MG Sports Cars

engine swaps and other performance upgrades, plus "factory" and Costello V8s

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Nukem
Caleb Newcome
Connecticut
(18 posts)

Registered:
05/01/2019 07:00PM

Main British Car:
1974 MGB GT Ford 302

MGB GT V8 Conversion
Posted by: Nukem
Date: December 17, 2019 04:59PM

Hi folks. I've got a V8 conversion in the works; nothing that hasn't been done before but I thought I should make a thread to get some input from the community here.

The donor car is a chrome bumper 1974 MGB GT that I got at auction for a little bit of nothing. Power will be from a Ford 302 from an 85 mustang running a Holley carb mated to a T5 from the same Mustang. Funny enough both were pulled from an unfinished MGB V8 conversion.

I wasn't thrilled about the limits on photo uploads here so I put together a quick little web site to log the build and some of my other projects.

[calebnewcome.myportfolio.com]

I've been pretty well blown away by the work here and I'm hoping some of that can rub off on me.


mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2463 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: MGB GT V8 Conversion
Posted by: mgb260
Date: December 17, 2019 05:24PM

Cool! We love build photos!


BlownMGB-V8
Jim Blackwood
9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042
(6469 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 12:59PM

Main British Car:
1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS

authors avatar
Re: MGB GT V8 Conversion
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: December 17, 2019 06:50PM

Well Duke, early '74 still has the low ride height so there's that, which is pretty cool. You may have to do a few mods in the engine bay to get it to fit but those aren't bad.

Jim
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Jim Stabe
Jim Stabe
San Diego, Ca
(829 posts)

Registered:
02/28/2009 10:01AM

Main British Car:
1966 MGB Roadster 350 LT1 Chevy

authors avatar
Re: MGB GT V8 Conversion
Posted by: Jim Stabe
Date: December 17, 2019 07:12PM

The Project Journals section has a much greater capability to upload photos. You might want to check it out.


Nukem
Caleb Newcome
Connecticut
(18 posts)

Registered:
05/01/2019 07:00PM

Main British Car:
1974 MGB GT Ford 302

Re: MGB GT V8 Conversion
Posted by: Nukem
Date: December 17, 2019 07:35PM

Thanks Jim and Jim.

I'm excited to figure the firewall modifications out and play with my new MIG.

I might give the project journal section another look, but I definitely wanted to have something here as well.


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4512 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: MGB GT V8 Conversion
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: December 18, 2019 10:28AM

Looking forward to it!


Dan B
Dan Blackwood
South Charleston, WV
(1007 posts)

Registered:
11/06/2007 01:55PM

Main British Car:
1966 TR4A, 1980 TR7 Multiport EFI MegaSquirt on the TR4A. Lexus V8 pl

authors avatar
Re: MGB GT V8 Conversion
Posted by: Dan B
Date: December 18, 2019 05:36PM

Caleb, aka Nukem... I see what you did there!



Nukem
Caleb Newcome
Connecticut
(18 posts)

Registered:
05/01/2019 07:00PM

Main British Car:
1974 MGB GT Ford 302

Re: MGB GT V8 Conversion
Posted by: Nukem
Date: December 18, 2019 08:22PM

Hah, that internet handle has been with me for a while. I guess I thought I was clever 10 years ago.

Any advice on extracting a stuck crossmember "bolt". One of the four which secure the subframe to the chassis is pretty well locked in there. The other three dropped out without too much effort. One took some heat and a BFH while the other two dropped out without any fuss.


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

authors avatar
Re: MGB GT V8 Conversion
Posted by: rficalora
Date: December 18, 2019 08:41PM

Hi Caleb, and welcome!

I can already tell you'll have a great time with your priject.

One suggestion... looks like you're using sanding disks to remove paint. Paint strip discs will get the paint but leave the metal. Here's an example [www.amazon.com]


Nukem
Caleb Newcome
Connecticut
(18 posts)

Registered:
05/01/2019 07:00PM

Main British Car:
1974 MGB GT Ford 302

Re: MGB GT V8 Conversion
Posted by: Nukem
Date: December 18, 2019 08:59PM

Yeah, I grabbed a couple to try a couple of days back, one for my big grinder and one for my die grinder. Of course, I managed to get the wrong arbor size.

Mostly been cleaning up surface rust so far with the flap disks. I'll definitely grab some more paint removal disks though, I'm liking the little one for my die grinder.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/18/2019 09:00PM by Nukem.


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

authors avatar
Re: MGB GT V8 Conversion
Posted by: rficalora
Date: December 18, 2019 09:40PM

Quote:
I'm liking the little one for my die grinder.

You can get bags of 50 pretty cheap on Amazon or eBay.
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BlownMGB-V8
Jim Blackwood
9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042
(6469 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 12:59PM

Main British Car:
1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS

authors avatar
Re: MGB GT V8 Conversion
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: December 19, 2019 01:24PM

Try removing the nut from the bottom to get the crossmember out, then you can heat the bottom of the tube and should be able to drive the stud out.

Jim


Nukem
Caleb Newcome
Connecticut
(18 posts)

Registered:
05/01/2019 07:00PM

Main British Car:
1974 MGB GT Ford 302

Re: MGB GT V8 Conversion
Posted by: Nukem
Date: December 19, 2019 02:07PM

Thanks Jim. I did manage drop the crossmember like you suggested. I'll give heating from the bottom a try


Nukem
Caleb Newcome
Connecticut
(18 posts)

Registered:
05/01/2019 07:00PM

Main British Car:
1974 MGB GT Ford 302

Re: MGB GT V8 Conversion
Posted by: Nukem
Date: December 28, 2019 04:20PM

Does anyone know where I might be able to dig up some additional build pictures from Scott Wooley's build? I'm planning on mounting my motor pretty far back similar to Scott's car, and some additional reference material would be great to have.


billymgb1000
bill gaulin
harrisville R.I.
(74 posts)

Registered:
11/30/2012 12:31AM

Main British Car:
1974 MGB V8 LS1 5.3

Re: MGB GT V8 Conversion
Posted by: billymgb1000
Date: December 28, 2019 06:44PM

Hello Caleb, Did you check out scotts how it was done journal. If you have maybe you can try to contact him directly. good luck.
Bill G



Nukem
Caleb Newcome
Connecticut
(18 posts)

Registered:
05/01/2019 07:00PM

Main British Car:
1974 MGB GT Ford 302

Re: MGB GT V8 Conversion
Posted by: Nukem
Date: December 28, 2019 07:05PM

If you mean what is in the photo gallery section then yes.

[www.britishv8.org]

I just took a quick look at your build Bill, and the firewall modifications you did look pretty close to what I'm looking to do actually. I'm going to take a closer look now.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/29/2019 09:45AM by MGBV8.


302GT
Larry Shimp

(241 posts)

Registered:
11/17/2007 01:13PM

Main British Car:
1968 MGB GT Ford 302 crate engine

authors avatar
Re: MGB GT V8 Conversion
Posted by: 302GT
Date: December 30, 2019 11:58AM

Hi Nukem;

I have this as a screen saver, you might like it.
bomb copy.jpg


Nukem
Caleb Newcome
Connecticut
(18 posts)

Registered:
05/01/2019 07:00PM

Main British Car:
1974 MGB GT Ford 302

Re: MGB GT V8 Conversion
Posted by: Nukem
Date: March 15, 2020 11:42AM

Been a little bit quiet but I've been slowly getting some stuff done, like my first real bit of metalwork on my front crossmember.
PSX_20200315_114236.jpg


I've started reading through Scott Cotsanzo's build, getting some good ideas regarding firewall and steering column modifications for the engine set back I want to achieve.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/15/2020 11:53AM by Nukem.


Nukem
Caleb Newcome
Connecticut
(18 posts)

Registered:
05/01/2019 07:00PM

Main British Car:
1974 MGB GT Ford 302

Re: MGB GT V8 Conversion
Posted by: Nukem
Date: April 29, 2020 08:39AM

I've made some good progress in the firewall and transmission tunnel modifications, but I'm still sorting out the driver side, specifically clearance for the back exhaust port to the steering shaft.

I'd welcome any thoughts.
PSX_20200429_084114.jpg



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/29/2020 08:41AM by Nukem.
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BlownMGB-V8
Jim Blackwood
9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042
(6469 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 12:59PM

Main British Car:
1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS

authors avatar
Re: MGB GT V8 Conversion
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: April 29, 2020 09:32AM

I see you bought into the idea that you had to set the engine back. Too bad. Might want to look at weight and balance figures from the meet reports.

Jim
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