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Anonymous User


( posts)

Registered:
12/31/1969 07:00PM

Main British Car:


Jim Underwood TR8
Posted by: Anonymous User
Date: July 06, 2017 09:01AM

I have owned this car since 1995. It was purchased from a fellow local TR club member. I had contemplated a V-8 conversion on an MGB but figured why go through all that when I could get a car with the V-8 from the factory. Seeing and hearing Woody’s car at the BCD in Bowie MD. Sealed the deal!

When I got it, the car was in stock form but in need of cosmetics and the usual mechanical repairs. The paint and top were shot but it only had a couple minor rust spots and some parking lot door dings. I stripped it to bare metal and repainted in the original Persian Aqua Base/Clear. A new top and interior were installed also. Mechanical repairs/upgrades included new uprated suspension bushes, KYB shocks and a rebuild of all the hydraulics. The engine got an Edelbrock intake, Holley 390 carb, Mallory dizzy with MSD ignition and a set of headers. A set of Panasports with new tires finished it off.

At this stage it was a very nice driver. It even got a couple of awards at the shows. When I bought it, I didn’t intend to do a total ground up restoration like I did on my 72 MGB. This was just supposed to be a real nice car that I wouldn’t be so afraid to take out and use. That it was until December of 01 when a lady in a Hyundai Sonata blasted into the back end of it.

At this point I decided that in addition to the collision repairs, I would take it all the way down and do a more complete Resto-Mod. 6 years 4 months later, it finally returned to the road. As is always the case, I have a few more things I’d like to do to it as time and budget allow.


Specs:

Car
1980 TR8 DHC
VIN# TPVD8AT206333
Persian Aqua

Mods:

TR7 manual steering rack
Air Conditioning removed
TR7 FHC front bumper (reinforcement lightened)
Wedgeshop springs
KYB struts & shocks
TR7 3.45 rear axle
Quaife LSD
Rear trailing arm pickups lowered 1 1/4" at axle
Adjustable spring pads on trailing arms.
Reinforced lower rear suspension pickups on body
4 piston AP Lockheed calipers & Toyota Supra ventilated discs (frt)
Line lock & bias valve
14x6 Panasport wheels
205/60/14 Yokahama AVS ES 100 tires
Kirk Racing roll bar
NOS TR7 Spyder door trim
Seats reupholstered in black with charcoal velour inserts

Power Source
Advertising Campaign Video
3.9 Rover crate short block
Block decked .045 (10 to1 CR)
3.9 Rover heads
1.630 intake 1.4 exhaust valves
Heads pocket ported and ports matched
Crane dual springs & retainers
Comp Cams 270 camshaft
Edelbrock roller timing chain set
Edelbrock Performer intake
Holley 390 carburetor
Holley Fuel Pump
Kirk racing headers
Mallory points distributor with MSD 6AL ignition and coil
2” exhaust with chambered mufflers and resonator tips (IT”S LOUD!!)
Best 1/4mi Drag Strip time to date 14.20 @ 98mph.
Update..13.84 @ 99.87mph..chipping away....
Latest 13.60 @ 100.00MPH Summer Party 09


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4511 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Jim Underwood TR8
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: July 17, 2017 10:32AM

No pics?!


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