BritishV8 Forum

Hello, My name is Curt.
My first car was a 1960 MGA. Purchased it in 1971  while in high school for $280.00. Sold it 4 years later for $800.00. Thought I had made some money. Forward a few years and got a 1969 MGB. Ended up taking it all apart, painting it and replacing about anything that would make it look better. Ended up selling it to a friend who gave it to his new wife as wedding present.  I've always loved the looks and sound of Cobras throughout the years. Stumbled upon this website about a year ago. Liked the idea of getting another MGB with a V8. I've been watching and looking for a while. I live in California so have to deal with the Smog laws. I've been watching for a 75 or older conversion. I finally saw one in June of this year and ended up purchasing it. The person that I purchased it from was the second owner. The first seemed to do most of the mechanical and I believe painted it. He replace some of the interior. He did not know much about the car other then it was supposed to have been built by someone in Texas. Both other owners were also from Texas, Here's what I know after having it for a few weeks. It's a  75 with a 1962 -215 buick, Block code (Hi) , 11 to 1 compression, GM 5 speed. I believe the stock rear end. I've already had several conversations with D&D fabrication.Had one heck of a oil leak from the dip stick hole. Also discovered it had a 600 cfm carb. Horrible gas smell mixing with the oil leaking on exhaust while driving. Now has a 500 cfm rejeted by D&D. also added a PCV valve. Oil leak all but stopped. Fuel mileage went from 12 to 23 MPG. I've attached a couple of photos. Might find out who did the original work.

Very nice looking.  Welcome to the group.

Thanks for the add, 65 year old motorhead with a 76 TVR and 62 Jaguar MK II, TVR is Ford Powered and the Jag will soon be. Twenty three year veteran of the US Navy, Submariner, diver and smal boat guy. have been there and done that (no really) and hope to get good info and maybe contribute a pearl of wisdom or two.

Hi all - new member Bill (aka Kernel-K from my military days) here.  Had been a 20+ year motorcyclist until 2008 when I had a bad accident and totaled my Harley (fortunately w/out totaling my body), sold the other bikes and diverted my petrochemical mischief to 4-wheels.  

I have a 1945 Willys MB military jeep I drive around in parades and for fun and just bought my first MGB a few weeks ago (1977 RB wire wheel with 68K original miles).  

I have two years to plan my project (working overseas) with the intent of taking the MGB back to simpler times cosmetically (chrome bumper, clean interior, no side lamps) but hiding a neatly installed 302 crate engine under the hood.  I want a total sleeper with 250hp lurking about for street fun.  My son is a Ford diesel mechanic so this will be a nice father-son project.

Been doing my homework and enjoying the gallery and how-to's here on the site.  Here goes:

Q:  Mantell Motorsport 302 kit (modified front crossmember, headers, etc...)  Worth the $1995 ?  I'm a bit reluctant to hack apart the cross member on my own.  I've rebuilt a number of bikes but have little welding experience.  The peace of mind seems worth it.

Q:  I'm 90% certain I'll go with 15x6 Minilight disk wheels after all but giving up hope that chrome 72-spoke Dayton Wire Wheels would withstand the V8.  Thoughts?  I thought chrome rims with anthracite powder coated spokes would be too sweet...

Thanks!
Bill

Bill - welcome.  You'll get more feedback in the suspension sub-board, but there are a lot of guys with V8 swaps running wire wheels.  Check out the pics from the British V8 meet a few weeks back in Colorado - at least 5-6 with wire wheels.  Dayton 72 spoke do appear prefered over stock MG wires though...  http://www.britishv8.org/Articles/BV82014-TheCars.htm

Bill..

In the Driver's Handbook you will find a diagram that show how to properly fold/stow the hood. Your top will last a LOT longer if you follow the instructions found within.

Here's a John Twist video of same topic:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3Zfdj9W2Y4

Cheers!

Hello all,
I've just joined the forum. I'm just starting the final build of my long delayed Marcos Mantula. It currently has a 3.5 V8 from a Rover P6, but that's going to make way for a new 4.6 Thor V8 as fitted to Range Rovers.

My main project for the engine will be to create a lower profile inlet manifold, perhaps by moving the throttle body position or even fitting twin throttles.

I can't wait to get the Marcos on the road, it should be a great car to drive.

Ian

Welcome to BritishV8, Ian! Mantula 4.6 sounds like a great project.

You'll enjoy building that custom low-profile manifold. I used a 14CUX lower manifold, topped with a home-made plenum - but I considered using a Thor lower manifold. I liked the Thor fuel rail's construction, but its "returnless" aspect seemed more difficult to deal with. Also, the earlier thermostat position worked nicely for me.  One cool thing I noticed is that the earlier (14CUX or GEMS) "trumpets" are still the right diameter to possibly work with a Thor lower manifold. Of course, their spacing/pattern would be different, but you could easily use them inside a custom plenum. Here's what I ended up with:

(14cux trumpets inside a custom plenum, for use with a bolt-on throttle body)

i did my first austin healey conversion while stationed at ft sill ok in 1968. it was a 1959 BN6 big healey!.i sold the six cylinder motor and transmission to pay for the ford 289 and three speed manual. i drove the car for a number of years and sold it. i recently found the car in the Nasty Boys registry. i tried to buy it but the owner was not interested in selling. so i am an old guy who loves austin healeys...modified ones. i have a factory bn6 and a 63 bj7 with a 383 sbc and a 200r4 aol transmission. i bought the car in the cincinnati area a couple of years ago. i had to do a lot of work on the car but it is solid and streetable and fast! i do like the automatic and especially the overdrive gearing. i also have a couple of porsches with v8 conversions. one is a 71 911rs look with a dart all aluminum 434 cubic inch sbc with efi...bout 575 chp. i also have a 78 930 with a mast motorsports ls7. this motor is a little over 700 chp! i did both of the porsche conversions.so i am a hotrodder at heart but at 74 years of age starting to slow down a bit. and speaking of slow, the 1958 bn6 is really slow but i love the two seater big healeys!!

Welcome Larry, the cars look great.  Age does tend to intefere with the fun :-)    SAFETY FASTER!

Hello, I'm new here. Just picked up a project '68 Triumph Spitfire. 302, 4 speed, 9 in rear end. Needs body work, but not rotted/rusted out. Won't be done anytime soon, but will be fun to work on.

Hello, I thought I had already introduced myself, but I don't see my post...so here it is again. Heres pics of my '68 Spitfire project. Has 302, 4 speed and 9 in. rear with 4 link. Runs well, not rusted out, but does need body work as you can see.

Welcome Svenn, looks to have a lot of possibilities.  What are your plans for it?  If you haven't already, check out Phil McConnell's spitfire in the gallery; may give you some ideas.

Hello all,
I am a happy owner of a 1980 MGB with a Buick 215 and BW T50 transmission. Currently undergoing chrome bumper conversion. I imported the car to Canada from the US and have a feeing that this older v8 conversion may have belonged to a Mr. Williamson in the past. Therefore, I am interested in obtaining a copy of a back-issue article (which is not yet available on this site). Maybe someone can help me?

""MG V-8 Newsletter" - Volume II, Issue 2 August 1994, Editor: Kurt Schley, (26 pages)
How it Was Done #4 (Ken Williamson, Bellefonte PA, 80 MGB, Buick 215, T-50)"

Hello from Todd in Floyd Virginia.

I am building a Model A hotrod with a mix of Buick 215 parts (block) and 1995 Land Rover Disco 3.9 donor parts.

Love the idea of this little V8, just having a time finding all the stuff to put it together, and making it more complicated by tring to improve on things just a bit.

Look forward to talking with people here, and helping the group if I can, many thanks for starting this group.

I came upon this site many times in my searches for Buick/Rover V8 intel, only makes sense to become a member as there is so much more info I still need.

Welcome to BritishV8, Oscar!  

We have a program where you can sponsor the digitization of old articles, so everyone will be able to find and enjoy them. Basically, you just make a $20 <a href="http://www.britishv8.org/Contributions.htm">contribution</a> to the site's operating fund, and specify which article you'd like uploaded. The Ken Williamson article is a good one, although it doesn't contain any photos. BritishV8 was just a photocopied black-and-white newsletter in those days. Hardly any articles featured photos. If you'd like to supply photos of the car, that would be great too! Information about submitting photos may be found <a href="http://www.britishv8.org/British-V8-How-To-Contribute.htm">here</a>. (Scroll down for twenty helpful tips.)

Ken Williamson is a great guy! I've talked to him at Summit Point and at Watkins Glen, where he races this very cool MG:
<a href="http://www.britishracecar.com/KenWilliamson-MG-MGC-GTS.htm">Ken Williamson's 1968 MGC GTS "Sebring" Racecar</a>

Welcome Todd!  I'll be very interested to see pics of your project as it progresses.

When you're hunting for parts, don't hesitate to take advantage of our <a href="http://forum.britishv8.org/list.php?11">Classified</a> section. Place "wanted" ads...

My own aluminum V8 project started when I lived in Blacksburg. Is Route 8 between Stuart and Floyd still the roller coaster ride it used to be? I used to drive that road like a moonshiner being chased by a revenue man.

Hi new member here. 1981 TR8 owner.  Going through some mods and new injection this winter.

Hey all,
My name is Patrick and live in St. Petersburg Florida, about 6 months ago I picked you a 1979 MGB, I recently installed a Chevy 350 in the B, the only issue I've encountered is the motor sits up to high, so any feedback or suggestions would be a great help on how to get the motor lower. By the way this site is  great. Thanks

Hello
Patrick again, don't know why the pics are upside down, they are right side up on my end

You could notch the crossmember and move the steering rack down a bit perhaps.

Jim

There are several SBC's that fit under the stock hood without a scoop in the gallery section.  You might get some ideas there.

Thanks for the advise, The cross member is not the issue, I have a good 4'' till the cross member would hit the oil pan, I think the issue is the motor mounts I made are sitting on the stock MGB mounting plates that are welded to the chassis, its not allowing  me to drop the motor lower. I made another set of motor mounts that are smaller and should fit between frame rails, we will see. I have looked at just about every SBC set up on this site and others but can't seem to find any good pictures of the motor mounts, if anyone has a SBC set up and has good pics of their motor mount set up, please send them my way.
Thanks
Patrick

Hello, I'm a new V8 owner with car #2809, a 1976 GT. I had the car shipped for Scotland and received it only two months ago. The last owner cared for the V8 for 18 years. The body was restored about 2 years ago and looks very nice. The engine bay is another story as the owner did not want to have the out of service long enough to detail the engine bay with the engine out. The salt air took a toll on the un-protected parts of the engine. I'm about to do this now. No other work is needed, the car runs and drives great. I should say I'm not new to MGs and have been a collector with my wife for 40 years. We own every post war model except a twin cam. (Still looking but missed our chance for an affordable car years ago!)
I would like to be pointed in the right direction for things like paint codes for air cleaner assemblies and engine and engine accessories. Can someone here in the know help me out with these details? I do some powder coating also but need a color code to start with. Not going for best of show by any means but I want my V8 to look as good under the bonnet as the rest of the car.
We are looking forward to meeting up with other V8 owners at the shows this summer.
Terry Looft
Wilmington, Ohio

Hello all. Been stalking here for a while to stay motivated. Working on putting a Buick 215 in a 76 spitfire. Been slow going, but started new job last year with more money and shorter hours (I know right?) So no excuse, time for serious headway. Planning on registering for this summer's meet and driving the car there (although I'll be lucky to get mechanically to that point, not to mention cosmetic). So there it is: a goal with a deadline.... wish me luck.