Jim Stuart's 1966 MGB with Rover 4.0L EFI V8
Owner: Jim StuartCity: Montgomery Village, MD
Model: 1966 MGB roadster
Engine: Rover V8
Conversion performed by: Owner
Note: | This car was first converted to Buick 215 power with Edelbrock 500CFM
carburetor. In this form, it was "completed" in about 2001. Later,
it was upgraded to Rover hot-wire EFI, and then the engine was
replaced with a 4.0L Rover. |
Cam: | Slightly lumpy. |
Cooling: | D&D copper/brass radiator. |
Exhaust: | Dual exhaust with mufflers and resonators. The gas tank was
centered to facilitate symmetrical construction. |
Transmission: | Chevy T-5, with 0.63:1 5th gear. Custom driveshaft. |
Clutch: | McLeod HTOB, Chevy (Goodwrench) S-10 clutch. |
Rear axle: | Ford 8" / MGB hybrid axle with positraction and 3.55:1 gears.
(Note: I originally fitted a 3.07:1 MGC differential.) |
Front susp.: | Rebuilt stock MGB, with polyurethane bushings, and M&G
aftermarket sway bars. |
Rear susp.: | Rebuilt stock MGB. |
Brakes: | Stock. |
Wheels/Tires: | Factory 15" steel wheels (1966 vintage by 6" wide. Very hard to find!)
Original hub caps. |
Electrical: | I completed a major rewire of the entire car. There are now 22
circuits, and all feature printed wires for easy troubleshooting
and future modifications. |
Other: | Air conditioning. Color-matched hard top. |
Comments: | Like most conversions, this was and is an evolving project. I started
with a pretty clean 1978 body, and decided to back date it to a 1966
with a metal dash, 2 wipers, 1966 interior/door handles, and A/C hidden
in the dash using the original heater controls. This was, of course,
mega times more work than anticipated. I took the car in the original
mechanical form to the V8 meet in Sebring with the hood in primer, paint
& pinstripes per the original car owner, the interior mostly done.
It was several years later that the car was finally painted, then more
time went by and I got bored and changed over to hot-wire Rover fuel
injection. A bit more time went by and a rebuilt 4.0 Rover came along. |
"How It Was Done"
Photos Body1 and Body2
Photos Body3 and Body4
Photos Body5 and Body6
Photo Body7
Photos Body8 and Body9
Photos Body10 and Body11
Photos Body12 and Body13
Photos Body14 and Body15
Photo Body16
Photos Engine1 and Engine2
Photos Engine3 and Engine4
Photo Engine5
Photos Engine6 and Engine7
Photos Engine8 and Engine9
Photo Engine10
Photos HVAC1 and HVAC2
Photos HVAC3 and HVAC4
Photos HVAC5 and HVAC6
Photos HVAC7 and HVAC8
Photos HVAC9 and HVAC10
Photos HVAC11 and HVAC12
Photos HVAC13 and HVAC14
Photos Tranny1 and Tranny2
Photos Tranny3 and Tranny4
Photo Interior1
Photos Interior2 and Interior3
Photos Interior4 and Interior5
Photos Interior6 and Interior7
Photos Interior8 and Interior9
Photo Interior10
Photos Interior11 and Interior12
Photos Finished1 and Finished2
Photo Finished3
Photos EFI1 and EFI2
Photos EFI3 and EFI4
Photo EFI5