MGB GT V8 build. **SOLD**
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 8:26 am
In tandem with my dads Hillman Imp restoration, I thought I’d introduce you all to my MGB GT V8 project. Here is the car when purchased (2008) as a rolling shell but lots of spares and already converted to chrome bumper:
The engine bay had been primered over all the dirt and grease!
The wings had been fillered flat, presumably for a ‘de-seamed’ look
Upon removal it seems that this fillering was done as a quick fix to cover some rust. The ‘beading’ from the wing had rusted to the scuttle so when I removed them it left this damage. I don’t think repair sections are available but access is good from behind so I will be fabricating new sections myself.
When trying to remove the O/S wing it took me about 30 minutes because it was still seized solid after removing all the bolts. I eventually yanked it off and found that where the upper splash guard had rotted away from the inner wing, they had filled it with builders spray foam that had stuck the wing on! I think this car has been ‘restored’ by 2 people. The original person who has done a very good job and fitted new castle rails, jacking points, sills etc. Then the guy I bought it from who has tried to shortcut things and filling holes with fiberglass etc! Looking at the shall the only welding I think it will need is a pair of new inner wing upper splash guards, and the triangular section in front of them. These have a few pin holes which have been fibeglassed but I will be replacing them with new ones.
Underside is excellent
I sourced a 3.5 litre Rover P6 short nose motor, but 2 of the bores were rusted out so I scrapped the block but kept all the short nose parts. I will now be fitting a 3.9 engine.
Here is the shell as it looks now. 99.9% stripped and ready to be fitted to the rollover jig
Stripped was easy due to most of the bolts being new (lucky me). The crossbar in the image below was for a ‘soundsystem’ the previous owner was going to fit but I shall be relocating it to use as a harness strap for the harnesses and period bucket seats I am fitting.
First job done. I removed the front suspension as a whole, stripped it and cleaned/painted it. Some of the bodges were horiffic and had i known I wouldnt have towed the car home. Firslt some of the spring pan bolts had no nuts, and while the 2 anti-roll bar links are new, someone has forced a car wheelnut onto one, cross threading it. The only way to get it off was to drill the nut and of course the arm is useless. Idiots.
Here is the assembly removed from the car.
I've been told that the longer, rubber bumper steering rack mounts can crack when wider tyres and/or more loads are placed on them so I welded gussets to either side of both mounts to give it some better stiffness
Crossmember and suspension parts painted in 2 coats of POR-15 chassis black. I'll be getting lowered and stiffer springs and polybushes soon.
I also discovered that the previous owner has already fitted the car with the lowered and stiffened suspension I was going to buy for it! So thats a money saver.
Next job is the get the shell on a jig and begin the repairs noted above, along with the V8 modifications. This includes extending the height of the transmission tunnel slightly, centralising the fuel tank and making a second lip in the rear valence for the exhausts. I hope to fit a webasto roof but am having trouble finding a frame at the moment and can’t afford to pay a fortune for a new one. Once this is done I’ll be blasting or dipping it back to bare metal and then painting it. The underside and front/rear suspension will be coated with Frost POR 15 and seam sealant etc…then the rebuild can slowly begin.
I hope you enjoy, and look forward to words of encouragement.
The engine bay had been primered over all the dirt and grease!
The wings had been fillered flat, presumably for a ‘de-seamed’ look
Upon removal it seems that this fillering was done as a quick fix to cover some rust. The ‘beading’ from the wing had rusted to the scuttle so when I removed them it left this damage. I don’t think repair sections are available but access is good from behind so I will be fabricating new sections myself.
When trying to remove the O/S wing it took me about 30 minutes because it was still seized solid after removing all the bolts. I eventually yanked it off and found that where the upper splash guard had rotted away from the inner wing, they had filled it with builders spray foam that had stuck the wing on! I think this car has been ‘restored’ by 2 people. The original person who has done a very good job and fitted new castle rails, jacking points, sills etc. Then the guy I bought it from who has tried to shortcut things and filling holes with fiberglass etc! Looking at the shall the only welding I think it will need is a pair of new inner wing upper splash guards, and the triangular section in front of them. These have a few pin holes which have been fibeglassed but I will be replacing them with new ones.
Underside is excellent
I sourced a 3.5 litre Rover P6 short nose motor, but 2 of the bores were rusted out so I scrapped the block but kept all the short nose parts. I will now be fitting a 3.9 engine.
Here is the shell as it looks now. 99.9% stripped and ready to be fitted to the rollover jig
Stripped was easy due to most of the bolts being new (lucky me). The crossbar in the image below was for a ‘soundsystem’ the previous owner was going to fit but I shall be relocating it to use as a harness strap for the harnesses and period bucket seats I am fitting.
First job done. I removed the front suspension as a whole, stripped it and cleaned/painted it. Some of the bodges were horiffic and had i known I wouldnt have towed the car home. Firslt some of the spring pan bolts had no nuts, and while the 2 anti-roll bar links are new, someone has forced a car wheelnut onto one, cross threading it. The only way to get it off was to drill the nut and of course the arm is useless. Idiots.
Here is the assembly removed from the car.
I've been told that the longer, rubber bumper steering rack mounts can crack when wider tyres and/or more loads are placed on them so I welded gussets to either side of both mounts to give it some better stiffness
Crossmember and suspension parts painted in 2 coats of POR-15 chassis black. I'll be getting lowered and stiffer springs and polybushes soon.
I also discovered that the previous owner has already fitted the car with the lowered and stiffened suspension I was going to buy for it! So thats a money saver.
Next job is the get the shell on a jig and begin the repairs noted above, along with the V8 modifications. This includes extending the height of the transmission tunnel slightly, centralising the fuel tank and making a second lip in the rear valence for the exhausts. I hope to fit a webasto roof but am having trouble finding a frame at the moment and can’t afford to pay a fortune for a new one. Once this is done I’ll be blasting or dipping it back to bare metal and then painting it. The underside and front/rear suspension will be coated with Frost POR 15 and seam sealant etc…then the rebuild can slowly begin.
I hope you enjoy, and look forward to words of encouragement.