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How it all happened

    

As with many of my predecessors in the MG V8 world I heard the calling and couldn't resist.  My first experience with the MG V8 was a few years ago; 1999 to be exact.  While looking for an overdrive transmission for my‘79 MGB, I met Mr. Carl Floyd.  I asked him why he was selling his running engine and transmission and he told me that he was building an MGB V8.  Having had little experience with V8s in MG's at that time, his project fascinated me and launched me on my own quest to build a V8 MG.  It took three years of research and dreaming before I turned the first bolt. 

      I completed my MG V8 in 2003.  I drove it 20K miles I decided I still wasn’t satisfied.  Since then I have carefully and methodically critiqued the cars performance. This past year, I have completely rebuilt the engine and transmission, restyled and painted the outside, and revamped the interior, adding power windows and A/C.  Just goes to show that a conversion project is never finished.

 

Engine:             A 1996 Range Rover 4.0L alloy V8 with 1990 Rover front cover and oil pan.    Custom 0.030 oversize pistons the rest is stock.  Lucas distributor with a Crane cam XR700 ignition system.  1992 Bosch Lucas Hot wire fuel injection.  K&N air filter

 

Cooling:            Howe Chevy dirt track cross flow aluminium radiator.  I took a hint from Jim Stuart and flattened the slats in the grill to help air flow.  Using stock 1987 Range Rover overflow tank and a 160 thermostat.  I have an oil cooler and a fuel cooler installed.

 

Lubrication:      When I first built my car I was using a Buick V6 metric oil pump cover.  It was leaky so I replaced it with the expensive UK oil pump cover and not leaks.  I have a stock 13 row oil cooler and the oil pressure averages 40 psi using 20/50 motor oil.  I have the oil filter mounted in the passenger front wheel well inline with the cooler.

 

Transmission:  1992 Borg Warner T-5 from a 4.3L Trans Am I had it rebuilt by Shelby Transmission for $750

 

Bell housing:  Trans Adapt aluminum bell housing

 

Flywheel:          Weber 20lb flywheel purchased from D&D

 

Clutch:               Luck 10.5” pressure plate and 4.3L Chevy 10” disk Quarter master Hydraulic  through out bearing

 

Exhaust:            Home made RV8 headers and 2.25” dual exhaust system with H pipe, Borla mufflers.

 

Air Conditioning:           The air conditioning system was purchased from Southern rods and I cut the soul out of my bulkhead in order to fit it.  After reinforcing the bulkhead and fitting the evaporator/heater system I gutted the original heater box to use as the A/C cover.  The A/C blows real cold.  I retrofitted the new electronic switches with the original heater controls so it looks stock.  There is a low Freon sensor on the dryer and a low pressure cut out switch inline on the suction hose to cycle the compressor efficiently.  The vents were barrowed from a wrecked Mini Cooper.

 

Price:                I stopped counting after three months.  I figure I have spent over $18000 but that is a guess. 

 

Opinion:           I wanted to build an MGB that would honor the original beauty of the car and add newer technology and styling to make a car the original designers would appreciate. 

  

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Updated on

11/23/2006 02:16 PM -0500