocated to behind custom/recessed license plate mounting.
Hot Rod (satin) black paint with hand-painted red pinstripes. |
| Comments: | Blackwood Labs air spring front suspension is the next planned upgrade. |
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Engine Installation
GM 3.4L V6, bored 0.030" over, featuring a mild aftermarket cam and 1.6:1 roller rockers.
Edelbrock intake manifold with Classic Conversions Engineering upper manifold.
Stock later model MGB (Lockheed) brake master cylinder and power booster.
Holley 390 four barrel carburetor.
Classic Conversions Engineering motor mounts and exhaust header.
Flex-a-lite fan shroud.
Left to right: air conditioning receiver dryer, condenser, and aluminum radiator.
Oil cooler.
Edelbrock air cleaner.
GM style distributor with electronic module, Lucas coil, and Accel Super Stock spark plug wires.
Air conditioning compressor.
The electric choke mechanism on Holley's 390 carburetor.
Suspension
Pretty much stock front suspension.
Red polyurethane bushes on the lower control arms and the anti-sway bar.
Drilled and slotted front brake rotors.
Basically stock rear suspension except for uprated and lowering leaf springs.
Single Magnaflow muffler.
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Interior
Flaming River tilting steering column.
The pushbutton at the end of the turn signal stalk is the high-beam switch.
Dolphin tachometer (0-10,000rpm) and speedometer (0-140mph).
Dolphin "Quad" instrument: fuel level, engine oil pressure (0-80psi),
coolant temperature (100-250F), and voltage (8-16 Volts).
Uncommonly subtle air conditioning controls. Note also the pop-out cupholder.
Gear shifter fell right where MG put theirs. Note power window switches.
The drivetrain installation doesn't encroach at all on the pedal box.
Bill Young installed the EZ Wiring 12-fuse wiring harness.
Various used MGB parts for the restoration came from Joe Blackwood at Joe's British Parts.
Exterior
Hot Rod satin black paint.
MG RV8 style fiberglass hood, purchased from Dave Craddock at Preform Resources.
Don Bonar provided help with the bodywork. Here: deep-section, faired-in front valance.
Ford "V6" badge.
Scott Blaine of Kansas City, Kansas hand-painted some classic pin stripes and flourishes.
"It's a Snap Wire and Cable" headlamps take H4 halogen bulbs. They also have LED turn signals
built in! (The LEDs are in the bottom inch or so of the 7" diameter bulb assembly.)
Five lamp "Flush Mount LED Rod Light" assemblies from TaillightKing.com are wired
in parallel with the turn signal lamps which are integral to the headlamps.
Putting a leaf screen across the cowl vent is a big improvement from stock.
MG offered this style of mirror in chrome or flat black.
Radio antenna.
Bill moved the MGB filler pipe to the center, and then used small
cabinet hinges with a magnetic latch to mount the license plate.
Early-model MGB taillights give a more streamlined appearance.
VTO Classic 8 15" aluminum wheels.
General Altimax HP (185/65R15) tires.
Archive Photos
"Before" photo: Bill's GT as purchased in 2005. (Photo by Bill Davidson.)
An in-process photo from February 2010. (Photo by Bill Davidson.)
