Don Allen's 1974 MGB with Buick 215 V8, by Fast Cars Inc.
as published in British V8 Magazine, Volume XVI Issue 1, May 2008
Owner: Don Allen
City: Carrollton, TX
Model: 1974 MGB
Engine: Buick 215 V8
Conversion by: Fast Cars Inc.
Bodywork by: Don Marcott
| Engine: | Buick 215 cubic inch V-8, prepared by D&D Fabrications in Almont MI.
Offenhauser intake manifold and Edelbrock carburetor. Delco-Remy distributor
with Pertronix coversion and coil. Delco-Remy alternator. Billet pulleys.
Stock Buick 215 motor mounts of Fast Cars brackets (these don't require
any sort or torque rod / stabilizer.) |
| Cooling: | aluminum radiator and electric cooling fan (pulling). |
| Exhaust: | Fast Cars fabricated block hugger headers, with silver Jet Hot ceramic
coating. Fast Cars fabricated stainless steel exhaust pipes. As shown
in the photos, the exhaust pipes set closely together in an assymetrical
fashion with both pipes running down the driver's side and exiting
through one common opening in the rear rolled-pan. |
| Transmission: | Borg-Warner T5 5-speed. |
| Rear Axle: | Ford 8" with 3.25:1 final drive ratio, Auburn limited slip differential
and lightweight aluminum carrier. |
| Front Susp.: | Fast Cars front suspension. |
| Rear Susp.: | stock leaf springs. Telescoping shock absorbers. |
| Brakes: | Wilwood disk brakes, front and rear. Residual pressure valves added
to both front and rear circuits. |
| Wheels/Tires: | Chevrolet rally wheels: 15x7 (Camaro) with 4.25" backspacing and
205/55 tires in front, and 15x8 (Corvette) with 4.00" backspacing and
225/50 tires in the rear. |
| Body: | both front and rear bumbers were removed and replaced by small nerf bars
fabricated by Fast Cars, and Don Marcott blended-in the roll pans. Louvered
hood. Door handles removed and replaced by electric solenoids. The trunk
lid was modified to accomodate a LeMans-style (Ascot) fuel cap. Recessed
license plate. In keeping with the Buick theme, Don Marcott installed
NOS '56 Buick fender "port holes", an important feature! Dodge Omni
fender flares. |
| Interior: | tilt steering column with banjo style steering wheel. Stock gauges
(with modified tachometer.) Pontiac Fiero seats with custome black
leather upholstery. |
| Comments: | I wanted to do two things: improve the performance and achieve a
unique look. All of the body work is done in metal - there's no
plastic anywhere in the body. |
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