This is the third article in a series of "How It Was Done" articles about the cars of BritishV8 2012.
<a href="http://www.britishv8.org/MG/KenNicks.htm">
Ken Nicks' 1974 MGB GT with GM 3.4L V6 Engine</a>
This car is presented in its factory-original color: "Mirage." I believe the MG factory only offered this color in 1974. I don't believe I've ever seen another car this color, and probably never will. It certainly is distinctive and alluring, isn't it!
(http://www.britishv8.org/MG/KenNicks/KenNicks-AA.JPG)
Lots of trick features on this one:
(http://www.britishv8.org/MG/KenNicks/KenNicks-AL.JPG)
(Fuel filler hidden under tail light. Body-color bumper modified to fit more tightly to body. Etc.)
Exceptionally "clean" mechanical details too:
(http://www.britishv8.org/MG/KenNicks/KenNicks-BF.JPG)
I'm looking forward to doing another article on Ken's other improved British car... a 1951 Jaguar MkVII V8-conversion!
Ken has the experience and resources to build really exceptional cars because he's in the business.
In fact, his company is our newest BritishV8 vendor sponsor:
(http://www.britishv8.org/Sponsors/EclecticRodsAndRestorations.gif)
Beautiful job. I like the bumper treatments and I would like to see more detail on the hinged tail light gas filler
That's the same Hagen fuel filler I have on my car. I never thought of hiding it behind the tail lights. Reminiscent of a '56 Chevy, a few Cadillacs and 55 Imperial.
I didn't get a better photo. As I understand it, there's a machine screw at the top of the taillamp assembly with a coil spring between the nut and body on the interior side (to help to hold the lamp tight when not adding fuel). At the bottom, there's a pin (inboard) and a snap fastener (outboard.)
Ken does excellent work and is a great friend!
IMG_2419.jpg
I believe that car was at Mad dogs, the car is beautiful and the color is truly unique.
Dave
Ken does do nice work; does anybody know what kind of cruise control he used?
Paul
Looks like the Audiovox one. Another to look at is Rostra.
Very nice touches indeed!
Any idea what Ken used for a fuel filler neck and cap?
Today I had fuel leak out of the cap and blister the paint off the car :-( :-( Since I'm going to have to re-paint the back end of the car, I may as well go with a different set-up to keep it from happening again.
Bill
cap: http://www.haganauto.com/product_p/fdcap.htm
Cool, thanks Curtis!
Bill, he cap requires their filler neck stub (doesn't use a standard cap thread). Check here for the cap w/neck. Also if you go with this, be careful where you put it. I have the same one on my car and the angle of the cap combined with the angle I had to run the neck itself causes a lot of splash back - I can't get the pump's nozzle all the way in.. I have to fill very slowly as a result. I even got one of the McCuff things they sell but it didn't help. Net, mock up what u plan to do and test it @ a pump before u weld it to the car & paint.
Another option is to graft in the door/filler assembly from a salvage yard.
Thanks Rob, I've been doing web searching on filler necks and I see that quite a few of them have a vent tube that loops back to the upper part of the neck. I suppose to help with filling issues, the trick will be to find one that has a fairly tight bend but still allows the nozzel to fit in.
Probably will do some wrecking yard seaching next week to see whats out there. If I come up with something interesting, I'll post it over in the body section!
Bill