The BritishV8 Pub

Sorry : Here are a couple of pics of my 1960 Austin Healey 3000

Sorry : I am just getting used to this website. I am a new member with a 1960 Austin Healey 3000, powered by a 383 Chevy and a TH 350 Automatic. It has a 10 bolt posi rearend.Disc brakes all around with a Mustang 11 front end.

I became interested in British Cars back in the mid '70's when I purchased a 1968 Triumph TR4A-IRS. I drove the car for a few years and had a lot of fun in it. I did finally get tired of the constant repair of the engine and transmission.

I sold the TR4 and later bought a 1964 TR4 that had been converted to a Ford 302 with a Borg Warner T-10 four speed. The car wasnt completely finished, so I completed the job.I drove this car all through college and through a rocky marriage. I sold it in the mid '80's and regretted it since.

I am planning to make a few imnprovements to the 3000 over the nex several months.

1) I want to fabricate a console to install a new DIN type stereo.
2) Convert the side exhaust to exit like a stock 3000 out the rear.
3) Replace the heater to stock.
4) Install a nice roll bar that wont interfere with the convertible top. Something like the Cobras have.

If anybody has any suggestions or can help me with any of these projects, please let me know.

Welcome Donn,

Looks like we are in the same neck of the woods in Elk Grove. I'm on the west southern side of EG. Nice ride by the way!

New to the forum, I have had a 1971 MGB for almost 30 years and have taken it nearly completely apart and put it back together again and it runs great (this week). About 12 years ago I started an MGB V8 project and work, family, and apathy got in the way so it has been sitting about 70% finished for several years now. Finally getting off the couch and finishing it up (I hope). Here is what I have so far:

1977 MGB bought with no drivetrain.
1963 Buick 215 engine, rebuilt with a Isky Cam, lifters, rods, and bored .40 over.
Carter 9410 400CFM 4 Barrel carburetor.
Triumph TR8 Tranny rebuilt - 5 speed.
Jaguar XJS independent rear suspension cut down to the proper width .288 to 1 gear ratio.
Pontiac Fiero Seats with Mr. Mikes custom seat covers.
Prestige interior carpet kit.
VDO Vision gauges
Momo Ferrari Engineering wheels
Lower springs on the front
Have a Rover SD1 fuel injection setup I plan to use eventually.

And probably a few other things I have forgotten to mention.
Glad to be a part and hope to learn a lot here!

It seesm as though I can post in sme forums, but in others there is no post button or text box at the bottom to post. is this just because I have recently joined?

Welcome Henry, appears your BUTTON is working :-)

I can't wait to see photos of your car, Henry. Sounds like a great start.

You should be able to post pretty much everywhere except where you'll find the words: "This thread has been closed." No one is allowed to post comments in the Project Journals section. If you want to give feedback or ask a question there, do it by Private Message. Also, the various "Sticky" threads about forum rules are closed.

Hi all
On my first ever v8, an 87 TVR 350i which I bought last summer to replace my deceased 280i (under bonnet fire wrote it off)
Loving it, the noise is fantastic, it goes and handles really well and on the odd days we get sunshine in england I love having the roof down.
The engine is a Rover v8 but whilst it is registered as a 3.5 there is a possibility it has had a swap to a 4.0 at some point as the dyno sheet shows it to be a bit too perky for a 3.5 at 229bhp and 240lbFt

Hi Folks...

My name is Ken...

I purchase a 1966 Sunbeam Alpine back in 1968...Wrapped my wife in Blankets and drove it through a couple of Canadian Winters..Kids entered the picture and that was the end of the Sunbeam...Later I was involve for many years in drag racing...
I am now retired and living in the small town of Wellington Ontario Canada located on the shores of Lake Ontario....Within a month of moving there I purchased a 1980 TR7 that had been restore to some extent, drive train, brakes and suspension rebuilt...Weber downdrafts, stainless header and exhaust system, MSD AL6+ ignition....

I absolutely love driving this car....but...There is a lack in power...I know I would enjoy it even more if there was a bit more power...

The builds I've found on this site are amazing!!!...The workmanship and technical ability are truly inspiring..
...




Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 03/14/2014 04:41PM by kscharf.

Hello all, I've been looking at this site for awhile and decided to join the list. Over the years I've owned a 74 midget that I rebuilt the suspension with all performance parts and it was unbelievable. It literally handled like a go cart, but alas had to sell it to get money to finish nursing school. That was about 14 years ago. I also owned once a 73 MGB and a spitfire and a TR6 . I loved them all and my only complaint was lack of power and air conditioning. I live in Arkansas and in the summer it's unbearable. So I was brain storming the other day , quietly until I could kinda work it out in my head before I broke the news to my wife lol. Anyway I got to thinking about the sunbeam tiger as I recall it had a ford 289 in it. I looked around and holy smokes are the expensive, then I got to thinking I wonder if I could put a V8 in a B? Lo and behold from this website it looks like it can be done. So it looks like that's the direction I'm going to go. I am thinking it'll be a 3 year project and I'll finish and have a real machine. I believe I can build up a 302 to some where around 300-350 hp and it still me extremely realiable. Here's the thing it's gotta handle like a go cart. I mean it's nice to be able to do 150 but personally who needs the ticket. Has any one that ya'll know of has been able to put in the 302 and have incredible handling, ok then I hope ya"ll have an awesome day and keep up the good work. Bert

Quote:

Has any one that ya'll know of has been able to put in the 302 and have incredible handling

Yep. Here's one: [www.britishv8.org]

Here are a few more: [www.britishv8.org]

I have driven many well handling MGB V8s, but a well sorted Midget will be closer to the Go-kart experience.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/02/2014 08:53AM by MGBV8.

Hello, my Name is Eddie. Im located in North New Jersey. I have just purchased a 1979 Lotus Esprit with the intentions of installing a Chevrolet 283 v8 or 4.3 v6 as in Wayne Collins example. Ill be needing help with locating adaptor to mate with the original transaxle. I had a 1978 Esprit in the mid 90s that I sold In 1997 when 2nd daughter was born. I always wanted to do this swap and excited to start gathering info. Ive always been a chevrolet guy but also love the exotics that were available in my youth, also inspired by the James Bond Films and Cannonball Run. I currently have a restored 1984 corvette, 1961 corvette, 1991 corvette, 1981 camaro z28,1999 camaro z28 convertible and a 1985 fiero gt. I attend many auto shows thru the Northeast season and looking to add British events to my scheduale, although I dont see any listed in my web search for this area. Looking forward to making a complete restoration web log of the Lotus with pics and videos. Hope to make some friends here with the same interests, Eddie




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/01/2014 05:26PM by eddie lotus nj.

Welcome, Eddie! I'll be very interested to see your Esprit project develop.

(received via private message)

My name is Rick Eggleston and I go by "Rickoshay" and I live in Pennsylvania in the "states". I bought a 1977 B in the fall that is a very nice stock car.

In watching the web I got hooked on MGB's with V8 engines and now I have bought one! I pick it up this Friday and tow dolly it home 130 miles. I am not an engine man but with friends help I hope to make it into a great car!

The 77 is British Racing Green and the V8 is read.

I don't know how to post photos yet. I hope this introduction works. It was not very clear to me how to do this.

Rickoshay

Hi, my name is Rick and I live in New Britain, Pennsylvania. I have a 1977 green car that is in very nice stock condition. It needs an interior which I am arranging right now. I just retired and I owned a 1968 B as my first car. I didn't have it very long and got married and had to sell it.

After I retired I wanted to get back involved with the 77 Bee, but then I fell in love with V8's I saw on the web. I bought a 1978 with a TR8 V8 and transmission. It is not running at the moment but all the parts are there. I just picked it up on Friday.

I look forward to going to MG club shows and events.

I go by Rickoshay.

Welcome Rich, you'll find the guys here can probably help solve about any problem you may encounter except CASH! :-)

Hi everyone-

I've been lurking here for a while and have a question:

I have a '77 TR6 that was a "barn find" and plan to swap in a LS motor and 6 speed Tremec, on top pf a new frame from one of the custom builders with modern coil-over suspension, front and rear discs front and rear, new steering, etc.

I've had a NA Miata and my wife currently has a NC Miata. I love these cars. With the right attention to detail, can I expect the same type of "driving experience", with a lot more power? I will basically have a "new" car, but just wanted some opinions from those of you who have already been there and done that. Reliability and driveability are very important. An occasional AutoX and maybe a track day.

The Triumph will have to wait until I finish my current project, a Ford Capri that I raced with the SCCA in the late eighties, sold, and bought back 17 years later. I'm restoring it to how it was when I raced it, and hope to do a few track days and maybe a vintage race or two.

Thanks for the input-

Mike

Welcome to the British V8 forums
Since all you seem to plan on using from the TR6 is the body body it will be whatever you build reliability and handling wise and can definitely be allot of fun.

Kevin:
Check this out. Ted also builds TR6 frames.
[www.fastcarsinc.com]
[www.britishv8.org]