Bob Edgeworth's 1972 MGB with Rover 3.5L V8
as published in British V8 Newsletter, Volume XI Issue 3, September 2003
Owner: Bob Edgeworth
City: Richmond, VA
E-mail: MGBob25 @ aol.com
Phone: 804-270-7853
Model: 1972 MGB Roadster
Engine: Rover 3500 SDI
Conversion performed by: Owner
| Engine: | 1981 Rover SD1 3.5L V8. Crower 50230 cam, 0.445" lift on intake, 0.048" exhaust.
Duration at 0.050" lift = 202 degrees intake, 210 degrees exhaust. Lobe separation
angle of 108 degrees. Engine has been bored 0.030", 10.5:1 compression ratio pistons,
completely balanced and blueprinted. |
| Intake: | Lucas air flow electronic fuel injection system. Cable throttle linkage. K&N
air filter. |
| Engine Electrical: | Early model YM distributor reworked with transistorized ignition. |
| Drivetrain: | Rover 5-sp from a Rover 3500 SD1. Gear ratios: 1 = 3.32, 2 = 2.09, 3 = 1.4,
4 = 1, 5 = 0.83. Rover clutch and throw-out bearing is used, along with an
MG master cylinder and a Triumph slave cylinder. Flywheel and bellhousing are
both Rover. |
| Cooling: | An aluminum V-belt Buick water pump, with an MGB V8 radiator and twin electric
fans provide cooling. A twin fan setup from a '77 MGB is used in a pusher
configuration, controlled by an adjustable thermostat set at 190F. The engine
thermostat is a 170F unit. The engine never runs hot. |
| Exhaust: | RV8 headers feed a pair of glass-paks. 2.25" pipes exit in front of the rear
wheels. |
| Rear Axle: | Ford 8" from a '73 Maverick, 3:1 ratio. MGB outer housing tubes were used with
Ford truck axles re-splined to fit the MGB hubs. |
| Front suspension: | Lower control bushings are MGB V8 items, along with a 7/8" sway bar. |
| Rear suspension: | Composite springs and traction bars. |
| Brakes: | Rear brakes are stock. Cross drilled rotors, MGB V8 brake pads, and stainless
steel brake hoses on the front. Silicon fluid is used. |
| Wheels/Tires: | Michelin XSE 195/60/15 tires are mounted on 6.5X15 Panasport wheels. |
| Interior: | Stock. |
| Body: | Stock. |
| Electical: | A 100 amp Motorola alternator, and a Weber gear reduction starter. |
| Cost: | $6500. (All work except the machine work on the engine was done by the owner.) |
| Completed: | September 15, 2000. Driven over 6,000 trouble free miles since. |
| Performance: | Not yet tested. Car has lots of power and gets 32MPG! |
| Bob's Advice: | Do a lot of research, talk to someone who has done a conversion. |
