V8
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SPECIFICATIONS
(Conversion & Restoration
Details)
As
of: 11 July 2008
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Since things change as work
progresses, when I finalize a part of the car, I'll provide a
complete listing of the modifications/changes that were actually made.
There are 2 sections one can visit from here:
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SPECIFICATIONS
- Comparison of factory car to
theAutoist's
car general specs.
MODIFICATIONS
- What I'm doing different from the
factory. |
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SPECIFICATIONS
A comparison of the factory car to my
car
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1979 FACTORY |
theAutoist |
Weight
(curb/test): |
2590 lbs |
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Overall
length: |
12ft 9.2in |
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Steering
Turns
Lock-to-Lock: |
3.5 |
2.9 |
Front
Brakes |
10.75in disc w/2-pot
calipers
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10.75in disc w/4-pot
calipers
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Rear
Brakes: |
10in drums |
10.5in 1985 Saab 900 Disc
w/2-pot calipers |
Parking
Brake |
Cable
operated. |
Cable
operated Wilwood spot mechanical caliper. |
Shocks: |
Armstrong
lever shocks at 4 corners, integral upper control arm at the front, linked
to leaf spring retaining plate at the rear. |
GAZ tube
coil-over shocks at 4 corners with no springs on rear shocks. |
Engine: |
4 cylinder
in line, pushrod ohv. |
Rover 4.2
liter aluminum alloy V8 |
Carburetor: |
Single Zenith-Stromberg (though I had converted it to dual HIF-4's w/Peco
header) |
Quad
SU-44's on a Boxer 2-piece cross flow intake manifold |
Transmission: |
Four speed
manual, all synchromesh |
Five speed
manual, all synchromesh |
Final
Drive: |
Live axle,
hypoid bevel gears, 3.909:1 |
Live axle,
hypoid bevel gears, 3.07:1 |
Wheels |
14" x
4.5" Rostyle |
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GENERAL BODY &
INTERIOR MODIFICATIONS |
BODY
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+ Transmission tunnel modified for V-8
conversion.
+ Inner front fenders modified for RV8-style exhaust
headers.
+ Inner fenders modified for better air flow over headers through Shelby Cobra
fender vents.
+ Rubber bumpers removed & body converted to pre-'68 chrome bumper style.
+ Fiberglass front fenders modified for new Mini Cooper headlight units.
+ Fiberglass Sebring front valance w/integrated brake vents.
+ Rear custom fiberglass Sebring valance with recessed license plate &
exhaust openings.
+ Custom aluminum egg crate grille in reshaped grille opening.
+ Custom MGC fiberglass hood w/enlarged GT6 'hump'.
+ Side trim, side marker lights, badges removed.
+ Door/trunk handles shaved & remote locks installed.
+ Early 2-piece taillights w/amber upper lens & integrated backup lights.
+ Custom front turn signal light assemblies.
+ 'Windblocker'.
+ Packaway top frames.
+ Non-vented gas tank centered under trunk; sending unit moved to front of tank.
+ All emissions controls removed.
+ Gas and brake lines relocated from underneath car to inside transmission tunnel. |
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ELECTRICAL/STEREO
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+ Fuse block moved into passenger compartment utilizing Ian Pender kit.
+ Ignition & battery relays modernized with Hella plug-ins.
+ Custom solid state voltage stabilizer by Wray Lemke.
+ 45amp GE Delco alternator.
+ Wiring harness run outside engine compartment under passenger fender.
+ Rear main wiring harness relocated from underneath car to under passenger seat.
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INTERIOR
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+ Custom Biscuit interior:
= Mr. Mike's leather Pontiac Fiero seats w/Infinity speakers & built-in racing
harnesses.
= Fiero arm rests
= Dash & all interior trim dyed Biscuit to match
seats
+ SAFE QUIP 5-point racing harnesses.
+ Moto-Lita 14" wood steering wheel.
+ Burlwood dash kit added to dash & console.
+ Jaguar XJ12 instruments (160-mph speedo, 7000rpm tach, amp, oil pressure, temp, fuel).
+ Clock relocated to radio console in lieu of cigar lighter.
+ Trunk area carpeted.
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STEERING |
+ 1975 MGB steering assembly
(2.9 turns 'lock-to-lock'). |
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REAR
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+
Doug Jackson
composite springs.
+ Doug Jackson panhard bar.
+ Doug Jackson anti-tramp bars.
+ Custom built 'top hats' frame/ spring hanger reinforcement.
+ MGC 3.07:1 gears in rebuilt MGB rear end.
+ Original anti-sway bar.
+ GAZ adjustable tube shocks.
+ Poly bushings.
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FRONT
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+ 3/4" Ron Hopkinson sway bar.
+ New king pins.
+ Vertically offset swivel axles by MG LTD.
+ Hawk Cars & Hoyle Engineering Ltd coil-over
shock suspension kit.
+ Modified front suspension cross member
+ Polyurethane bushings.
+ Front hubs shaved 5/16".
+ Front rotors cross-drilled to lighten.
+ Original suspension beam cross-drilled to lighten. |
ENGINE |
+ Glenn
Towry-built Rover 4.2L
Rover V8 engine:
= Late Rover 3.9L block with cross-drilled 4-bolt main bearings.
= Rover 4.2L 'long stroke' crankshaft.
= Rover 5.7" 4.2L 'long stroke' rods.
= A&E Hepalite 3.9L short stroke pistons shaved .080" off top
& 1/8" off bottom with moly rings.
= Triumph TR8 carbureted heads with combustion chambers relieved, oversize 1.625" intake valves
&
1.325" exhaust valves, ported, polished,
decked.
= Chevrolet small block valve springs with 95 pounds on valve seats.
= Double roller timing chain.
= Isky 270° cam with Isky 'anti-pump up' lifters.
= All reciprocating parts balanced & blueprinted.
Bore: 3.7"
Stroke: 3.0"
10.5:1 compression.
= Oil galleys opened to at least 1/2".
= Neoprene seals.
= Brass freeze plugs.
= Morosso spark plug wires.
= 11 pound aluminum billet flywheel with 10-1/2" Rover SD-1 Borg & Beck clutch.
+ Buick 216 V8 distributor upgraded to Pertronix ignitor electronics.
+ Nippon Denso/TS Imported Automotive 'Hi-Torque' 4.44:1 gear reduction starter.
+ BOXER intake manifold w/4 HIF 44 Carb's:
modifications are:
= Halved throttle spindle
= Butterfly knife-edged
= Throttle-fixing screw-heads and shafts countersunk and cut down, smoothed
off, (Loctite threadlock used of course)
= Carb body ported around intersection with dashpot bore
= Piston leading and trailing edges smoothed, to eliminate sharp leading/trailing edges
= General smoothing of any sharp edges or manufacturing errors such as
casting flash.
= Carb inlets smoothed to match
Velocity stacks (trumpets).
+ TS Imported Automotive Jet Hot ceramic coated RV8-style headers.
+ DELCO 45amp alternator.
+ Remote oil filter.
+ Rover "short" water pump with Triumph TR7 fan. |
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TRANSMISSION |
+ Rover SD-1 big bearing 5-speed transmission w/shifter modified to fit MG tunnel when engine in 'setback' position.
+ Modified TR6 drive shaft.
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GENERAL
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+ Axle-divided, two-circuit foot brake system.
+ Entire system converted to
non-servo boosted '74 MGB dual-line system.
+ Proportioning valve.
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FRONT
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+ Rover SD-1 4-pot calipers.
+ MGB GT V8 original equipment rotors, cross drilled.
+ Braided stainless steel brake hoses.
+ Dust covers eliminated.
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REAR
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+ 1985 Saab 900 disc brakes on custom brackets.
+ Brake backing plates removed. |
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HANDBRAKE |
+
Cable operated Wilwood spot
mechanical caliper on custom brackets.
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