The BritishV8 Pub

Folks I’m new at this and I’m only familiar with a few people. Jim and I live in the same area of Washington D.C. which includes Northern Virginia, Maryland and D.C.

Jim Lives in Montgomery Village, MD and I live in Alexandria, VA. (50 miles apart), I’ve know Jim now for about 4years and just like lots of MG owners with four bangers, I’ve got hooked on building a V8 conversion after he gave me a ride and scare the crap out of me in his V8 roaster.

I’ve spoke to Jim today and clarified some facts about “who out drives who”. It turns out according to Jim that Carl Floyd is who he mentioned awhile back as being the one with outstanding “Auto-Cross” skills. Supposedly, Carl took someone’s car that had won the Auto-Cross event and beat his winning time. So sorry guys, I blew the story and as far as Carl? “You are the man!” (Subject to next year’s rematch?)

Dan is Jim’s brothers, and according to Jim Stuart are two great guys to know, but he did mentioned that Jim has an unbelievably fast car.

It's unbelievably slow right now.

JB

Jim, when I dropped the mock up (plastic) motor in my B, I really wanted to install a supercharger under the hood, once you've owned a supercharged vehicle (I do), it's hard to do without its unique sound. The only two supercharged MGB-V8 that I knew of, was yours and Bill Jacobson. My only requirement was that it must all fit under my RV-8 hood.

The problem is that B & M makes one set up for the small block Ford, but, it would not fit under my RV-8 hood. So I thought about it for a couple of months and decided to buy (off Ebay) a B & M used supercharged intake in order to see what I could do to fit some supercharger on the B & M intake. The problem is the width of a 302 (5.0L) intake; it's narrower than most superchargers I could find. The aluminum Rover/Buick engine is just wide enough to accept the Buick 3.8 Liter supercharger.

Finally, I gave up and went E.F.I. naturally aspirated with a Ford Racing GT-40 tubular intake. I also dressed up the engine with MARCH's newest front accessories brackets/pulley kit. However, nothing can replace the incredible whining sound that a supercharger produces; it is pure music to any gear head's ears.

I do have a substitute as a secret weapon that me and Jim Stuart have talked about, but, I have to work out the financial details first (it won't fly by the wife too good, LOL). It also calls for a little bit of work.

That sounds great Jacques, can't wait to see what you have in mind. If nitrous, you might want to contact Mike Dominowski in NY as he's run a nitrous car (and a stroker) for quite some time now and has a lot of experience with it. I think he's currently on his 3rd engine so he's gotten a good handle on just how far you can go. (not necessarily failures caused by the juice).

I have long been a proponent of an underslung blower install but the 302 lifter valley may be too narrow. Use a rear inlet Eaton and flip it over, run the intake runners up and over the base to the discharge port. That would make one wicked package.

JB

What about a Vortech or Paxton supercharger?

Autocross? I think I'll sit this one out. I'm tired of dusting the trophy. ;)

Trophy? What Trophy?

(I'd give you a run for the money if I only had "sticky tires"! ;-)

JB

"Trophy? What Trophy?"

Uh, the one that Steve Carrick awarded me in '02 that has not been relinquished.

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"I'd give you a run for the money if I only had "sticky tires"!"

Naw, you've got a lead foot! ;)

I didn't see no trophy.
You know that's not official don't you? ;-)

JB

Sorry, Jim. It was most certainly official. I don't think you were at the first Michigan V8 Meet. You know how we have that big dinner the last night? Well, I was presented the trophy in front of the whole crowd. Lots 'o witnesses. The next time we had an autocross I declared it a "Traveling Trophy". I'm still trying to give it away.

Buy some tires instead of building a 500HP engine! :)

Jacques,

Hope you are coming to Indy in July. We have lots of great drivers in this group. Pete Mantell is probably the best, but none of us would admit it, especially me. In addition to Pete, Ken Hiebert won the go-cart race last year. Lots of fierce competitors, Max Fulton, Les Shockey, Bill Yobi, Brian McCullough, Steve Carrick, Kurt Schley, Mike Moor, Martyn Harvey, Jim & Dan Blackwood, & Joe Schafer to name a few. I"m sure left some more out. Let's not forget the young guns (sons) Graeme Harvey & Cade Schafer. My son will be 16 in 2011, but he has a long way to go before he's gonna catch me! :)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/2010 06:55PM by MGBV8.

Carl, that would be fun and what would even be more fun, would be to show up in my own car. Coming up with ideas to design/personalize my car was fun, but finishing it is an other, money wise, time wise and energy wise. I tend to over think things and I always had a hard time living by the rules of the four words "K.I.S.S."

Maybe Jim Stuart and I could ride together. Here are a couple of photos of my aging project:

We are bad to go off tangent here. Bothers some, not me. So, as for the original question....

I know of several (at least 4), with more in the works, MGBs with over 300 horsepower at the rear wheels. Not mine, but 300HP & 2200 lbs is right there with most Cobras. The one that Pete Mantell is building with an LS3 will KILL most Cobras.

I drove a stock MGB to my first three V8 Meets (my '79 & my dad's 63) starting in 1998. Had a blast at all of them. Met a lot of great people, made many friends. There is something in the air that is intoxicating, besides the beer & bourbon. Just be there.

"Here are a couple of photos of my aging project:"

Definitely looks like you know what you are doing!

I've spoken with Pete Mantell on the phone a couple of times concerning oil filter adapters, he's really puts you at ease, very personable. LS3? WOW, we're all in deep trouble, I hope Pete post some pics of the Cobra killer........

Nice car Jacques, see what you mean about simple things...

Carl, I most certainly WAS there, but that trophy was a spoof! ;-) You know good and well that we don't give out trophies at the V8 meet!

JB

Yeah, it’s hard to change at 57 years old, there's actually some co-workers taking bets that the car will end up for sale as a project; I can't let that happen, however, this little guy has been four years in the make so far.

BTW, part of this madness is to install a rear mounted single turbocharger. Me and Jim are still figuring out the lay out. The beauty about forced induction is that you don't have to worry so much about intake flow; the only attention falls on exhaust flow. Any ideas? (oh-oh, I just gave the secret weapon away, LOL)

"Carl, I most certainly WAS there, but that trophy was a spoof! ;-) You know good and well that we don't give out trophies at the V8 meet!"

B F'ng S this time Jim, that one particular year we did. There was an award for the show & the autox. I didn't like it, but it happened anyway. Bill Yobi & I tried very had to win the autox. I beat him fair & square without any sticky tires. I'm bringing that same trophy to Indy so I can present it to someone else.

That's the one Rick made up out of broken rear axle parts isn't it? I tell you, it flies in the face of everything we've said about the V8 meet over the years! You get one trophy, then it's two, then you have to have dash placques and show awards! Where does it end?!!! Might as well be stealing peoples hats!

Jacques, I'm impressed. With what you've shown us so far I have little doubt that your rear mount will be very illuminating and can't wait to see it run, and look at the details of your build. Just from your photos there are a number of questions I'd like to ask.

I quite agree about the forced induction. No concerns with porting, fitting big valves and all that stuff. Plus it gives you a chance to express your creativity in other areas.

JB

"That's the one Rick made up out of broken rear axle parts isn't it? " No that's the hard luck award.

Steve bought two trophies for 2002 show. The ONLY year this was done. One for a Participant's Choice car show award. the other for the autocross. Mike Moor & Jim Stuart tied for the car show award. Not sure who won the tie breaker. Now that I think about it, I believe Jim Stuart got it.

Steve, Mike, Bill Yobi, & I were drinking beer late into the night at Steve's house. I matched Bill beer for beer. Steve gave us a preview & showed us the autocross trophy (sort of a plaque). I thought to myself "That's going home with me" . The next day at the autocross Bill was off his game a bit due to the late night partying. I showed no mercy & took no prisoners. The rest is ancient history. :)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/07/2010 11:38AM by MGBV8.