BritishV8 Trivia Contest

mowog1 · January 10, 2009, 08:29:16 PM

OK...First - here's a couple of shots of the MG6R4 found at the Imperial Palace in Vegas in 2005. And a lousy shot of the 1/43rd scale 6R4 that I have in my office (I bought this one off of E-Bay for $0.99)

mowog1 · January 10, 2009, 08:36:18 PM

And now for a TRIVIA QUESTION:

We all know that Ken Costello did his conversions on MGBs.

1) What colour was the body of his first conversion? _________

2) What specific engine did he use and why? _________

3) It was assembled between the months of ______ and _____ in the year _____ .

4) Ken eventually converted over _______ MGBs.

BONUS/TIE BREAKER: What month and day was Ken Costello born (we won't worry about the year). _______________

74ls1tr6 · January 11, 2009, 10:54:46 AM

Can't find what color? The car was from an insurance agent that had damage. OK I will guess on this one to be (B-racing green)

Know the engine and why!---- (ex-Rover/Buick V8)-- Why?He picked up the engine in a friends garage weight was( 318 lbs)

Know the months and year of assembly ---from-- (May) to --(Nov) -- (1969)

Know how many converted---over (200)

Can't find what month born? He was born in the town of Kent, uh! well I guess 1 out of 365 , how about (June)(15)

Best I can do Rick.

MGBV8 · January 11, 2009, 12:47:04 PM

Costello's 1st conversion car was his own & it was red.

mowog1 · January 11, 2009, 04:52:21 PM

1 - red - correct
2 - still not answered correctly
3 - May to November -1969 - correct
4 - over 200 - correct

Bonus....not even close.

Moderator · January 11, 2009, 05:20:53 PM

I thought the "first engine used" was the easy part.

Interestingly, there's a discrepancy on this point in some of the newspaper and magazine reports (probably because "Rover" was more familiar to English readers...) but I believe the MG V-8 Newsletter got it right.

Kent is actually a county, located sorta at the heel of the boot, if you will. It's been called "The Garden of England" and its the birthplace of excellent quality hops for ales. I would guess wildly that Ken may have been born in the town of Bromley. That's where his bungalow was when he built that first car... but to guess a date... ummm. October 15?

MGBV8 · January 11, 2009, 05:24:53 PM

2. Oldsmobile 215

mowog1 · January 11, 2009, 06:18:54 PM

Oldsmobile 215 is correct....but why was it chosen over the Buick/Pontiac?!?!

And no, October 15th is not correct.

74ls1tr6 · January 11, 2009, 08:50:22 PM

2. The Olds engine had a better casting than the Buick/Rover engine? The casting was of a better alloy? The casting was also lighter? (in reference to the water jackets in the block from over heating)

mowog1 · January 11, 2009, 09:18:51 PM

Nope...not in the casting of the block.

Swing and a miss, Steeeerike One.

Nope....not in the alloy used.

Swing and a miss, Steeerike Two.

Nope...not in the weight of the block.

Called third strike....Steerike Three....batter is OUT!

alana · January 11, 2009, 10:08:19 PM

Total guess - because he had one?

74ls1tr6 · January 12, 2009, 12:45:02 AM

2. because he didn't have to widen the engine bay with the Olds engine?

74ls1tr6 · January 12, 2009, 01:24:59 AM

2. The second half of the answer

OK, found this article, this has got to be the answer. The Olds engine has 6 bolts around the combustion chamber, also use a different valve train, had better compression and performance with 829 heads or 534 heads. The 746 heads have low compression ratios???

The Article:

Olds engineers went their own route with cylinder head design, preferring a Chevy small block-like combustion chamber and an extra bolt (six in all) around each cylinder to mount the head. The valve cover was also more conventional looking. (Ken Costello built his first MGB V8 using an Olds engine picked up in Belgium !). The valve train is also different. Old used different heads with the same pistons to produce higher compression ratios. An Olds head will not work on a Buick block because of the extra head bolts. For performance applications, you'll want either 829 heads (10.25:1 C.R. for '61-'62 4 bbl auto and manual cars, '63 4 bbl manual cars), or 534 heads (10.75:1 '63 4-bbl automatics). Two bbl heads (No. 746) have low compression ratios and aren't suitable for any performance work.

mowog1 · January 12, 2009, 08:56:36 AM

Bingo!

I'll let Curtis decide who gets to ask the next question...

BTW...Ken was born on January 6th.

mowog1 · January 12, 2009, 07:39:32 PM

OK...Curtis has not chimed in...so...

Calvin answered two parts of the question first

Carl answered one part of the question a tad bit later..and a partial answer after that

Calvin picked up the balance of Carl's answer...

So I claim Calvin to be the "winner" and he gets to ask the next trivia question.

Thank you to all participants..

MGBV8 · January 12, 2009, 07:50:01 PM

You just struck him out!

I don't have time to play, anyway.

mowog1 · January 12, 2009, 09:30:24 PM

Nope...it was a called third strike; he appealed to the third base umpire who ruled he didn't break his wrist; and the umpire is always right.

74ls1tr6 · January 13, 2009, 10:37:16 AM

OK, Thanks Rick.

Trivia Question #4

The TR6 had a reflector lens that did not meet the requirements of the National Tracffic and Motor Safety Act of 1966. Public law 89-563.

1. The TR6 vehicles manufactured during (month) and (month) , (year) does not meet Class (----------) requirements?

2.What was done for the re-call?

3. Serial Numbers affected from CC(----------) to CC(------------------)?

Bonus Question? What was the campaign number CC(------------) ?

MGBV8 · January 13, 2009, 06:22:36 PM

See what happens when you let Triumph guys play.

))

MGBV8 · January 13, 2009, 06:23:37 PM

Just kidding!!

74ls1tr6 · January 13, 2009, 08:50:21 PM

"You know I had to throw something Triumph in there":-) I did learn about Ken Costello and V8 MGB-/GT on the last questions, kind of interesting. Now I know why there are so many of them in here. There wasn't anyone that I know in history, that put V8's in a Triumph before 20 years or so ago.

Anyone need a hint on the questions??

I thought Alan A would get this one pretty quick!

MGBV8 · January 13, 2009, 10:30:30 PM

QuoteThere wasn't anyone that I know in history, that put V8's in a Triumph before 20 years or so ago.

I'll have to google, err, research that. I take it you don't count factory cars like the TR8 or the Stag.

74ls1tr6 · January 13, 2009, 10:57:09 PM

Yes! was referring to TR6, TR4, TR250, TR3, and Spitfire. Any Triumph that had a 4 or 6 cylinder from the factory.

Anyway , Trivia questions above was the post for a TR6 lens re-call.

Bill Young · January 14, 2009, 10:14:46 AM

I always heard that the Triumphs had so much power they didn't need the V8s nearly as much as the MGs. LOL

Dan B · January 14, 2009, 03:12:42 PM

So true, Bill. When I blew the doors off Jim's MGB with my TR4A, he just had to do something.