MG Sports Cars

Here's a new project journal that I'm excited about:

[forum.britishv8.org]

I've been daydreaming about a wider MGB with Chevy Power for years! I'm really looking forward to this one.

I remember seeing Jim's car in the Hot Rod Swap guide many years ago. Another one of the early swaps. The book called it a Buick 215 swap, but the pics showed an Olds 215 in the engine bay. According to Jim, its had both.

Eleven inches wider. Wow!

I wonder what he'll use for a windshield, Corvette?

Hi, Jim, It was your MGB in Peterson's Complete Book of Engine Swapping #4 that
got me interested in doing a swap myself. I still have the book! That was a couple
years back. I guess we're both a little older now. I finally did one. Now I have put
a 4.6L in my car. Thanks for being one of the people planting the engine swap seed! ! !
I hope to see your new at a British V8 meet one of these years.
Best regards, Jack

VERY impressive project, and an extremely rare sort of one indeed.

Jim

The windshield will be made from 2 stock windshield frames. The top and bottom pieces will be cut about 5/8 of the length to form longer right and left halves which will be reformed into the right curvature and welded together in the middle. I'll do the sdame with the rubber and have a joint in the middle. For the glass there is a product from Percy that is a coated lexan that won't scratch. They will actually send you a sample with some coarse stel woll to try it out. It won't be legal but it will be safe. There are tons of hotrods that are running around with plastic windshields and no wipers. Take a look at the next car show you go to. The windwings are gone and have been since the Engine Swapping article was written in the 70's, its a fair weather car!

Jack

I didn't realize that there were 4 versions of the Engine Swapping book. I was in the original circa 1973 and apparently they kept the piece in subsequent editions. It is amazing how many people have tracked me down over the years about that article - I would guess it is a couple dozen at least.

Jim

I read it many years ago at a book store. Later went back to actually buy it, but it was gone. Haven't seen a copy since.

If someone can give me a quick lesson on posting a pdf file I will post a copy of the original Engine Swapping article. I'm amazed I ever looked that young.

Jim

Unfortunately, the BritishV8 message board doesn't have a PDF-attachment feature. Wasn't that article/book published by Petersen Publishing Company? (Same publisher as MotorTrend, Hot Rod, Car Craft, etc., etc.) In our hyper-litigious country, it might be wise to get copyright permission...

Thanks, didn't think about that. If someone wants to PM me with their email address I could send it to them.

Jim