Henry Byrd's 1974 MGB with Chevy 350 V8
as published in British V8 Magazine, Volume XVI Issue 1, May 2008
Owner: Henry Byrd
City: Hampton, GA
Model: 1974.5 MGB
Engine: Chevy 350 V8
Conversion by: owner and his son Christopher
| Engine: | 1969 Chevy 350, bored 0.030" over, 4-bolt mains, steel crank, pink rods,
Edelbrock "Performer RPM" heads, Crane roller rockers, and Pete Jackson
gear drive. Edelbrock "Performer RPM" intake manifold and Holley 750
carburetor. Edelbrock "Performer RPM" cam (for hydraulic lifters. Lift:
0.488" int., 0.510" exh. Duration: 234 int., 244 exh.) Mallory "Unilite"
distributor, MSD 6AL ignition, and MSD coil. |
| Cooling: | Griffin aluminum radiator and aluminum water pump. |
| Exhaust: | Hooker block huggers headers, 2.5" exhaust system, and stainless steel
chambered mufflers. |
| Transmission: | ATI Racing TH-400 full manual reverse valve body, ATI 3000 stall
converter, and Hurst "Quarter Stick" shifter. Custom driveshaft,
3" X 26". |
| Rear Axle: | narrowed 1969 Ford 9" with 31-spline axles. Posi-traction. 3.00:1
final drive ratio (which provides 2400 rpm at 70 mph). |
| Front Susp.: | stock MGB, with "V8" lower control arm bushings. |
| Rear Susp.: | custom 4-link. |
| Brakes: | stock MGB front, Ford rear. |
| Wheels/Tires: | Boyd wheels (15x7 front, 15x10 rear). BF Goodrich "T/A Euro" tires
(205/50-15 front, 295/50-15 rear). |
| Chassis: | 2" tube frame from the front sub frame rails to the back. Tubbed rear
with custom sheet metal (26 gage, from firewall to back of car.)
12 gallon fuel cell. |
| Body: | chrome bumper conversion... except that the bumper bolt heads were
ground off and smoothed, and the steel bumpers were painted body color!
Louvered hood. |
| Interior: | tan leather upholstery. Pontiac Fiero seats. Roll hoop with Diest
4-point safety harnesses. Auto Meter gages. AM/FM/CD stereo system
with speakers in the head rests. |
| Completed: | 1992. (Driven 8120 miles, as of March 2008.) |
| Performance: | 425hp. 1/8 MILE in 6.9 seconds at 105 MPH. |
| Note: | This car was recently sold, for $20,001. |
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