David Griffith's 1977 MGB with Rover 3.5 V8
(originally published in British V8 Newsletter, Volume 6 Issue 2)
By: David Griffith
City: Houston TX
Model: 1977 MG MGB
Engine: Rover 3.5 V8
How It Was Done
| Engine: | 1981 Rover SD1 3.5L. Balanced, blueprinted, polished inner block, ported and polished heads,
cam grind from The Wedge Shop, 10.5:1 compression, lightened flywheel, Holley 450cfm carburetor,
Offenhauser intake manifold, Crane HI-6 ignition. |
| Transmission: | 1981 Rover SD1 5-speed. Rebuilt twice. Note! Do not tow even a mile with driveshaft in place,
transmission will seize! |
| Bellhousing: | 1981 Rover SD1.
|
| Clutch Slave: | 1981 Rover SD1.
|
| Clutch: | 1981 Rover SD1. |
| Flywheel: | 1981 Rover SD1. |
| Exhaust: | MGB RV8. (Block hugger type hit steering shaft.) |
| Brakes: | cross-drilled rotors. |
| Wheels/Tires: | 14" Datsun 280ZX wheels with 195/60 tires. |
| Suspension: | fiberglass rear springs (are great and light!), Panhard rod (British Automotive,
rebuilt shocks, factory rear sway bar w/ nylon bushings, chrome bumper front crossmember,
negative camber A-arms, MGB-GT V8 front springs, 3/4" MGB-GT V8 front sway bar with nylon bushings. |
| Cooling: | RV8 radiator, stock electric fans, Buick V6 water pump, Chevy V-8 billet pulley. |
| Rear End: | stock 3.9:1. Will put in 3.07:1 once I have another $1000 handy. I want to keep this as much MG as possible,
so U.S. rear end is not an option. |
| Instruments: | tach converted to 8 cylinder (Glen Towery.) |
| Conversion By: | owner in 10' by 25' storage unit... what a pain in the #@$%&$#! |
| Sources: | D&D Fabrications, The Wedge Shop (great engine source), Glen Towery, Bob Hyclack.
|
| Recommendations: | Don't use set back A/C style engine mounts if you use chrome bumper crossmember.
Send engine to a specialist, it will be most cost effective and save you time aas well as running around.
I recommend The Wedge Shop (508) 880-5448. I got good price on parts and labor for the heads I sent them.
PJM Motors (England) has a great RV8 interior, complete for $1500.
|
| If Done Again: | NEVER two Rover 5-speed ANY distance with driveshaft in as trans will seize.
My checkbook is now $300 lighter. Again, if you use the chrome bumper crossmember
and rearward engine location, be prepared to do a lot of fitting.
|
| Conversion Cost: | $16,000, excluding original car.
|
