The BritishV8 Pub

Hey everyone. Jim from Illinois. Found you guys while doing some research on modifications I want to make on my 65 Spitfire. I acquired this car because I was looking for a cheap (and by cheap I mean initial investment) project. I knew this car has some rust issues, but was not prepared for what I found when I tore it apart. I wont be posting any pics with this post, but will be adding in the project section.

This is the first major project of this magnitude that I have ever done. I am not a "Body Man" but apparently I am going to be learning new skills. Seeing as how I work in a Hot Rod shop, I have access to metal shaping and fab equipment so I dont feel entirely overwhelmed by all that needs to be done haha. I pretty much know I want this to be a v8 car, but not opposed to a V6 either. I'm planning on making it an automatic so the wifey can drive it some too. The rest of the details have not yet manifested.

And so this is my beginning into the world of modified British Cars. And what a journey this will be!!

Welcome Jim, come down and visit with us in W.V for our annual meet in June!

Hello everyone,

This is Matt, and I am super excited that this site exists, complete with a forum! I am about to start on a very big project for me, and I hope I can find guidance from folks who have done something similar before. My background is sculpture and metal fabrication, so in exchange for technical advice, if anyone needs help metal forming/welding related, I will gladly add my two cents.

My project is Margot, a forgotten Mk2 spitfire I pulled out of a field.. literally pulled with a tractor. There is practically nothing left from the sills down, the motor/trans/diff were still intact, but most of the suspension, all axles, hubs, interior, gas tank and other bits are missing. It was a parts car for I assume other spits and GT6's that were in better shape. My goal is to return it to the road one day.

After much debate and pricing genuine Triumph parts, and my distaste for the original rear suspension design, I've decided to go with a Chevy small block as the basis for the build, and piece together something from what ever I can find thats "good and cheap" to learn how to build a car from the frame up.

My ultimate goal is to shift my career into custom coach building / legacy vehicle restoration, so I figured starting with an existing car instead of a total blank piece of paper was a smart place to start. I know it's a huge leap and a big learning curve, but I'm up for it.


I'll post pictures of the Triumph soon as I can figure out how.

Also, I have a 1969 Morris Mini 1000, Helena, which I love dearly.


Thanks, and hopefully I can find some help with my rabbit hole of a build, and hopefully I can help add some info for other folks.


--Matt

Welcome Matt. You'll find lots of help here. You should start a project thread in the Triumph section. Be prepared for input on engine choice. Whether its a good choice or not depends heavily on what you want out of the car when its done.

Hi all.

Laurance and I are so happy to have met you all. We came to our first show ever in West Virginia. How beautiful that trip was. And we showed up with best British V8 that was the envy of the group. If you don't believe us, just ask Mr. Kelly Stevenson. He will definitely vouch for our beauty. We have a beautiful Must B that was the pride of the entire group.. We have to admit, we were very proud to be there in our classic! We felt so welcome from the moment we arrived. We cannot wait to meet y'all in Townsend, TN.
Thank you all so much, for making us so welcome. We are so happy to be invited to another meet. We're doing the countdown until we can gather again. We can't wait to "kick some tires and tell some lies"! See you all in October!

Laurance & Casey

Hi Casey.

West Virginia was a blast. Glad you & Laurance will be coming down for our October GT in Townsend!

WELCOME Casey & L. great to see you have joined the Fraternity. It was evident you all had a great time in Lewisburg. Please to hear the car is still being enjoyed as I intended. Look fwd to seeing you both in Townsend. Mickey has you in the pot. Suggestion: Use route off I-81& I-40 through Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Hwy 321 (Wear Valley) to Townsend. Probably shorted and avoid Knoxville.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/09/2017 09:09AM by kstevusa.

I do not take that route any more. It is shorter, but not any faster. Plus, you have to deal with many traffic lights & endless tourist traffic. I can make it in 2 hours from the I-81 & I-25 Interchange (Kingsport, TN) by blasting straight into Knoxville via I-81 & I-40, then US 129 S (Knoxville Airport, Alcoa HWY exit), in Maryville go south (bear left) on US 321 S to Townsend. Just as fast & much easier.

Thanks Carl. The Alcoa Hwy. is probably best route. See you in Townsend.

Hello
Lawrence Owen Seattle, Wa
I had a 1960 Sunbeam in the early eighties. I loved that car. I recently purchased a 62 sunbeam alpine . I really like the B. Ashby CA18DET conversion i found on line and want to do a similar build. I am just getting started.




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/24/2017 01:06AM by lowen.

Welcome Lawrence. I don't see a transmission in that pic, so looks like you're on your way! Definitely start a thread & keep us posted on progress. Looking forward to seeing this progress; we don't get to see many Alpines being done.

Hi guys and gals! My name is Dan Beck, and I live in Prescott, AZ. After 7 years I finally completed my 1957 MGA V8 conversion, and I thought I would share a couple pictures. I have to say this website was very valuable for me in terms of providing ideas for the construction of this project, and for that I am very grateful!

On that note, about two months ago I mailed a CD containing photos and the 'how I did it' form to a Portland, OR address, thinking I was submitting my project to the data base. Perhaps I mailed to an incorrect address? Please advise. I wish to share more, if possible.

Cheers!
Dan

Hi dan, and welcome! Your car looks great - and color coordinated with the house too ;). The Portland address is probably right. Curtis (the forum moderator) moved that way a few years ago. He has a full time job now and does the forum in his spare time. I'm confident he'll get yours poisted eventually.

Hi Everyone,

Just found this great website and forum. My name is Jason and I am a Brit, originally from Abingdon but now living in Germany. The reason that I am snooping around in the background is because I have got this itch, and it's a V8 itch that needs to be scratched! This seed was planted when I was a kid because we lived just a few miles away from the MG factory. I had family working in the trim shop and MG's were a very common site around town. I can still vividly remember seeing and hearing my first ever factory V8 at the summer fete. Just the memory of that moment gives me goosebumps! I must have been around 8 years old (1985) and I couldn't understand how such a beautiful sound was coming from that little red MGB, it stopped me in my tracks.
Anyway, fast forward to 2017 and I have been the proud owner of a stunning 1969 MGB GT for the last 5 years. I have an Oselli 1950cc engine, frontline front and rear suspension, frontline brakes etc. I think this is a good base to accommodate the 'next step' of researching, finding and fitting a V8.
I'm not in a big hurry as I am finishing another project at the moment but I am getting very excited about a V8. I'm here to read, learn, ask a few questions and hopefully get that memory of my first V8 back every time I drive my own MG.

Cheers,
Jason.

Hi guys, stumbled across this website whilst doing some research.

Im Scott, a marine engineer who works onboard an Anchor handler & lives in the Shetland Isles when im not onboard my ship.

Currently in my fleet is a 3.5 EFI V8 Defender 90, 300tdi Defender 130 & a mk5 Ford Escort Van that was used as a fire engine for the Highlands & Islands Fire Brigade.

The reason im here is I feel the want, or is that the need? to Supercharge my 90! haha.

Any info on where to start would be greatly appreciated, from what I've been told by the previous owner, Mr John Eales had rebuilt the engine approx. 2000 miles ago (just need to send him the engine number to confirm) so she should be in good stock already.

Cheers
Scott

Welcome Jason & Scott. You'll find there's a wealth of info and knowledgeable folks. Scott, for your super charging questions you'll likely get more response if you post some specifics in the engine/drivetrain section.

Hi my name is Jim and I'm a Britisholic! There that's out of the way. I go by the name of Oddbrit because that's what I seem to favor owning or having having owned Turner's, TVR's, Warwick's, Lotus, etc. That being said my real true love is a 1972 MGB GT that I helped a friend convert to a 3.5 carbed Rover motor in 1990 with much advice and parts from Glen Towery. I had to opportunity to purchase the car from my friend about 4 years ago with it having only covers about 5,000 miles since conversion. In the last 4 years I have put over 11,000 miles on the car.

Now that I know the car I'm starting modifications to improve some of it's weaker points in my eye. The first of these will be the rear suspension as I have a Frontline 5 link on order. I'm also starting to plan and gather parts to convert to a 4.6 motor with a 14CUX EFI unit this fall/winter. I would love to hear from anyone you have undertaken a 4.6 in a MGB for as we all know it's better to learn from others who have tread the path before.

I look forward to being an active participant in the forum and hope to meet many of you in Dayton this year.

Blue skies and green lights, Jim Bolinger

Welcome Jim, You could consider joining us in Dayton in July of this year. Would be great to meet another member of the conversion group.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/30/2018 09:10AM by kstevusa.

Yeah the Dayton meet is shaping up to be one of the best. (They are ALL the best, aren't they!)

Jim

Thanks Kelly and Jim. I'm already making plans for Dayton and plan on bring along another friend who is in the process of a 302 conversion on a 73 TVR 2500M.

Look forward to meeting some of you there!