John Mangles's 1958 MGA with Buick 215 V8 Engine
as published in British V8 Newsletter, Volume XIV Issue 2, August 2006
Owner: John Mangles
City: St. Charles, MO
Model: 1958 MGA
Engine: Buick 215
Conversion performed by: John Mangles ("The MG Doc")
| Intake: | stock Buick manifold, Edelbrock 500cfm carburetor, custom ductwork to K&N filter. |
| Engine Electrical: | Delco-Remy alternator (from a GMC Astro van), stock Buick ignition and starter systems. |
| Cooling: | MGB radiator, with replaced (high efficiency) core, over-sized ports, etc. |
| Exhaust: | block hugger headers and custom exhaust. |
| Transmission: | Borg Warner T5 5-speed, with GM hydraulic slave cylinder. |
| Rear axle: | Volvo 240 (narrowed about 5 inches), and limited slip differential. (Editor's note: the Volvo 240 rear axle is a Dana 30.) |
| Driveshaft: | custom (1/2 Volvo / 1/2 GM). |
| Front suspension: | stock MGB. |
| Rear suspension: | stock MGA. |
| Brakes: | MGB brake/clutch master cylinder assembly, MGB disc brakes (front), Volvo disc brakes (rear). |
| Wheels/Tires: | Minilite (15" x5.5") with Toyo 300 Ultra tires. |
| Other: | custom made wire harness, MGB gauges, MGB windshield wipers (with two speed motor, cleverly controlled by an MGA headlamp switch and a relay!), louvered hood, stainless steel mesh grille, heated seats, lumbar supports, cruise control, Offenhauser aluminum valve covers. |
| Completed: | August 2005. |
| Miles Since Conversion: | approximately 10K (as of the British V8 2006 meet) |
| John's Comments: | "This car was built with mostly stock/shelf components, so if it breaks on the road I can get parts at AutoZone!" |
Please support the sponsoring companies who make BritishV8 possible, including:
Custom Hood Louvers and Stainless Steel Mesh Grille
Rigid Copper Pipe in lieu of Radiator Hoses -
Bleeder in Upper Pipe for Purging Air from Cooling System
John Hammer-Formed this Intake Duct out of Thin Steel
John Shows how an MG Badge Hides the Air Cleaner Removal Nut
Wrinkle-Finish Paint Provides a Finished Appearance
John Worked with a Local Paint Supplier to Formulate this Mysterious Deep Aubergine (Eggplant) Color
Custom Dashboard
Volvo Disc Brakes can be Spotted Behind John's Minilite 8-spoke Wheels
