Steve Carrick's 1974 MGB, with 375 horsepower Ford V8
as published in British V8 Newsletter, Volume X Issue 1, January 2002Photos shown are from British V8 2006, Townsend TN (and more recent modifications).
Owner: Steve Carrick
City: Middleville, MI
Model: 1974 MGB roadster
Engine: Ford SVO 302 V8
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| Engine: | Ford Motorsport (SVO part number M-60070-B40) crate engine. |
| Heads: | GT-40 aluminum heads (SVO part number M-6049-Y302) weigh 22 pounds
each, 25 pounds lighter than similar iron heads. Intake valves: 1.94".
Exhaust valves: 1.54". |
| Induction: | a single 4bbl 625cfm Road Demon carburetor sits on an Edelbrock
"airgap" 7121 aluminum manifold. Throttle cable by Lokar. |
| Cam: | hydraulic roller type (SVO part number M-6250-B303) with intake and
exhaust duration of 284 degrees (224 degrees at 0.050" lift). Intake
and exhaust lift = 0.480". |
| Oil pan: | a rear sump pan was fitted, but the front crossmember required
extensive modification for clearance. Even the rear sump pan on a
Ford has a small front "sump" to allow room for the oil pump drive.
This front sump can cause difficulties in some installations,
interfering with the front crossmember as in this application. |
| Power: | An identically configured engine was tested by Car Craft magazine
recently, and their engine produced 375HP! |
| Water pump: | stock Ford, configured for V-belt operation (with opposite rotation
from the normal serpentine belt drive). |
| Cooling: | Griffen brass construction radiator, designed as a stock replacement
for a '65 Mustang. Spal electric fan in a puller configuration. Note:
car runs way too cold at highway speeds. (150 degrees at 80 MPH.) The
thermostat is a modified Robert-Shaw 180 degree thermostat. The bypass
was opened up to 1/2". Will go back to a stock Robert-Shaw 180 degree
and stock 3/8" bypass opening to try and get the temperature up to
normal. |
| Alternator: | Delco 100 amp, one wire. |
| Starter: | gear reduction type from PA Performance. |
| Wiring: | re-routed to clean up engine bay. |
| Headers: | custom made with 1.50" primaries. Mufflers are chambered, and
48" long. |
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| Transmission: | Borg-Warner T5, installed with a bellhousing from a Mustang.
Fifth gear is 0.63:1. |
| Rear axle: | Ford 8.8", with a 2.73:1 final drive ratio. (I plan to upgrade
to a Ford 9".) |
| Suspension: | (Front) lowered one inch. Currently running a Ron Hopkins
(Bilstein telescoping shock conversion), but will soon upgrade to a
Fast Cars, Inc. front suspension setup. (Rear) lowered one inch.
Composite springs and Koni shock conversion supplied by British
Automotive, Inc. |
| Brakes: | (Front) stock for now, but will be upgraded to Wilwood four
piston calipers and 12 3/4" diameter rotors as part of the Fast Cars
front suspension upgrade. (Rear) stock Mustang as part of the Ford
8.8" axle assembly. |
| Wheels/Tires: | ARE 15x7, with BF Goodrich TA 225R15 tires. |
| Interior: | Fiero seats. Other interior improvements are a future project. |
| Recommendations: | Start with the engine of your dreams! Rebuilding your car later
to achieve your dream will only cost you time and money. |
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