Rob Ficalora's '76 MGB roadster with Ford 302

[rficalora]

Owner:  Rob Ficalora
City:  Cypress, TX
Car Model:  '76 MGB
Status:[/U]  Work in progress... 4yrs into my 2 ½ year project!

Engine:  Ford 302, Aluminum GT-40 heads, E303 cam
 
Transmission:   '94/95 Mustang T5 [Input shaft/bell housing are 1" longer than typical 5.0L Mustangs.]
   - 3.53 1st gear
   - 1.93 2nd gear
   - 1.33 3rd gear
   - 1.00 4th gear
   - 0.68 5th gear

Clutch
   - Ford Motorsports "king cobra" clutch
   - Stock MG Clutch master
   - '56 Ford F100 clutch slave

Cooling:  Aluminum cross flow, 19" tall x 18.25" wide
 
Exhaust:  Steve Carrick headers to H balance tube to 52" chambered exhaust to dual tips on each side.  Headers are bright silver ceramic coated (e.g., JetHot but done locally) & rest of exhause is powder coated a flat olive drab (the least expensive color they had since it doesn't show).
 
Rear Axle/Rear Susp.:  Todd Budde custom IRS with '96 Nissan Skyline differential [same R200S case as Nissan 240SX] 3.54 gears, viscous limited slip; Outer CV yokes are 88-97 S-10 4x4; hubs are same S-10 (non-ABS); Chevy 5x4.75" lug pattern; bushings are Pete & Jakes HD Black urethane.  Shocks are QA1.  Drive shaft was made locally
 
Front Susp.:  Ted Lathrop IFS
 
Electrical:
   - EZ Wiring 21 circuit harness
   - Guard Dawg keyless ignition
   - Electric windows
   - Electric mirrors (Crysler Crossfire)
   - Remote control for shaved door solenoids
   - Vintage Air A/C

Brakes:  
  - (master): Stock MGB non-servo dual circuit
  - (front):     Wilwood 11.75" rotors, Dynalite calipers
  - (rear):      88 Corvette rotors, '94 Camaro Z28 calipers (w/mechanical e-brakes)
 
Wheels/Tires:
   - (front):  American Racing 427P – 15x7 w/3.5" backspace; Falken ZIEX ZE-912 205/55/15
   - (rear):   American Racing 427P – 15x8 w/4.5" backspace; Falken ZIEX ZE-912 225/50/15

Body Mods:  TONS!!!
   - Modified firewall to clear heads on 302 with motor further back/lower
   - Front rubber bumper to chrome bumper conversion
   - Chrome grill with stainless wire insert
   - Modified oil cooler shelf to move radiator & A/C condenser further forward
   - Radiator support fabricated further forward
   - Omni Front flares
   - Omni Rear flares (modified to extend them a bit wider)
   - Shaved front turn signals, side markers, back-up lights, fuel filler, door handles, locks, antenna
   - Flush fuel filler door installed on right side behind flare
   - Modified battery shelf to make clearance for shocks on Todd's IRS [mine was the 1st one using the basic frame he uses now but I think he's modified how the shocks tie in so this isn't necessary any more]
   - Modified the battery access door (required with the mods for the shock clearance)
   - Welded external/beaded seams
   - Centered fuel tank
   - Early style tail lights
   - Sebring rear valance
 
Interior:
   - Padded dash to early steel dash conversion
   - Modified the square tube that runs behind the dash & moved the center console brace to make room for a Vintage Air Gen II Mini A/C evaporator box
   - Miata seats plan to recover using simulated ostrich or gator
   - Body colored dash
   - Autometer HotRod Designer Black gauges
   - Planned: GPS/Stereo in the console, etc.

Paint
   - LizardSkin sound and heat control on the bottom of the car, the cockpit, the trunk, & heat control on the under side of the hood.
   - Paint is a GM color -- Merlot Jewel Metalic (GM: 79U; PPG: WA517Q).  It's used on everything frrom Saturns to Hummers.

Here are some pics...

Engine:  Ford 302, Aluminum GT-40 heads, E303 cam; Will have Vintage Air Front runner polished pulleys, finned valve covers & air cleaner, etc...


Cooling:  Aluminum cross flow, 19" tall x 18.25" wide



Rear Axle/Rear Susp.:  Required a few mods like flares, moving shelf in trunk back 1", and making room for shocks...






Wheels/Tires:


Body Mods:  TONS!!!
   - Modified firewall to clear heads on 302 with motor further back/lower

   - Front rubber bumper to chrome bumper conversion
Pics to come
   - Chrome grill with stainless wire insert
Pics to come
   - Modified oil cooler shelf to move radiator & A/C condenser further forward

   - Omni Front flares

   - Omni Rear flares (modified to extend them a bit wider)


   - Shaved front turn signals, side markers, back-up lights, fuel filler, door handles, locks, antenna
Pics to come
   - Flush fuel filler door installed on right side behind flare [work in progress]

   - Welded external/beaded seams

   - Chrysler Crossfire mirrors -- reinforced door skins to door bracing to support the weight of the mirrors without door skins cracking...


   - Centered fuel tank
Pics to come
   - Early style tail lights
Pics to come
   - Sebring rear valance
Pics to come
 
Interior:
   - Padded dash to early steel dash conversion




   - Modified the square tube that runs behind the dash & moved the center console brace to make room for a Vintage Air Gen II Mini A/C evaporator box - removed the metal support & flipped it around so flat side is at the back... Gen II Mini slides in behind & then up to insall/remove...


   - Miata seats plan to recover using simulated ostrich or gator
Pics to come
   - Lots more plans like body or accent colored dash, Autometer HotRod Designer Black gauges, GPS/Stereo in the console, etc.
Pics to come
 
Electrical:
   - TBD – considering Painless Wiring & EZ Wiring 18-21 circuits
Pics to come
   - Electric windows
Pics to come
   - Remote control for shaved door solenoids
Pics to come
   - Vintage Air A/C

Body work and Paint is being done by a local shop in Houston...

Car loaded up to take to the body shop...


Fender flares blended in...


Cleaned up dash & cockpit with LizardSkin applied...


LizardSkin under the car; semi-gloss black on the under carriage.  Looks like they tried to save some paint by only painting the inner 1/2 of the wheel wells body color??  May have them re-do that.  Either all black or all body color seems to make more sense to me.


1st application of body color -- Engine bay.  They painted the engine bay sides of the frame rails with LizardSkin & black over that.  That'll be removed & the rails will be body color...

[Moderator]

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