MG Sports Cars

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

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Spitfire 350
Phil McConnell
Perrysburg, OH (Toledo area)
(259 posts)

Registered:
01/11/2010 09:19PM

Main British Car:
74 Spitfire 350Chevy

authors avatar
'73 MGB with 13B rotary 5spd swap
Posted by: Spitfire 350
Date: February 14, 2022 08:09AM

I stumbled onto this Autotrader ad yesterday. It caught my eye because I originally built this car back in 1988. It has been through a few owners and had some improvements done since I let it go. I contacted the owner and we confirmed that it is the car I owned all those years ago. I never expected to see it again, thank you internet.

[classics.autotrader.com]
1973-MG-MGB-Import Classics--Car-100834980-a31eccb4d7c30f51d6b37357957acfd9.jpg


kstevusa
kelly stevenson
Southern Middle Tennessee
(985 posts)

Registered:
10/25/2007 09:37AM

Main British Car:
2003 Jaguar XK8 Coupe 4.2L DOHC/ VVT / 6sp. AT

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Re: '73 MGB with 13B rotary 5spd swap
Posted by: kstevusa
Date: February 14, 2022 09:00AM

Great News Phil, just buy it and add to your inventory! :-)


Spitfire 350
Phil McConnell
Perrysburg, OH (Toledo area)
(259 posts)

Registered:
01/11/2010 09:19PM

Main British Car:
74 Spitfire 350Chevy

authors avatar
Re: '73 MGB with 13B rotary 5spd swap
Posted by: Spitfire 350
Date: February 14, 2022 10:01AM

I wish I could Kelly, that car is a hoot to drive. I still have a stock Spitfire that I need to sell. The garage here is full.
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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

authors avatar
Re: '73 MGB with 13B rotary 5spd swap
Posted by: rficalora
Date: February 15, 2022 10:39AM

Wow Phil, that's cool! And the car still looks great after 34 years.


Spitfire 350
Phil McConnell
Perrysburg, OH (Toledo area)
(259 posts)

Registered:
01/11/2010 09:19PM

Main British Car:
74 Spitfire 350Chevy

authors avatar
Re: '73 MGB with 13B rotary 5spd swap
Posted by: Spitfire 350
Date: February 15, 2022 11:20AM

Thanks Rob
The current owner did have the whole car repainted. He said that the driver side needed some touch up work and the body shop said they couldn't match the blue that was on the car, so they did a complete repaint as close as they could get. The wheels are still the color I painted them. I always loved the stance of the car and how the tire/wheel combo perfectly fills the openings.
Phil


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4585 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

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Re: '73 MGB with 13B rotary 5spd swap
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: February 16, 2022 10:06AM

You still own a stock Spitfire? Ha. Wouldn't have believed that. :)

So. what is that magical tire/wheel size combo?


Spitfire 350
Phil McConnell
Perrysburg, OH (Toledo area)
(259 posts)

Registered:
01/11/2010 09:19PM

Main British Car:
74 Spitfire 350Chevy

authors avatar
Re: '73 MGB with 13B rotary 5spd swap
Posted by: Spitfire 350
Date: February 16, 2022 10:35AM

That car is using 205/60/14. I believe that there is no offset to the wheels, but that was a long time ago. The rear fender lips were hammered up on the inside and I used a scissors jack and 2x4s to widen the wheel wells to clear the tires. I cut 2 inches off of the front springs after the swap was complete. Rotary engines don't weigh much and the fenders are fiberglass. The engine was "Street Ported" using templates from Racing Beat.

It's fun to take the stock Spitfire and the modified Spitfire to the local shows, really puts things in perspective.



MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4585 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

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Re: '73 MGB with 13B rotary 5spd swap
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: February 16, 2022 04:27PM

No doubt!


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