Mikel Moor's 1978 MGB with 1964 Buick 300 V8
Owner: Mikel Moor
City: Angola, IN
Model: 1978 MGB roadster
Engine: Buick 300 V8
| Engine: | 1964 Buick 300, 4bbl high compression model, Carter 500 cfm carburetor, Crower cam
& lifters, double roller timing chain, high volume oil pump, Pertronix ignition |
| Cooling: | cross-flow Griffith aluminum radiator |
| Exhaust: | MG V8 tube manifold, Jet-Hot coated, custom dual exiting same side |
| Bellhousing: | 231 Buick V6, bolts to 300 block |
| Clutch: | 10.5" Borg&Beck clutch |
| Transmission: | Borg-Warner T5 (1988 Camaro V6) |
| Rear end: | 1979 Chevy Monza Spider, 2.93:1 gears with Posi, narrowed 3" |
| Suspension: | Fast Cars Inc. (front), tube shocks, urethane sway bar bushings (rear) |
| Brakes: | vented rotors and Wilwood 4-pot calipers (front), 1982 Trans-Am discs (rear), hydraulic parking brake |
| Wheels: | Prime |
| Instruments: | Stewart-Warner in mahogany dash inlay |
| Notes: | louvers in hood for heat extraction, RV8-style hood bulge, welded &
filled body seams, back-up lights, side marker lights, & locks. Power antenna, chromed
windshield frame, chrome-bumper conversion, interior reupholstered in dove grey, Fiero seats
(with headrest speakers) |
New cowl induction system (installed in 2011.)
A new fiberglass hood from Preform Resources was the basis of this development.
(Previous rear-entry air cleaner.)
Mil-Spec battery disconnect switch
Previously Published Information
The following "How It Was Done" article was originally published in British V8 Newsletter, Volume 4 Issue 2.
It's reprinted for historical reference here to illustrate how almost all of the specifications have changed.
Owner: Mikel Moor
City: Angola, IN
Model: 1978 MGB roadster
Engine: Buick 215 V8
| Engine: | 1963 Buick 215, factory 4-barrel, Crower cam and lifters, Carter 500 AFB carb |
| Bellhousing: | stock Buick dual bolt pattern |
| Flywheel: | McLoad steel aftermarket |
| Clutch slave cylinder: | Quartermaster internal (hydraulic throw out bearing) |
| Transmission: | Borg-Warner T-50 5 speed |
| Rear end: | 1979 Chevy Monza Spider, 2.93:1 gears with Posi, narrowed 3" |
| Brakes: | stock MGB (front), 1982 Trans-Am discs (rear) |
| Tires/Wheels: | Front - Prime wheels 14x6 with MGB offset, Goodrich "Radial Touring" 185x70x14 tires Rear - Prime wheels 15x7 with proper offset & 5-bolt hubs, Goodrich "Radial Touring" 195x65x15 tires |
| Notes: | I'm happy to say that my V-8 is done! So far there have been no surprises after about 500 miles. What a ride! It was all worth it. The color is '96 Ford Sapphire Blue Metallic. The headers were Jet-Hot coated for heat resistance. I made my own tube-shock conversion, in the rear, using Monroe Matic Plus shock absorbers. The car has also been totally re-wired using a "Painless Wiring" fuse block mounted on the passenger kick panel. I used a marine-type distributor that uses two coils. Each coil fires four cylinders, thus allowing me to use the stock 4-cylinder tach. (Kurt Schley commented: Mikel sent a photo of the car, just gorgeous! He did not mention the louvered hood which adds a nice touch to the car. Unfortunately, the color photos do not convert to B&W printing very well. I want one of those distributors too!) |
