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MG Sports Cars

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

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

1st test drive Posted by: rficalora Date: March 07, 2011 06:20PM Posted a video on YouTube -- [www.youtube.com] Raised it up a bit & still too low to make it out of my driveway -- exhaust just hangs too low so will have to address that. Also only had 2nd gear. Tranny is ok; adapter I made for shifter "stalk" was hitting the shifter casing keeping it from fully engaging 1st or 3rd... so stayed in 2nd. Fixed that last night. Bigger issue was it overheated -- turned out I have the fan running backwards; should be able to correct that one evening this week & try it again. Still lots to do before May, but this was a big milestone!

ex-tyke Graham Creswick Chatham, Ontario, Canada (1165 posts) Registered: 10/25/2007 11:17AM Main British Car: 1976 MGB Ford 302

Re: 1st test drive Posted by: ex-tyke Date: March 07, 2011 08:14PM Despite a few niggling issues, you've got to be tickled pink about the first test drive. Congrats Rob!

psmg Paul Schils Fredonia, WI (89 posts) Registered: 12/13/2007 10:27AM Main British Car: 1973 MGB-GT, Buick 215 1971 MGB RD, SBF 302

Re: 1st test drive Posted by: psmg Date: March 07, 2011 09:10PM Looks and sounds great Rob. You've still got 2 months to get the bugs out. The nice thing is you've got great weather for all your testing and tuning. We've still got cold and snow. Great job, see you in Townsend.

harv8 Martyn Harvey Waterloo, Ontario, Canada (189 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 10:09PM Main British Car: MGB Rover V8, TVR Chevy V8, MGB GT Ford V8

Re: 1st test drive Posted by: harv8 Date: March 07, 2011 09:58PM Awesome Rob!

Jim Stabe Jim Stabe San Diego, Ca (829 posts) Registered: 02/28/2009 10:01AM Main British Car: 1966 MGB Roadster 350 LT1 Chevy

Re: 1st test drive Posted by: Jim Stabe Date: March 08, 2011 09:27AM Looks really good, sounds great also. Rob, you have to figure out how to get your car lower. The original stance you had was to die for. Jim

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

Re: 1st test drive Posted by: rficalora Date: March 08, 2011 10:54AM Jim, agreed -- expensive mistake... Going to have to lose the chambered exhaust & move to regular mufflers. Not only will the pipes under the bulk of the car be smaller diameter, but I'll be able to tuck them up tighter too. With luck I'll be able to resell the chambered exhaust tubes. I have a lot into the current set-up with the cost of the chambered exhaust & ceramic coating -- lesson learned.

RMO 699F Mike Maloney SW Ohio (531 posts) Registered: 12/09/2007 12:28PM Main British Car: 1974 MGB Sebring GT, 3.9 Rover V8

Re: 1st test drive Posted by: RMO 699F Date: March 08, 2011 08:49PM Congratulations Rob...look forward to seeing the car at Townsend!!

cgill Chris Gill Salmon Arm, British Columbia (129 posts) Registered: 08/13/2009 12:06AM Main British Car: 1979 MGB roadster Buick 300 stroker with EFI

Re: 1st test drive Posted by: cgill Date: March 09, 2011 08:21PM Wohoooo! Nice work Rob. That car is music to my ears.

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

Re: 1st test drive Posted by: rficalora Date: March 09, 2011 09:15PM Flipped the fan around & tested it this evening. Seems to be coling fine. And the fix to the shifter is good too. No more issue fully engaging 1st or 3rd. Going to measure for what I need in the way of exhaust pipe and get that ordered so I can knock it out hopefully next weekend. What recommendations do you guys have for mufflers? Want a mellow tone but not too loud (it'll be parked in a parking garage whenever I drive it to work). And, I'd like the mufflers to tuck up behind the IRS on either side of the fuel tank (centered tank).

cgill Chris Gill Salmon Arm, British Columbia (129 posts) Registered: 08/13/2009 12:06AM Main British Car: 1979 MGB roadster Buick 300 stroker with EFI

Re: 1st test drive Posted by: cgill Date: March 10, 2011 09:14PM Rob, Have you checked out dan master's exhaust setup on his gt?

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

Re: 1st test drive Posted by: rficalora Date: March 11, 2011 12:07AM Thanks Jake -- it has been fun. Kids keep wanting to go for rides which is great but I do need to spend the time to sort the exhaust & install the interior :).

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

Re: 1st test drive Posted by: rficalora Date: March 11, 2011 04:48PM Thanks Bill. Shoes are definitely optional & generally frowned on by my kids. Believe it or not, our neighborhood has some of the bigger yards around. Most around here are about the size of a postage stamp. If it were up to me I'd live on acreage somewhere but my wife likes having neighbors.

Bruce Mills Bruce Mills Vancouver Canada (71 posts) Registered: 11/28/2007 09:31PM Main British Car: 1974.5 MGB Roadster 3.5 Rover

Re: 1st test drive Posted by: Bruce Mills Date: March 15, 2011 07:57PM Very nice Still have the smile on your face? Bruce

deltadave dave plumley unionville TN (69 posts) Registered: 10/24/2010 08:21PM Main British Car: 1953 MG TD Chevy 350

Re: 1st test drive Posted by: deltadave Date: March 16, 2011 02:39PM hey Rob, great looking car and the engine sounds terrific, you've got some fun driving coming you way!

pspeaks Paul Speaks Dallas, Texas (698 posts) Registered: 07/20/2009 06:40PM Main British Car: 1972 MGB-GT 1979 Ford 302

Re: 1st test drive Posted by: pspeaks Date: March 17, 2011 05:49PM I hope my GT sounds half that good Rob; fantastic job! "P"

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

Re: 1st test drive Posted by: rficalora Date: March 18, 2011 10:26AM Thanks guys. Exhaust sound will likly change since I'll be swapping out the chambered tubes for regular exhaust tubes & mufflers. Not sure if he was just talking or was serious but the guy who did the alignment said he wanted to buy my exhaust from me for his car (I didn't see what he had). Told him I'd call him in a few weeks when I have the new exhaust done & am ready to sell the parts I have.

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