MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - This better be worth it

After three years in the planning and three weeks of days and nights in the garage, I'm no closer to owning a 220 HP street monster.

I must be masochistic or something to have taken this on. I am determined though not to go the way of the 'For Sale, unfinished project' as long as my butt points to the ground.

Recent exploits include:

1. Setting garage on fire (grinding)

2. Setting self on fire (welding)

3. Cutting right index finger to bone (sill removal)

4. Nervous breakdown (any minute now)

No matter how much safety equipment I wear, I seem to be inventing new ways of injuring myself.

The whole point is...I've never even driven an MGB V8 so for this amount of money and effort that first drive better be nothing short of bloody spectacular.

Just thought I'd whine on the BBS as it seems a bit slow at the moment.

Kind Regards to all,

Stainzy
David Staines

LOL, well I hope you have a loada fun when you're done!
Dot

There's a letter in one of this month's classic mags from some einstein who spent 12 years restoring a frogeye, and then he was disappointed/stunned to find that after all the time and money and effort - "it doesn't drive like a modern car"!

Don't worry about giving up, though - when I bought Baby she'd been off the road for 20 years, being "restored" - but I think the owner actually DIED before she was finished. I have spent the past six years undoing the bodges...
Gilly

"as long as my butt points to the ground"

The time to stop is when it reaches it.

"that first drive better be nothing short of bloody spectacular"

It will be. That is, unless your regular steed is an Evo/Integra/Impreza.
Paul Hunt

Stainzy, Hang in there. I have driven a 'B with what the owner assured me was about the same amount of power and YES it will be worth it. One drive was enough to convince me to go do something similar.
Cheers, Pete, Sydney, Australia.
Peter Thomas

Stainz,
I am in the same boat my friend. I have never driven or even riden in a V8 MG. In fact I have only drive 2 vehicles with a V8 that were not trucks! Hey 4 bangers are to chep and easy to drive on a daily basis!

I bought my MGB 2 years ago with plans for an immediate transplant. I then had so much fun in her stock that I kept it that way whle researching and buying parts, last Dec she cam off road for last time. a year and a half later I am stuck at headers (building a 302 so will be a custom job) and no $$. I am dying to get her done, even if is just to start her up in the garage.. Hang in there, I am sure it will be worth it, every person I have ever talked to that has been in a V* MG swears by it as the best thing around...
Larry Embrey

STAINZ, I'M IN THE SAME BOAT, BUT HAVING OWNED A FORD POWERED V8B FOR 6YEARS BACK IN THE '70S ITS WELL WORTH THE WAIT. BEEN WORKING ON MY NEW ONE FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS NOW, AND ITS DRIVING ME NUTS WAITING. STEVE
Steve Nightingale

Stainzy...
It WILL be worth it!! Your first MG V-8 drive will be like the first time you had sex. You will wonder how you ever got along without it and it will initiate a lifelong craving for more. My conversion lasted through two wives....setting oneself on fire pales in comparison.
Kurt Schley

David,

It's worth it. I have a 215 Buick powered MGA, and it's the best MG I have ever driven, and I've driven five. Stay with it, you'll get there, keep up the good work.

Lyle
Lyle Jacobson

Hey Stainzy,

Just make sure you go out on a nice long straight road and learn the new braking technique you will need.

I never realised how quick a V8 could be till I nearly ran out of road, even with uprated brakes!

Chris Betson

Hey guys, thanks for the support. At least it's making me more enthusiastic to go out and do battle with the rear guards.

I can't believe that I have most major items...engine, gearbox, shortened ford axle, replacement panels, exhaust etc, but putting it together is like doing a jigsaw puzzle.

One thing I have figured out though...if in any doubt, replace it. My car was in generally sound condition with just a bit of surface rust here and there but once the paint came off there was a hole in one of the sills over a foot long. You could actually put your hand through it. Taking those sills off makes realise all the bodge jobs that have been done to the car in the last thirty years. Oh well, I guess I'll have peace of mind......eventually.

Anyway chaps, I'm off to do battle on the car again...it's like a knife fight in a phone booth when I get going, the wife and kids know to stay away and just keep sending in coffee.

Stainzy
David Staines

Get on with your battle. 6 years ago i read an issue about a MGBV8 in a classic car magazine. I decided to go that route. Bought an MGB without ever driving one before. Got all the parts and did the conversion.
I didn't damage myself but it costed a lot of time and money. The conversion was finished 3 years ago (only working on it in the winter, driving it with the 4 cilinder in the summer). The result is great and i never regretted for even a second. I think i will never sell that car. The smoothness, power and torque of the V8 makes it a great car to drive.
At the moment i am dismanting the car fully to get the bodywork done. This means that coming summer, the MG will not be on the road so it will be a tough summer.
Regards
Peter
Peter

Sorry to hear about your troubles David
Im sort of in a similar position
Ive lost my license and no one absolutely no one wants to buy a MGBV8 in adelaide.Even for a bargain at 18,000
Its been advertised that many times now!

But hang in there mate
the look you get from other people at the traffic lights wondering what the hell is in that car is always a treasured moment

Regards

Steve
Steve Berno

What a bunch of pikers! I've had my MG v8 project going for at least 14 years. Marriage, kids, no garage, a house remodel, and a 800 mile move still haven't gotten me to throw in the towel. I have a binder full of conversion materials, a project stalled out for years for want of money, time or desire, but the bug can't be gotten rid of. All this and I've also never taken a drive in a conversion. My wife keeps suggesting that we sell the car (I'd sooner sell one of the kids) and had the unmitigated gall to suggest that we not haul the car (hulk) to our new house (the one with the garage with room to do the conversion). God help me if I ever get a ride in a finished conversion - probably take to holding up liquor stores to finish the thing.
Don't give in to any of this selling business...
EHovley

If you like fast cars that can bruise your shoulder going through the twisties and two days later say 'where did that come from..Oh.', then you are at the right place. Much as I like to drive them though it's astonishing that I'll tolerate the downtime. Need several drivers instead of one I guess. Better yet, research and development test driver, so there'd always be something to drive, and I could have changes made on the spot. That's what I think would be fun.
Nice dream huh?
Jim Blackwood

Eric
You are an inspiration--My conversion is heading into two years and I have a garage that is large enough, a wife that supports me and doesn't want a new house, enough money to do it. My problem is time as I am sure everyone is short of. Hope to have mine on the road this spring--the thing that is helping me the most is keeping it simple. I have used off the shelf parts that are tried and true and except for the steering have not done any thing custom. Good luck and keep the faith.
James Johanski

Hi David,
You can do it!...Look at all the support you have...worldwide too!!
If you love MGBs, then you certainly won't regret your BV8 when its finished....guaranteed.

Martyn
http://www.mgbexperience.com/ca-mgbv8
Martyn

Stick with it Stainzy, it will be worth it.
I guess we were rather spoilt in the UK as we could buy the MG RV8 "off the shelf". This 3.9 litre fuel injected beast really is the Bizz. You can see my own example at http://www.theautoist.com/images/timhipwell3.jpg

regards to all, Tim
Tim

Shame about the license Steve. My car has sentimental value, hence the self torture, otherwise I'd check out your's in a shot.
Eric, you're a guru, I guess I'm trying to get mine done in 14 weeks rather than 14 years. Maybe I shouln't be so ambitious with the conversion time.
To be honest I have found the hardest part so far to be the restoration type stuff....sills, floors, rear guards, battery boxes, front guards etc etc etc. Oh yeah, forgot to mention doors.
I will persist though.
Martyn, seen your car in Magazines and websites...very nice.
When it's all done I want to put a website together that helps chrome bumper converters. Bit of a pipe dream right now I guess but maybe next year.

Stainzy
David Staines

Continuing replacing my floor. Marked where the plug welds will go on the car, removed old primer and painted all with weld-thru primer. Took the replacement panels out on to the back patio and sprayed with an aerosol paint remover to get the cheap black primer off. I think that's necessary in order not to defeat the purpose of the weld-thru paint that I'm going to apply to the bottom side of the new panels. Now, they're wrapped in plastic to let the stuff work, and till I can get to them. The excitement (not) of this part of the project fits in well with the showery, chilly day here. Into my sixth year now on the project. Hey, I have other hobbies to support, too! David, the thought of that first drive to the coast in the V8B keeps me going! It'll be a real cool car.

Best, Joe
Joe Ullman

This thread was discussed between 08/01/2002 and 13/01/2002

MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical BBS now