Introduce Yourself Here!

[EODTex87]

Hi y'all,

My name is Chris and I am a young guy stationed in California with the USAF. I am originally from Texas and I got the wild idea to start a project car about a year ago. After reviewing several cars I saw a '67 Healey 3000 BJ8 and decided it was the right car for me. I lack experience with auto mechanics, but I am learning quickly in the hopes that I can begin my project very soon. I would like to pick up a "barn find" Healey 3000 and restore it to almost it's exact factory specs with a small tweak or three for performance. I saw the 3000 with the Chevy 454 and almost drooled on my computer. I think for my talents and budget though I should work towards something easier to manage since I want to accomplish as much of the work on the car myself as I can. I will be reviewing posts and advice columns on here to find the best combinations for me on engine choice, and other performance items, but any personal advice would be appreciated. Also I really want to get out to one of y'alls big events despite not having a Healey of my own yet to show off. Looking forward to what I can learn here.

-Chris

[rficalora]

Welcome Chris.  This site is all about engine swaps (and some that came w/v8's from the factory), but the crew here is great and will likely have lots to share.  Do military bases still have auto craft shops?  If so, that's a great resource - access to tools but also expertise.  Also if the air force moves you around every couple of years you'll want to be sure to plan to be at a stage where you can move the car whenever your next transfer comes up - and remember everything takes longer than we plan!

The meet this coming year is in Palestine TX (east of Dallas) so plan a trip "home" & join the meet in one vacation.

[interceptor]

Hey all
I'm Johnny and I'm working on a little different project but hope that I'll still fit in this forum. The car started out as a 1970 Ford Capri 1.6 l four speed. I'm trying to turn it into the '' Last V8 Interceptor '' ( Mad Max movie) and the engine choice was a Rover V8/BW35. It's put together using parts from more than 8 different cars and I'm still looking for suitable parts to finish it but it's in a state now where I can drive it.
I'm looking forward to be a part of this great forum.

[Moderator]

Coooool!  We don't see nearly enough British Fords around here.  Welcome to the forum Johnny!

[flyinlow]

Hi All
I have owned two Spitfires and an MGB in the past but the last one was in 1995
they were all just stock
Just  recently picked up a 1964 MK1 spitfire that I was going to install a northstar v8 in but after taking some measurements and with the northstar being so wide plus having its coolant ports on the back of the engine decided it wasnt worth the effort so I picked up a low mileage fuel injected 5.0 HO and T5 5speed from a 1989 mustang GT that I will be installing instead plus the fact that I was a heavy line tech for ford for over 15 years makes it a no brainer.
Managed to find a fiberglass MK1 GT6 bonnet as well as being lighter than the stock steel bonnet the bulge will give me a little more room and with a custom built upper intake plenum should be able to keep the engine under the bonnet without a scoop
for rear suspension I will be narrowing a 1992 C4 corvette dana 44 rear suspension not sure what I will be doing for front suspension yet but do have some  1984 buick riviera front steering arms and brakes that happen to have ball jounts just about perfectly spaced to adapt to the stock a arms
Allot of your cars and craftsmanship are an inspiration
Kevin
Elko NV

[flyinlow]

Hope everybody had a good holiday season !
 there is allot of good information on this site and I appreciate the efforts put in by the people that created and run it
Thank You
Kevin

[kstevusa]

Welcome Kevin, Belated   Just do not ck here very often.   Great to see another Blue Oval Brit Car.

[flyinlow]

Thanks Kelly
that is a Really nice clean MG  you have, lots of classy details and really clean
It is definitely an inspiration

[howardhogan]

Hello, my name is Howard.  I have a 1977 MGB that I have totally stripped down.  My intentions are to install a Ford 302, T5 transmission, and a Ford 8.8 rear end.  I have recently pulled the rear end from a 1998 Ford Explorer and have found someone here in Salt lake City to narrow it for me.  They also have a set of 3.07 gears they will install which would probably be better than the 3.73 that is in it now.  Any thoughts of the 3.07 with 15" wheels?  I have bought new outer wheel wells and plan to widen the rear wheel well about 2" so that I can fit a larger/wider tire in the rear.  I havent decided yet on either a 3 link or a triangulated four link rear suspension.  I also haven't decided on what to do about the front suspension yet but will probablydo alot of research and then try to struggle through making my own.  There are alot of great looking cars on this site that give me inspiration.

I have attached a photo of what the car looks like now.  I need to get it sand blasted, I have been doing alot of grinding but that is just too much work.

[Bill Young]

Welcome Howard, looks like you're well on your way and have a pretty good idea what you need to do and where to find the information. You'll get a ton of help here, all you have to do is ask.

[Med72]

First of all, this forum is, what I consider a great find.  Twenty-one (21) years ago I had a 74 TR6 and I loved every minute I was driving it.  Two kids later, I have the Triumph fever again.  For years, I have wanted to pick up an old Truimph and restored it right.

I purchased a 1972 TR6 and I plan to totally restore it back to life.  I plan to install a Chevy SB and T5 tranny.  I have read many of the messages from fellow enthusiast and it has been extremely helpful.  I am still debating whether to use a solid rearend or beef up the RIS.

Does anybody have some tips for fabricating a backend frame for a Ford 9" or Chvy 12 bolt?

Great Forum!!!

Med72

[danmas]

Art,

Welcome aboard!

Check this out:  http://www.fastcarsinc.com/chassis.htm

It's set up for a Ford, but I'm sure Ted could modify it for a Chevy.

[flyinlow]

Welcome Howard & Art
I am new here also its good to see more projects starting
Howard, you don't live too far from me,  I am in Elko nv and I am also using a fuel injected ford 5.0 and T5
I was a ford heavy line tech for 15+ years, if I can be any help let me know

[NCtim]

Hello from Asheville, NC.

I'm a British sports car nut. Unfortunately (for my wife), we're empty nest and I've set my sights on an MGB GT V8 conversion. Having done a shoddy job of one in the 70's when I was a teen, I've always wanted to work out the real deal. I've waited 36 years for this, well, not quite . . . I've had a few shots at it in the mean time.

When I met my lovely wife in 1980, I owned a 72 MGB, 57 AH 100-6, 58 MGA, and the odd Fiat 850 and Honda Accord. A new wife and child precluded further ownership of said collection so my early "adult" years I was accompanied by a 78 Honda Accord, 69 TR6 I was restoring (and did, my daily driver for 2 years), and a 78 MB 280 SC.

Building a house required trucks, tools, money, etc . . . and my new business required time and money and time and money, and then all of a sudden my little girl needs a car  . . . and 24 hours later . . . needs another car . . . and four years later goes to college . . . and then . . .

So, such is life and I really enjoy reading and looking at others' conversions here. I just want to do this one correctly and appreciate the wealth of knowledge here. You all are GENIUSES!

Cheers,
Tim

[BlownMGB-V8]

Welcome Tim. Do you have any preconceived notions of the sort of car you'd like to build?

Before you decide for sure you should come to our BritishV8 meet in May.

Jim

[stub]

Hi
I have bought my first V8!
Land Rover Discovery V8 4.0ltr, I work in the industry and spent best part of 14 years in the product development (engine test) of of a well known manufacturer based in warwicksire, now work 'upstream' on all things that affect the cost of ownership, I have worked for the company for 21yrs this year.
My Discovery is an LPG converted with a Landi Renzo multipoint system that was installed at 15K now I am the 3rd owbner at 66K

[NCtim]

Hey Jim,

Wish I could get to Texas in the spring. Hate I missed the Tennessee meet. I've been corresponding with Dan Masters to take a jaunt over the mountain and check his beauty out. His local club has a meet in May that I'm planning on attending. My lovely bride just came home from the hospital after spinal surgery so plans are on slow simmer right now. This was a rather sudden event so my year's plans are going to be in flux. I'm from Texas and any excuse to come "home" would normally be a no-brainer, unfortunately . . . .

As far as preconceived notions, I love Dan's GT, I also love the top down. I want a well behaved, smart handling LBC, sublimely modified with classic looks, power-on-demand and lots of low end torque. I'm not necessarily into max speed but usable power and loping along at 60mph at 1500RPM.
 

Tim

[NCtim]

Hey guys,

just bought a 1996 Land Rover Disco w/ 4.0 V8. Unfortunately it has an AT. Well maintained by the book from the original owner (little-old-lady) and got it for a great price! I thought this over and decided if I bought the entire vehicle I'll be able to get all the EFI management out along with peripherals so I'm not running blind when reinstalling.  AND, I can part out the rest to make the engine pretty much free.

I'm an acquaintance of the land rover dealer here and there's a huge community of offroaders who modify these old horses and he thinks I'll be able to unload the entire thing to the local club for more than I paid. So I guess I'm on my way . . . (a weak woohoo!)

Thanks for your knowledge base and your willingness to help out the people you all inspire.

Tim

[rficalora]

Congrats Tim & welcome.  Hope your wife is recovering well!

[NCtim]

Thanks Rob! She is doing much better. She's got some nerve damage that we hope is temporary. She walked outside yesterday without any assistance. Made me very happy. The home health people here in Asheville are angels!

Tim

[rficalora]

Ashville NC?  I used to have family there.  Beautiful mountain country - at least it was 25yrs ago.  Glad to hear your wife is on the road to recovery.

[Mudhen]

New guy here from Eliot, ME.  Grew up with MGs (my dad had every postwar model) and bought my first Mini in 1987.  Monday will be our 25th anniversary!  In fact, just yesterday I was lying on the ground in a pool of hydrolastic fluid reminiscing about high school...lol.

Currently building an 80-something Mini to rally.  Loving all the incredible stuff everyone here has done - lots of inspiration!

Thanks for the cool site.

Pat

[PG409]

Hi guys, another new one here. I live in Prince George, BC Canada and am just in the process of
acquiring a '62 TR4. A buddy already donated a 302 Ford to the cause.

I have been into hot rodding since 1958, but took a break in 61-63 when I had a TR3 and did some
slalom racing and novice racing at Westwood Race track near Vancouver, BC

I currently have a '63 Chev Impala SS convertible with a 409 (hence my username).
Also have a '52 Chevy coupe with a 283/glide
and a '54 Ford wagon with a 351W/C6

My wife said I need a new project, so..........

Here is a photo of my TR3 about 50 years ago !!!





Thanks

Keith

[MV8]

Hello,

I'm Steve. I have a few thousand posts on locostusa.com with a few different builds, prior to that the miata.net engine swap forum for my 4.3l miata, and prior to that, Pennocks when I built my 4.3L fiero.

I am a Master ASE, FAA airframe & powerplant mechanic, aircraft electronics tech, EPA licensed airconditioning tech, and I've also worked on foreign and domestic motorcycles professionally. I do mig, braze, gas weld and have a small metal lathe for fabricating parts.

Anyway, I was at the Mitty at Road Atlanta over the weekend, and saw a spitfire rolling shell in bad shape for sale. I decided to make what I thought was a low-ball offer of $500 for the shell if they would bring it to my house on their way back to Daytona, about 3 hours out of their way.

I am now the proud owner of a 1977 Spitfire with hardtop and not much else. The previous previous owner had butchered the firewall area to fit a 5.0L Ford and T5, which are gone now. Since I do full know what I am missing, I will be asking silly questions and posting awful pictures.

Since this is not the spot to post those questions, I will reserve those for later.

I have a friend who recently pulled the T5 and 2.8L v6-60 out of his 80 something s10 for an sbc, and he is GIVING me the drivetrain, as he will be moving soon. I pick it up Wednesday. I've built a few v6-60s during the 90s. I think I may have been one of the first guys to stroke a 2.8 with a 3.1 crank. I've also had mpfi fiero injection and a great Holley 2305 progressive on a modified intake (sure miss that one).

Thanks in advance.

[ex-tyke]

Steve, that Spit looks like a good solid conversion candidate - good luck with the build.