check my progress

Doc Hopalongfoot · March 30, 2008, 01:29:25 PM

Hi all, I'm sending some pics fresh from the shop. My mechanic, Bobby V, is working on my car and I will have to make some decisions soon about wheel size, and rear axel ratios. Any advice would be appreciated.
Marc
Picture 025.jpg

Doc Hopalongfoot · March 30, 2008, 01:37:30 PM

Having trouble sending my pics. The pic that made it is a motor mount. These are my headers. I'm still working on the rest of my pics.
Marc
Picture 024.jpg

Doc Hopalongfoot · March 30, 2008, 01:47:56 PM

I'll try this again
jJP 1.jpg

Doc Hopalongfoot · March 30, 2008, 01:50:55 PM

I'm hoping to get it ready for the next V8 meet.
Marc
Picture 018.jpg

ex-tyke · March 30, 2008, 02:43:59 PM

Marc,
Earlier this month, Jack, Tom and I stopped in at the body shop to see the progress of your conversion. - it's coming along nicely. Let's hope that it gets the required attention for a timely completion for the Wisconsin show.

rficalora · March 30, 2008, 05:31:12 PM

I like the way the headers come together where they go through the inner fender. I have a set pre-made for the MG/302, but they requrie a bigger hole. I've been toying with ideas to make it look better but may not get to it before Wisconsin. I've been toying with the idea of painting the under-side & outside of the car but leaving the engine bay & front inner fenders in primer so I can get my car done enough for Wisconson, then change some things like that afterward.

I also like your motor mounts although they look a bit light from the pics. What gauge are they?

Doc Hopalongfoot · March 30, 2008, 11:08:49 PM

Thanks Graham,
I appreciate the good wishes. Now that the headers are going to the ceramic coaters the motor is coming out to be detailed and we start on the back end. Bobby V told me your input was very helpful. Do you know of anyone that uses different size wheels on the front and back? We are thinking of moving the rear springs inboard to allow for wider wheels in back, but the front may not handle that size. What rear end ratio do you think is best? Bobby is planning to have a custom gas tank fabed and along with the flaming river steering rack we are doing a few different things. I hope you stop by before the next WDMGC meeting in Windsor.
Thanks again,
Marc

rficalora · March 30, 2008, 11:21:24 PM

Marc, for custom fuel tank check with Todd Budde. He makes a really nice aluminum tank for the B. It's set up with an internal fuel pump, baffling, AN fittings, sender, etc. Ready to bolt in for fuel injected applications. He'll also do it w/o the fuel pump if you're going carburated. I just got mine delivered yesterday & don't have any pics, but check out this post where Bill Guzman posted some great pics & info...

http://www.mgexperience.net/phorum/read.php?40,747959,747959#msg-747959

Good luck,
Rob

Doc Hopalongfoot · March 31, 2008, 11:11:49 PM

Hi Rob,
I like the position of the headers myself. They are way back in the fender well and out of the way of the wheels and tires. The mounts do look a bit on the thin side, I don't know the gauge, but I'll ask Bobby and get back to you.
Thanks for the info on the gas tank, the one we were going to use was custom and expensive. I'll check this one out and see if it fits the bill.
Good Luck getting ready for the 08 meet,
Marc

ex-tyke · April 01, 2008, 02:36:47 PM

Marc,
Using different size rims (and/or tires) for front and back is certainly a subject that many embrace - you could search the "Photo Gallery" articles for those that have done this - Joe Schafer, for instance, runs similar rims but smaller tires on the front. Personally, I prefer the same rim/tire combination to allow tire rotation and have a spare tire w/matching diameter.
On the subject of rear axle ratio, I am running a 3.27 which I find matches best with my 23.8" dia tires and a 0.68 OD T-5 transmission ratio. This translates into 1880rpm@60mph, 2193rpm@70mph, & 2507rpm@80mph, for example.
I suppose that if you plan to use a taller tire, or would like a bit more acceleration capability, a 3.55 ratio might be appropriate. Assuming your T-5 OD ratio is the same as mine, you might find a 3.07 ratio too slow for highway driving. Like most things, it becomes a matter of personal preference.

MGB SS · April 01, 2008, 07:47:42 PM

Hey Marc

Good to see that you are underway.

As to different size wheels and tires I agree with Graham on the ability to rotate tires on a daily driver but on my 4000 mile a year toy I like what makes the car work or look the best. Are you keeping the front 4 bolt pattern? What rear are you going to use in the rear and what pattern on that. I like my 3.42 rear gears but as mentioned above it is preference.

Is the shop near your home, I Have been working in Detroit lately, give a shout.
Joe

Doc Hopalongfoot · April 01, 2008, 11:28:49 PM

Hi Joe,
Its good to hear from you. The shop is in Windsor, over the river , and I don't get there as much as I'd like. Its
frustrating not having the room, time, talent, or tools to do it myself. 3.42 sounds like a great compromise for
power and comfort on the highway. I'm hoping to have a rear wheel with a big offset to get as much rubber to
the road as possible. I love the way your car looks with the Omni flairs but I'm trying to keep the stock look, no flairs. Anyway, the fronts may have to be a different size/offset/width. That leaves me with narrow
choices due to availability of wheels that come in various sizes.
The bolt pattern can be anything I want (according to Bobby V), but I'm going with a Lincoln 8.8 rear with discs
so the pattern will be 5 by ?. The front will have to be changed to match. The next challenge is the rear and the
gas tank. I'm hoping to avoid an expensive custom tank. Rob turned me on to a tank made by Todd Budde,
but I don't know the pricing or availability yet. Any suggestions are appreciated.
Let me know if you're around the 2nd wed of April, its the WDMGC meeting in Farmington Hills. Usually a good
time and meet some more MG nuts. Any new mods on your B?
TTYS
Marc

MGB SS · April 02, 2008, 07:56:18 AM

Marc
I may be around then I will let you know.

As to my progress, well I had and still have a big list, I have been swamped and have had another project ahead of the B so I haven't even touched it yet. At least at this point I am not scrambling to get it back on the road as the weather gets nice (if it ever does) so when it does I will be ready to go for drive:)

Joe

ex-tyke · April 02, 2008, 09:17:14 AM

Marc,
If you've decided on a 3.42 ratio for your 8.8, make sure it's available.....3.42 sounds like a GM ratio.

MGBV8 · April 02, 2008, 10:10:08 AM

Yep, he'll need to choose either 3.31 or 3.55 for the 8.8 Ford.

Moderator · April 02, 2008, 01:02:09 PM

3.27:1 should be an easy-to-find option too, I think.. That's what came in my '92 Mustang axle.

Here's a link to Dan Masters' handy Excel gear/speed calculator: http://www.britishv8.org/Articles/chart.xls

Doc Hopalongfoot · April 02, 2008, 09:32:51 PM

Hey Rob ,
How much did that gas tank cost? Were you able to decide where your fittings were placed on the tank?
The fittings in the picture at the MG experience looked to be facing the passenger side, just where
the tail pipe will be going.
Marc

Doc Hopalongfoot · April 02, 2008, 09:36:08 PM

Graham,
I believe you are correct, I will have to decide between 3.27 and 3.55. Are you planning to come over for the
WDMGC meeting next week?
Marc

ex-tyke · April 03, 2008, 09:00:44 AM

Marc,
The missus and I will be vacationing and will miss the Detroit meeting but I'll be at the May WDMGC meeting in Windsor - hope to have the car operational by then!
Using Dan's speed/gear calculator might sway you to use the 3.27 axle ratio. First gear is short enough and 3.55 will aggravate the situation - unless your T-5 has a 2.95 first vs the more common 3.35.

MGBV8 · April 03, 2008, 09:29:00 AM

So what was wrong with the 3.31 gears?

Anyway, there's some of both 3.27 & 3.31 on Ebay.

rficalora · April 03, 2008, 12:23:00 PM

My experience has been Todd's pretty flexible on stuff like that -- especially where it does't change the parts he has laser cut or otherwise produced for him. Can't tell you the price because he gave me a deal on a "factory second" (ok, it was a tank he'd inadvertantly welded the top on upside down & then later fixed so I he made me a great deal). I know the standard tank is very reasonably priced -- about $500 set up for EFI including an internal high pressure fuel pump, internal surge tank, & sender + it's pre-drilled to bolt right up to the stock studs. Bolt it in, hook up the lines, and go. Not sure what the cost would be w/o the pump if you're going carburated. But, I doubt you could get a custom tank like this made for for less anywhere else. Give Todd a call & just talk w/him about it is what I'd suggest. His contact info can be found here... http://www.customrodworks.com/contact.html

Moderator · April 03, 2008, 01:02:14 PM

Todd is also one of our fantastic British V8 vendor sponsors. This is his banner ad:

When you contact our sponsors, please make sure to tell them you heard about them here!

ex-tyke · April 03, 2008, 01:33:36 PM

Sorry Carl, there's nothing wrong with 3.31 gears and essentially they have the same performance as a 3.27 set. Not sure if Ford production used the 3.31 but 3.27 seems widely used and available.

MGBV8 · April 03, 2008, 02:09:25 PM

You're probably right on 3.27 availability. There's a lot of Mustangs that came with that gear.

Doc Hopalongfoot · April 09, 2008, 10:23:03 PM

Hi All,
Some bad news, in order to have the car this season I will have to make some compromises. I visited the beast
in Windsor today, and discussed progress with fabricator supreme, Bobby V, and if I want it on budget and in time
I will have to make this a 2 phase project. It was decided that the rear will remain stock, no 8.8 Ford, the wheels
and tires will stay, and unless I break something, it will stay that way until next winter. I'm disappointed but I hope
these measures will get it done in a timely manor.
Marc