BritishV8 Forum

Here is his youtube video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqkJAAhNMTs

His build is here on ls1tech.com!

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids/1016526-ls1-into-1972-mgb-gt.html

Very cool.

After that first drive in the video, the car went back into the garage for a week or two as I worked out a few things. It reappeared today with a complete interior, a few functioning gauges, a new cooling system and a few other updates.







The next big step is the Rabbit fender flares. I haven't done any real bodywork before so that will be a long process. Since the car's going to be painted a deep, non-metallic black I'm going to have to get it nice and smooth. It's also going to be a challenge getting them wide enough, as they're going to have to sit higher on the fenders than most people's cars because of the wide track. The fenders have been cut out already because the track width requires it - it's not a good look for the car right now although it does look like a racer. Maybe I'll just put some big roundels on the doors until it's time to paint

First, however, comes the debugging. I figure the ride height will probably change and I want to get that nailed before the flares go on.

Performance is "spirited". I don't know the exact horsepower range of the engine because of the new intake and exhaust as well as some light internal modifications, but it'll be between 350 and 400 at the crank. The car currently weighs right around 2200 lbs. Power oversteer has proven to be well within reach.

Hi Keith

I was wondering what mods you had to do to fit the t56.

Dave

Not as much as you'd think. There's a big dent on the passenger's footwell (on a LHD car) that had to be echoed on the driver's side - seen here. It's funny, the MG doesn't use this space at all - the throttle pedal bottoms out before it gets there. I did need more throttle travel for the LS motor so I ended up reshaping the pedal a bit - now it's almost a two-step throttle, one down to the transmission divot and then a second step for the remaining serious power. Kinda like overcoming the springs for the secondaries on a carb.




I also added an access hole in the side of the tunnel so I could fit the reverse lock-out solenoid. It would have been possible to avoid this hole if the solenoid had been deleted, but I've driven T56s with other lockout setups and I like the speed-activated lockout the best.



The shift lever hole had to be opened up a bit to fit the Hurst shifter through, I don't know if that would be necessary with a GM shifter. But the lever ends up in the stock location and is perfectly placed. I didn't even have to modify the carpet on the transmission tunnel, although the stock MG boot won't fit over the shape of the T56 shifter I'm using so the GM part is just stuffed in place right now.

This is a fun build to watch, sure would like to see the car at Townsend, Tennessee this Spring.

Jim

Sorry Jim, I don't think that's liable to happen. That's about 1600 miles from here and I already have a couple of other major road trips booked next year. If it was closer, sure.

Anyhow, I made some progress on the body. I'll post a new thread about this because I know there's always interest in different flares, but the rears are done.