rficalora Rob Ficalora Willis, TX (2764 posts) Registered: 10/24/2007 02:46PM Main British Car: '76 MGB w/CB front, Sebring rear, early metal dash Ford 302 |
Rob Ficalora's '76 MGB roadster with Ford 302
Owner: Rob Ficalora
City: Cypress, TX Car Model: 76 MGB Status: Work in progress 4yrs into my 2 ½ year project! Engine: Ford 302, Aluminum GT-40 heads, E303 cam Transmission: 94/95 Mustang T5 [Input shaft/bell housing are 1 longer than typical 5.0L Mustangs.] - 3.53 1st gear - 1.93 2nd gear - 1.33 3rd gear - 1.00 4th gear - 0.68 5th gear Clutch - Ford Motorsports "king cobra" clutch - Stock MG Clutch master - '56 Ford F100 clutch slave Cooling: Aluminum cross flow, 19 tall x 18.25 wide Exhaust: Steve Carrick headers to H balance tube to 52 chambered exhaust to dual tips on each side. Headers are bright silver ceramic coated (e.g., JetHot but done locally) & rest of exhause is powder coated a flat olive drab (the least expensive color they had since it doesn't show). Rear Axle/Rear Susp.: Todd Budde custom IRS with 96 Nissan Skyline differential [same R200S case as Nissan 240SX] 3.54 gears, viscous limited slip; Outer CV yokes are 88-97 S-10 4x4; hubs are same S-10 (non-ABS); Chevy 5x4.75 lug pattern; bushings are Pete & Jakes HD Black urethane. Shocks are QA1. Drive shaft was made locally Front Susp.: Ted Lathrop IFS Electrical: - EZ Wiring 21 circuit harness - Guard Dawg keyless ignition - Electric windows - Electric mirrors (Crysler Crossfire) - Remote control for shaved door solenoids - Vintage Air A/C Brakes: - (master): Stock MGB non-servo dual circuit - (front): Wilwood 11.75 rotors, Dynalite calipers - (rear): 88 Corvette rotors, 94 Camaro Z28 calipers (w/mechanical e-brakes) Wheels/Tires: - (front): American Racing 427P 15x7 w/3.5 backspace; Falken ZIEX ZE-912 205/55/15 - (rear): American Racing 427P 15x8 w/4.5 backspace; Falken ZIEX ZE-912 225/50/15 Body Mods: TONS!!! - Modified firewall to clear heads on 302 with motor further back/lower - Front rubber bumper to chrome bumper conversion - Chrome grill with stainless wire insert - Modified oil cooler shelf to move radiator & A/C condenser further forward - Radiator support fabricated further forward - Omni Front flares - Omni Rear flares (modified to extend them a bit wider) - Shaved front turn signals, side markers, back-up lights, fuel filler, door handles, locks, antenna - Flush fuel filler door installed on right side behind flare - Modified battery shelf to make clearance for shocks on Todds IRS [mine was the 1st one using the basic frame he uses now but I think hes modified how the shocks tie in so this isnt necessary any more] - Modified the battery access door (required with the mods for the shock clearance) - Welded external/beaded seams - Centered fuel tank - Early style tail lights - Sebring rear valance Interior: - Padded dash to early steel dash conversion - Modified the square tube that runs behind the dash & moved the center console brace to make room for a Vintage Air Gen II Mini A/C evaporator box - Miata seats plan to recover using simulated ostrich or gator - Body colored dash - Autometer HotRod Designer Black gauges - Planned: GPS/Stereo in the console, etc. Paint - LizardSkin sound and heat control on the bottom of the car, the cockpit, the trunk, & heat control on the under side of the hood. - Paint is a GM color -- Merlot Jewel Metalic (GM: 79U; PPG: WA517Q). It's used on everything frrom Saturns to Hummers. Here are some pics... Engine: Ford 302, Aluminum GT-40 heads, E303 cam; Will have Vintage Air Front runner polished pulleys, finned valve covers & air cleaner, etc... Cooling: Aluminum cross flow, 19 tall x 18.25 wide Rear Axle/Rear Susp.: Required a few mods like flares, moving shelf in trunk back 1", and making room for shocks... Wheels/Tires: Body Mods: TONS!!! - Modified firewall to clear heads on 302 with motor further back/lower - Front rubber bumper to chrome bumper conversion Pics to come - Chrome grill with stainless wire insert Pics to come - Modified oil cooler shelf to move radiator & A/C condenser further forward - Omni Front flares - Omni Rear flares (modified to extend them a bit wider) - Shaved front turn signals, side markers, back-up lights, fuel filler, door handles, locks, antenna Pics to come - Flush fuel filler door installed on right side behind flare [work in progress] - Welded external/beaded seams - Chrysler Crossfire mirrors -- reinforced door skins to door bracing to support the weight of the mirrors without door skins cracking... - Centered fuel tank Pics to come - Early style tail lights Pics to come - Sebring rear valance Pics to come Interior: - Padded dash to early steel dash conversion - Modified the square tube that runs behind the dash & moved the center console brace to make room for a Vintage Air Gen II Mini A/C evaporator box - removed the metal support & flipped it around so flat side is at the back... Gen II Mini slides in behind & then up to insall/remove... - Miata seats plan to recover using simulated ostrich or gator Pics to come - Lots more plans like body or accent colored dash, Autometer HotRod Designer Black gauges, GPS/Stereo in the console, etc. Pics to come Electrical: - TBD considering Painless Wiring & EZ Wiring 18-21 circuits Pics to come - Electric windows Pics to come - Remote control for shaved door solenoids Pics to come - Vintage Air A/C Body work and Paint is being done by a local shop in Houston... Car loaded up to take to the body shop... Fender flares blended in... Cleaned up dash & cockpit with LizardSkin applied... LizardSkin under the car; semi-gloss black on the under carriage. Looks like they tried to save some paint by only painting the inner 1/2 of the wheel wells body color?? May have them re-do that. Either all black or all body color seems to make more sense to me. 1st application of body color -- Engine bay. They painted the engine bay sides of the frame rails with LizardSkin & black over that. That'll be removed & the rails will be body color... Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 01/12/2010 02:10AM by rficalora. |