1977 MGB V8 Roadster Conversion

I bought this British racing green MGB roadster in 2011, roceeded to remove the heavy, eak 1800 cc 4 banger and 4 speed transmission and then engage in a year long assembly process to install a lightweight, ll-aluminum Buick 215 ci V8 and 5 speed Camaro gearbox.

British Leyland had actually performed the same engine conversion years ago in a MGB GT, o it was not an unknown feat. There is in reality, huge support network both here and in England for this exact conversion.

The performance transformation with this engine and drivetrain is truly exhilarating. It now accelerates with the speed of a modern high powered sports car and thanks to the 5th gear overdrive, an cruise comfortably on a highway at very low RPMs. I get close to 30 mpg on the highway!

Unfortunately, just turned 75 and can't get my 6 foot plus frame in and out of the car the way I used to, o I've decided it's time to give the car a new home.

The MGB however, s in great shape. There is a little rust under the passenger side dogleg, ut that's it. The top is in good shape. All the conversion bugs have been sorted out and its truly a pleasure to drive.

The car was painted by the previous owner just prior to my purchase. The usually objectionable black rubber bumpers were painted the same color as the body and I get a lot of complements on this feature.

Everything works (signals, ipers, orn, ights. heater, ashers, tc.) I've even entered the car in two British car shows and taken 1st in my class twice. The last show a week ago.

The only external changes I've made to the car are tasteful (but expensive) louvers in the hood and the addition of a V8 insignia on the rear deck.This also is the exact insignia pattern used by the earlier factory V8. Oh, nd I did center the gas tank, o that I could have dual exhausts.

I went a little overboard on the money I spent on this project (well over $20K). The good thing is that I put the money on the things that made good sense (engine, speed gearbox, orrect ratio rear axle and all the modern reliability items while retaining the simplicity of the carburetor aspired engine.

Here's a list of the performance modifications I put into the MGB:

Engine: (odometer mileage on rebuilt engine: 3056 miles)

1963 Buick 215 ci all-aluminum engine professionally rebuilt with honed cylinders and new Hastings rings. Valve job and head reconditioning. New Crower stage 2 hydraulic lifter cam & lifters. All engine oil passages enlarged with 5/8 oil pick-up installed (ensures better oil flow to lifters). Large oil pump gears for improved flow. Booster plate. Metric oil pump base and remote oil filter. Edelbrock 1404 4 barrel carburetor. Offenhauser finned alum valve covers.

Ignition: Delco distributor rebuilt by D&D Fabrications. Pertrronix solid state ignition system. HD Flamethrower ignition coil.

Cooling: Custom HD aluminum radiator fabricated by D&D. 16" electrical pusher fan (thermostatically activated). High flow water pump (D&D). Pulley mounted engine fan.

Transmission: Professionally re-built '88 Camaro world class 5 speed gearbox. Transdapt custom bell housing. Shortened shifter.

Clutch: lightweight (27 lb.) flywheel. Camaro spec disc & pressure plate. McLeod hydraulic throw out bearing. New clutch master cylinder.

Rear Axle: New MGC ring & pinion gears (3.31 ratio). New shortened & balanced driveshaft by BMC.

Exhaust: Gas tank centered to accommodate dual exhaust. Twin Dynomax mufflers. Jet coated 1.5" dia tube headers (4 into 1 collectors). Headers routed through fenders via RV8 style.

Electrical: 100 amp alternator. Custom lightweight gear reduction starter. Halogen headlights. Relays wired into selected high draw components.

Brakes: standard MGB power brakes. All new premium green front pads. All new rear shoes. All new hard and soft brake lines and bleeders. New master cylinder.

Suspension: All new suspension polyurethane bushings. New premium front Suplex (lowered) springs. New arm damper shock.

Wheels & Tires: New Minilite style cast wheels. New Yokohama Touring S tires (size P195/70R14)

Gauges: all new Speedhut premium gauges (tach & speedo imprinted with 'MGB V8').

Other: Kenwood AM/FM radio & CD player. Gas hood supports. detachable wind screen. GPS 12 volt port. drink holders. battery shut-off switch in trunk. Mustang heater valve (more reliable than MGB).