BritishV8 Forum

Welcome to the British V8 forum Rodney
sounds like you have some fun toys, I also have a Triumph Sprint ST along with other unusual toys
I am in elko area which is about 300 miles east of reno so it could be a day trip to visit

My names Eric. I'm from Oklahoma. I drive a 1975 MGB. I have had it for about 9 months and I love it. It has a Chevy 4.3 v6  that makes this car scoot. I just recently took the front and rear bumper off and I'm going to be buying a front and rear valance for it. Not sure where yet.

My name is Werner and I am not new to this forum as I have asked some questions.
I have a 1977 RB that I bought in 1988 with 75K on the odometer. For the next 10 years I put about 20K miles on the car as my daily driver winter and summer from Canada to Florida and from Virginia to the mid west. In 98 the 4-banger was tired and I came across the V8 newsletter from Kurt Schley. That gave me the idea to install a  Rover 3.5V8 with Rover 5 speed gear box. Drove another 50K until I decided to make the big step to EFI. Been working on and off at this project and will start a project write up in the project forum soon. Body has the normal typical rust under the doorsills and rear fenders so lots of work going on in that area.

Hello all,

I just found this site yesterday and I am thrilled. I have a 1976 Jaguar XJ6L although the 6 is now a Chevy small block V-8 350ci mated to a TH400 tranny.

I am currently replacing the rack and pinon and plan a road trip for right after. I will post about the trip.

I'm in New Mexico, anyone near here?

Scott

Welcome Scott!

Hello;Found the site a little while back,while looking for V8 MG TD info.I aquired a 52 in spring in pieces.Was told it had a small block chevy back in the day.Although the radiator modifications makes me think it had a ford.I am planning to drop,or force in a 283 with a 700R4 overdrive,with a rear end from a 62 chevy nova.Rear was with the car.I also just picked up a 65 MGB for the front suspension,cheapest way I could find to upgrade to disc brakes on the front.I sure hope that swap goes easy.This whole build has to be done on a budget with ZERO balance to work with,so it will take some time.
Pic isn't much to look at.Time to browse the message boards.
Scott

Hi,

I've been lurking here for a long time, because I find many of the things you do quite interesting.

I don't have a British car at present, although I've had three big Healeys in various stages of disrepair, one of which, the 100 had a V8. It was the smallest of the small block Chevys, the one before the 283, attached to a 2-speed powerglide transmission. Unfortunately, it was a real mess, a terrible cobble job and it made me leery of swaps for a long time afterwards.
I used to have a MGB too. A very early banjo axle with the A gearbox and the three bearing crankshaft. Bought it for $100 and run the stuffing out of it after changing the clutch and lighting the valve train. Despite its battered state it impressed me because of its ridged chassis and very accurate steering.

I'm especially interested in the suspension modifications but most of what you guys do wouldn't get past the 'contrôle technique' here in France! Still, I enjoy reading, theorizing and dreaming.

Stan

Hello all

I live in England and have had the mgbgtv8 for 30years.During that time we have constantly developed it into the car it is today.I have always been into Motorsport and first competed in hill climbs and sprints progressing to the circuit later.The best way to view the car is by viewing the website I have just set up.
regards
 Www.johnwilsonracing.com

Regards
John Wilson

Howdy,
I'm from Albuquerque, NM. My current project is a 3.9 Rover/Muncie 4 speed combo in a 1928 Ford Sport Coupe. In looking for info on the engine I found this "place", I've already learned ALOT !! My plan is to make the Rover motor look like a Buick 215. I want the whole car to look like a circa 1965"ish" build.
Anyway, I'm learning/reading everything I can. Thanks for being here !

Gary  aka classic gary

Hello fella's and ladies, wanted to introduce myself- I'm the "newbie" on the block.  My name is Marty Johnson and I've owned a 1977 MGB for several years.  I made a rotisserie out of some steel and I've redone all floor boards, trunk, shocks and most all rubber bushings, the electrical is about half done.  When I bought the "B" I pulled off the carb and cleaned, tweaked a couple things here and there and fired it up and drive it for about 3 miles.  Ran decent, no smoke, only 53,000 miles so I pulled the engine and set it aside while I tackled the under carriage, floors, trunk, body panels, paint, switched over to wire wheels and the plan is for a chrome bumper conversion so I added the little do-hickies under the rear tail lights, picked up a laycock overdrive tranny, drive shaft, etc.  As I worked on the electrical it was time to put the engine back in and i decided to do a "once over" with seals and gaskets, maybe a bit of head work, take a peek inside the oil pan, etc.  
When I dropped the pan I found and oil ring laying in the bottom which amazed me because when I ran it a few years ago there was no smoke. Not sure how that's possible but onward...it was a bitter sweat day for me, I had gathered all of these parts and I'm ready to drop everything in and now- well it all came to a screeching halt.  

The sweet part is- it is obviously an omen to go V-8.    This will be my documentation through that journey.  The plan is to go 5.0 with a T-5 and use a Mansell kit to make it happen.  I'm not a mechanic or a tech or whatever the politically correct word for a professional wrench is these days, but I can hold my own in my 32 X 48 pole barn with 220v, a ventilated paint both and a decent set of power tools, mig, plasma cutter, torches, etc.

I began my journey over Thanksgiving weekend, 2012, by driving to Buffalo NY to pick up my ebay purchase of a 1995 Ford 5.0 mustang gt motor and wc- t-5 tranny.  The rest of the documentation should probably go to another forum and I will figure that piece today.  My intention is two fold- as I roll through this process, first to have all of the guys that have already gone through this process to hopefully guide me and, secondly, to try to document a non professional attempting to do the swap and a cost analysis of a "poor mans" guide to the swap.  

I'm really not poor, am a middle class assistant principal with a decent income but like many others, I have children to put through school and family expences which keep me from going full blown, head over heels on this.  I have decided to go with the Mansell conversion and although it's a bit pricey I think it could be interesting to document the non-professional installing this "kit".

Thank you for allowing me to become part of your community, I am honored.

Welcome Marty. The 5.0L Ford is good.  Should make you a "Happy Camper" when the install is complete.  You are never FINISHED!

Sounds like you're on the right path...  And you're starting way ahead of me in terms of ability when I started.  Note that 94/95 5.0L mustangs used a T5 with a 1" longer input shaft.  You have to have the bellhousing designed for that; hopefully you got it with the engine/trans as they can be a little hard to come by.  The nice thing is your shifter will come right up through the stock shifter hole.

Good Evening to All Who Wish to Read

My name is Doug Brown.  I recently inherited a 1971 CB MGB.  My father had it restored about six years ago.  He and I discussed the many attributes of many British sports cars over the years as he was an engineer in the auto industry.  While in Detroit, my big desire as a teen was to put a 327 in a bug eyed Sprite.  Well needless to say, at the time I had zero funds.

Fast forward 35 years - I'm now getting ready to sell my company and I have this perfectly restored B on my hands!  Finally the time has come to do the witches brew I wanted to do 35 years ago!  My poor Dad will probably turn over in his grave but I know when I have the car completed he will be smiling down!

It's funny, I started this project before I knew there were so many folks doing V8 rebuilds to MG's.  I had purchased many parts i.e. a 94 302 EFI HO, a T-5 Trans, an 8.8 rear end, ect.  It wasn't until I began exploring suspension setups that I found all this info on everyone elses cars.  That would include British V8's website

I've since come to know the folks at Classic Conversions - (both front Xmember & coilover, and a four point rear) they provided these parts at a fair price and the build goes on.

I'm about 4 months into the actual build.  It took a year or so to put together a plan and workout the details.  As you might imagine I'm a fan of Detroit Iron!  The 302 became the motor of choice for the following reasons: Lots of parts, engine width, and the fact that Ford did a lot to get me where I am today.

I own a company that does a wide variety of industrial metal finishing such as powder coating, plating, conversion coating, vacuum impregnation, mechanical finishing, and printing.  As I indicated before, the process started about a year ago.  I built a shop in the warehouse portion of the plant and outfitted it with a lift and all the tools I thought would be needed.  I soon discovered there were many I needed in addition!!!  Now that I'm on this site, I will cronicle the process from beginning to end (if there is an end!!).  I'm not in a big hurry to finish but I do have the time to spend on a regular basis so I hope to be finished some time next fall.  

Thanks to anyone who can add advise going forward and continued success from South Dakota.  nobogez

Welcome to the Forum Doug. The people here are the greatest group of guys you will ever meet. There is a wealth of knowledge and everyone is willing to share. We all want to see you finish your project and enjoy the ride. Please keep us up to date.

Again, Welcome to this crazy group.

Paul

Thank you Kelly and Rob, I'll check on that bell housing, I did get a bell with it but I need to figure if its the right one.  Sounds like Doug is WAY ahead of my curve, it'll be interesting to compare notes.
Marty

I have been building British sports cars for about 15 years.  My business cards say they don't have to run British.  I still own my first British car, a 1970 Triumph TR-6.  It has evolved through the years, its my daily driver, its over 500 horse, with no nitrous.  This will be my fourth year with V-8 in car.  I have some you tube videos you can check out.  Hoping to go to Maxton in the Spring.  190 mph/1 mile should be in reach.  Hope I can stop it.

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mItjEf5M2Hs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwY7gVWzoLE

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

Thanks for the welcome Paul!  It was your car that gave me some additional inspiration on the body portion of the build!  Your wheel selection is the best I've seen to date!!

I have Panasport 15" on the car and will probably stick with them for the initial build, but as I'll bet you know, the project is never done!!

Thanks again for the follow up and I hope to meet you in person in Omaha this next year.  Doug

Hi My name is Steve and live in the UK
Whilst my car is not a sports car, my 1963 Morris Minor has a 3.5V8 (I think you call them buick) and 5 speed gearbox, It has a MGB front end and Jaguar powerlock rear end. I have a detailed history of the build if anyone is interested.


Hope the photos come thru
Steve

Great car Stephen.  I bet you surprise some folks with it!  Welcome.

Stephen, that is one "sleeper" automobile. Welcome to the "group" and YES, please share the build details with us. Have a great Holiday Season.

Hi all. Just a short into.

I'm located on the Southern Coast of Massachusetts, kinda wet Winters, kind of muggy Summers and I haven't a garage so all of the work is done caveman-style out in the back yard. Still I have hope.

I picked up a few derilict and rotted MGAs and just bought an old 5.0 Mustang GT for the drive train.

Bought this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/DSC06186.jpg

To help build an Vintage Drag Racer in the old NHRA Modified Sports Car style out of this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/DSC05900.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/DSC05905.jpg

Yup. Kinda crazy I know . . .

Nice to be here though !

TC

Welcome Team Evil that may be crazy buts its the kind of crazy I understand
Welcome to the forums
I am shoehorning the same engine and T5 in a 1964 spitfire

Tom A

That's a beauty!!!  How much time have you got invested in that car?  Do you do the work or farm it out?

To make 500 HP what else did you do to the motor besides stroke it?  In my build I really don't want to much more than 350 to 375 HP as a B (with a uni-body construction) will twist in the wind!!  I do have additional bracing to stiffen the frame up but weight to HP is one of the goals - the other is drivability.

Doug, it is stiffer than you realize.

Jim

That's what she said!!!