The BritishV8 Pub

If you have a computer with Windows 10, there are two apps built in that can be used to resize pics, Photo & Paint.

Good Morning, New member here, After having owned a few MG'S and Bugeye's over the last 25 plus years I now have a 1980 MGB that has had the motor out for maybe 10 years and had lost interest in the original 55hp 4 cylinder, Lately I have been thinking about a 302 Ford swap and saw some really nice swaps at Dillard Georgia last weekend at the show. Question I have is I need an automatic and am looking for suggestions as in C4 or ? but would rather have an overdrive style.


Also I see the gathering in Townsend Tenn. next weekend, Is there a schedule at to what is happening when?

Thanks in advance
Ronald Ford
Woodburn, KY.

No schedule - that's by design. Just a time for folks to gather informally, and always a good turnout. There will be plenty of lots of time to check out some great cars and how they were done, some impromptu drives, and plenty of opportunity for some great one-on-one time with like-minded enthusiasts.

Sounds like a great time, I was afraid I came over after work on Friday (about 5 hours) and then everyone would be gone out driving all day Saturday with no time to talk and look at the cars. If I come over I'll be in a '15 Miata retractable top. It also puts a smile on my face lol

They will be gone & at a cookout Friday evening, Ron.

Understand about the cookout, It will be about my bedtime by the time I get there after getting off work at 5 pm CST.

Thanks
Ronald

Hi everyone, John here. I've come across this forum many times while researching engine swap ideas for my 1979 TR7, so I decided to join.

My first car ever was a 1967 MG Midget, with the pre-smog A series motor pushing out 65 hp, allegedly. That car taught me a lot of things but I had to sell it when I went to college. Nearly 40 years later, I bought a TR7 convertible to work on with my car-loving 16 year old son. We've done several projects to get ready for the engine swap including:

Upgraded the suspension with TSI higher rate springs and bushings, and new shocks/strut inserts, plus new needle bearings on the strut towers.
Replaced other suspension wear parts including the wheel bearings and rod ends.
Swapped the 13x5.5 minilite replicas on the car with 185/70 rubber for some 16x7 MGF wheels from the UK with 205/45 tires.
We still plan to upgrade the front brakes with some larger ventilated Wilwood rotors and 4 piston calipers before we do the engine swap.

I've relocated the 3 engine swap ideas I have onto the Triumph forum, comments welcome!

John












Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/24/2020 11:22AM by 7_Heaven.

Hi John, welcome to the forum!

Please, copy & paste your post to the Triumph section. That is the place to further discuss your car, as we try to keep this thread to introductions.

BTW, we have a 1UZ TR7 here, minus smog, though.

[forum.britishv8.org]

Howdy, everyone!

My name is Andrew Ficalora. I've had the pleasure of meeting several of y'all at a few of the past BV8's that I've attended with my dad, Rob. In fact, at the 2018 BV8 in Dayton, OH, I brought out my "British roadster inspired" 1993 Miata. However, I can now proudly say I'm a part of the MG club!

Last week I picked up a '78 MGB and Ford 302 from a '95 Mustang, and this past weekend my dad and I pulled the motor and trans from the B. Here's a quick pic I thought was neat. Over 14 years between the two photos, I guess you could say this apple didn't fall far from the tree!






Anywho, I'm still getting all the details together, but I look forward to the expanse of knowledge on this forum and taking my own B to a future BV8 one of these days.

- Andrew

Andrew, I see that you've pick up your dad's mechanical genes - if your conversion turns out anything like his, it'll be a winner.
...you've got all Winter to get it ready for Auburn!

Hi Drew!

I would welcome you aboard, but................you have already been here over 2 years. :)

Knowledge? Got all you need working right there with ya!

i did my first v8 healey conversion while stationed at ft sill ok in 1968...ford 289 and three speed manual. i sold the car in mid seventies and moved onto datsun z. years later i began to think about the healey and what happened to the car. in 2013 i came across wheelspinner publication listing known healey conversions by state. sure enough there was the car. i contacted the owner but he was not interested in selling. but about three months ago i was able to buy the car from the owner at that time who lived in minnesota. needless to say i was very happy to be back in ownership and the car is now in south carolina. it was not this nice when i owned it and the engine had been updated to a 5.0, 8 inch narrowed rear end, rack and pinion steering and improved cooling. it matches up well with my other 59 bn6 with a 350 sbc and built 200 4r aod transmission.






Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/03/2020 09:51AM by maxwedge5281.

A friend of mine's dad had a 283 powered Healey back in my high school days - will always remember that car.
Nice ride you have...certainly a good candidate for "Nasty Boys" status.

Glad you got it back, Larry!

Hi,

I'm Anthony or Tony or "Hey You", depending on the circumstances. Currently, in the Northwest Indiana section of the Chicago sprawl, later...who knows?

I don't have a V8 conversion or engine or parts or a solid idea. But...there's a AH 3000 (profile photo) that has a locked engine, lots of rust repair needed (perhaps a Jule frame is in order?) and with the long term goal of being the "Stupid Ass Ridiculous Car." Originally the idea was to rebuild the 6-cyl lump, give it some guts, toss on some Weber carburetors, beef up the suspension and brakes, add those fancy (and expensive as hell) D-type Dunlop knock-ons (AH Spares sells them).

But after reading the Nasty Boys article in the November AHCA club magazine, maybe I'm thinking of ditching the 6-cyl, the not-so-good transmission, and doing some hotrodding. I have a Land Rover V8 readily available with a manual box attached (still in the truck), so perhaps that's one route. Or I could go the route of a Ford-Chevy-Buick V8. I'm ok mechanical-wise (can handle pretty much most jobs so long as I have the tools and some kind of guide), but have little to no experience in body modification and so on (but everyone else started at zero at some point, so it's not entirely in the words of Ralph Wiggum, "unpossible.")

If not that, there's two ratty Sprites (one Frogeye and the other a Spridget) that my dad and I have considered doing something ridiculous and fun with.

Looking forward to learning a lot and taking the leap.

New guy, go easy. I am a 23yr pipe welder with a bunch of powerhouse experience as well as ammonia and process food experience. I’ve done a lot with X-ray welding as well as UT. Last October I went into education and took a teaching roll in welding and fab at a local high school. All to get out of the physical labor of course. I should have done this a while ago, it’s a hoot. I’am starting a 302 build here in a 70 BGT in Green Bay,WI. It may seem a little rough but it sure seems fairly solid. It needs outer sills for sure and floors but inners it may not, we’ll see. Next Saturday I’m
Suppose to pick it up. The car has spent the last 25yrs in a dry barn and last fall hauled out to make its way to a crusher. A local MG guru has it and I think we worked out a deal on the parts I would like to go with it as well. I’m excited about our new venture, I think it’s going to be a lot of fun. The vision for this build is a classic GT car with some power and modern refinements, I have a picture of a 275 GTB in my head as a benchmark. Thanks for the add guys I guess a build page is coming soon. The pics are from Friday’s look at it. Also paint color and interior I have in the vision for it.

Welcome, Steve. Looking forward to your Project Journal!

Welcome both Anthony and Steve.

Thanks Carl and Rob. Carl next time I’m down we should see about meeting up. I get down by you once or twice a year. Kurt is a really good friend of mine. I believe your TF owner.

Kurt Rosenberg, owner of my former TF project? Great guy!