I'm Jay, Bodyman 45 years experience.

[JEMRestorations]

45 years in the BodyShop business I've done a lot of cars !
Here's a German car.. ( yeah I know it's not British) I built from a Total :
http://tinyurl.com/lukesZ3

The reason why I'm here is I found a 1977 MGB Roadster... been sitting since 1999 in a climate control garage. Has just 65000 miles!
I plan on painting it ... It has some dents and dings and nicks scratches but virtually no rust

I want to put a ... (I'm thinking aluminum 215 V8 GM Buick Oldsmobile.. I've had a couple of those, I always thought they were pretty good engines) in it .. T-5.. Maybe Ford rear end..  


And if anybody has any question at all about doing body work, I bet I can help!
 So ask away, because I'm sure going to ask all kinds of MGB questions on here !
Thank You

[MGBV8]

Looks good now.  I would do the conversion & drive it, as is.

[JEMRestorations]

Roger that.. But I'm a bodyman and kind of a dumbass perfectionist ..
Car has nicks, dings, and scratches and can't have that..

[BMC]

Jay,

Welcome to the British V8!

If you want headers that fit, motor mounts that are already fabricated for an engine bay that is Tight for any conversion, there are three big conversions:

the GM V6, the BOP/Rover V8, and the Ford V8. All three have there merits, there good for, better for, and best for 'uses'. If you are looking to do 0-60 in around 6 second with an MGB with stock wheel wells and rubber no wider than 225 +/-, then all of them will do well.

If you are looking to meet a price point, acceleration from 75 to 120 to beat some friend in his abc-xyz car, mileage, sound from the engine, or other criteria, then you need to list your criteria and take consideration of what is realistic. I know some that want to do 0-60 and think that a 500 BHP engine in an otherwise stock MGB is going to get them there in 4 seconds. Um- no. Others that want a conversion for less than $2,000 for the regional show they attend- nope. A lower priced conversion than a rebuild- yes but it depends if what you call a rebuild is an actual rebuild or a simple refresh. Look at costs of a conversion, the time it will take, what parts are available from all the various suppliers and if your end goals will be met. Too many start with expectations of this engine will be better than that engine- for example, many think the stock 215 V8 is better than the stock 204 V6. The V6 is quicker in stock form without much for speciality parts to fit in a stock MGB engine bay, and better milage to boot but there is no way that a STOCK 204 V6 or 215 V8 could keep up with a flaming no leaf left unturned Ford V8! So figure out your tooling, time, garage space, budget, likes/dislikes and so on. Build a roadmap, maybe even a list of what you want and ask others here to give their input. Many ideas may spring forth.

-BMC.

[JEMRestorations]

Excellent outline.
Many good points to study on.
Thank you !

[MGB SS]

Jay
Welcome to the British V8
What part of the world do you call home?

[JEMRestorations]

Dayton, Ohio
Home of the Wright Brothers, The United States Air Force Museum & America's Packard Museum.

[MGB SS]

We were just there this summer, were you at the meet?

[BlownMGB-V8]

I'm a little over an hour south of you.

Jim

[JEMRestorations]

Sadly no
 I'm a few months late to this fun party..
 Always A Dollar Late and a day short !

[JEMRestorations]

I see that ..
Florence, YA'LL !
My father was a Kentuckian. Mount Sterling KY...
 Moved to Dayton Ohio though, when fresh out of WWII.

[JEMRestorations]

My motives for building a MGB ROADSTER V8 is simple as uno, dos, tres.

A• Show Car
B• Sound V8 Great
C• Show Car

GM Aluminum V8 ?
Yea Buddy...

Its a story as old as...
A Yankee in the Court of King Arthur~

[BMC]

GM Aluminum V8 ?


LSx....

or BOP/Rover. This is somewhat more authentic but, kind-of not really since I'm sure your not going to bolt a couple of S.U.s on top of it.


You could do as Jim suggests and go for the Buick 300 and then bolt EVERY piece of aluminium you can find on it or do the same to a Ford or Chevy V8. Any of these choices will give you bolt on parts.

If you want to go the LSx route, here is a small bellhousing type installed in the MGB: http://forum.britishv8.org/read.php?2,41895 It 'only' has 300 BHP and another 330 or so numbers for torque.

-BMC.

[JEMRestorations]

No, i meant the BOP / Rover..
It is aluminum...V8
I've had a couple (in the original cars,) I liked them.

[MGBV8]

It's been done many, many times over the years, Jay.  Here' some of them.

http://www.britishv8.org/Photos-MG-Conversions.htm

Sorry we missed ya in Dayton. Tthere will be some conversions at the Dayton British car show August 10, 2019.

https://www.britishcardaydayton.com/

[JEMRestorations]

Is there anywhere I can watch a video(s) on slipping a V8 into a MGB ? I just simply can't find anything that shows things like the motor mounts selected.. and modifications to the transmission mount .. Just a video that is not just a walk around of the car and listening to the cool V8 sound I want to see an actual installation into an MGB or 5 or 10 of them

I actually I tell everybody that I'm a BODYMAN, and not a MECHANIC

(but the truth is, even though I do claim that 100%, ... to be a really good Bodyman, you simply have to be a great mechanic.)

[MGB SS]

I don't know of any videos but the "How it was done" articles on this site have lots of pics and info on how the builder over came obstacles.

As far as the Mechanic vs Body man putting a V-8 in and MGB is more body and fab than it is Mechanical

Actually I think there is a book on putting a BOP in a B

[BlownMGB-V8]

That's true and there are a bunch of threads about it along with photos, both here and on BritishV8.org, as well as related engines.

Jim

[Dan B]

http://forum.britishv8.org/read.php?13,59641
http://forum.britishv8.org/read.php?13,23809

Several in the Project Journals

[WernerVC]

Hi Jay,
I need your help with body work so you are my man. Can I email you with my questions ?
I have a 77 RB and have done some flares on the rear fenders but need help with the front ones and info on sanding and primer .
Can you do mig welding on body. I have an ESAP but not good at welding myself. Too bad you are so far away. I live in Lynchburg VA.