As Willie Nelson once sung.....

[rick_ingram]

..."On the road again!"

My 1974-1/2 MGB/GT V8 conversion is on the road.

Some minor tweaking and some interior work wis still on the docket.

Feels good to have a driver....this project began in 2000.

Procrastination...can....be...a....hinderance...to...progress!

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Good deal, Rick!

Progress on my GT was sidelined by an errant hackberry tree that became one with my shop. Construction on the new shop is coming along, so hopefully will be back on mine soon.

 

[DNK]

Where's the car during reconstruction Mick.

 

[JPSmit]

looks great - unique colour combination

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Where's the car during reconstruction Mick.

It's sitting on the driveway, next to my garage. Have a car cover on it until I can get it back in the shop. No room anywhere else; in fact, the other B is also outside, under a cover, as all my shop stuff is in the garage where it normally sits.

Will be glad to get everything back in place.

 

[Silverghost]

an errant hackberry tree

Now you have a source for any and all of the wood trim/accents you "wanted" to add to your GT!!

 

[Mickey Richaud]

an errant hackberry tree

Now you have a source for any and all of the wood trim/accents you "wanted" to add to your GT!!

You ever seen hackberry wood? Almost no grain, it's so dense! (Kinda like my head, according to Miss Janet...)

 

[vagt6]

Rick, please tell us what you did on the conversion. What goodies are in the engine? What gearbox and rear end?

How'd you do it?

Love these MGBGT V/8s!

 

[rick_ingram]

Rick, please tell us what you did on the conversion. What goodies are in the engine? What gearbox and rear end?

How'd you do it?

Love these MGBGT V/8s!

I started with a Tundra Green 1974-1/2 MGB/GT that I purchased from a good friend's estate. Disassembled at home; transported to St.Louis for paint and body work by John Mangles. He did floors, sills, engine bay and tranmission tunnel adaptations, etc. I highly recommend his work.

Engine built to my specs by D&D Fabrication in Michigan. It's a 3.9 litre Rover that has been bored and stroked to about 5 litres using a Buick 300 crank and Ford pistons. Has a mild Crower cam. Buick 300 aluminum heads, stainless steel RV8 style headers, Magnaflow single muffler at rear, Edelbrock 500 carb. A/C unit purchased from Nostalgic Air (using a Sanden 508 compressor). Using a 16" hayden-style puller fan. Estimated horsepower is 300 bhp at the flywheel. Custom wiring harness built to spec by Advanced Autowire. Gauges are by AutoMeter. MSD 6AL spark control with Pertronix-equipped distributor. Removable slam panel to ease access to a/c condensor and dryer as well as engine removal when mandated.

Transmission is a Borg Warner T5 with a 0.63 final gear. Driveshaft built to spec by Denny's Driveshaft in New Jersey. Differential is a Ford 8" from a late 80's Granada (narrowed about 6") with an Auburn 3.27 posi-track. Wheels are Superlite 15" (purchased from Hap) with Goodyear 205-60 Assurance tires.

Front suspension is stock width Fast-Cars, Inc. Rear suspension is a Classic Conversions four-link. Wilwood four-pot calipers on all four corners. Stock MGB brake m/c. The car sits at 14" from the middle of the hubs to the top of where the chrome strip would be if present on the car.

Body by MG. Louvres are from a mid-80's Chrysler New Yorker, side mirrors are from a late 80's Buick. Third brake light from a 2002 small Chevy Blazer. Seats are Fiero. Horns are Cadillac. Paint is silver over purple and was sourced at the local DuPont store.

This project was started in 2000...(yes, I am a fantastic procrastinator)....with most of the work completed from March 2011 to present. The car goes to a local shoppe this Thursday for a complete alignment and a charging of the a/c system....as well as a professional bleed of the brakes (I don't like how they feel.)

So there's "the rest of the story"....flame suit on in preparation of Purist-supplied flak. <grin>

 

[vagt6]

Thanks, Rick.

You've made it your car, to enjoy. And I hope you do!