Bill Gaulin's 1974 MGB with Chevrolet LS1 V8
Owner: Bill GaulinBritishV8 UserID: billymgb1000
City: Harrisville, Rhode Island
Model: 1974 MG MGB
Engine: Chevrolet LS1 V8
Conversion by: owner.
Features and Specifications
| Engine: | LSX 4.8L (292cid) V8.
Chevrolet Performance LS Hot Cam (0.525" lift).
Edelbrock Victor Jr intake manifold.
Street Demon 625cfm 4-barrel carburetor.
Spectre air cleaner.
Edelbrock LS1 Timing Control Module by MSD.
"LS2 Truck" ignition coils.
|
| Cooling: | aluminum radiator, sourced from a 1995 GMC pickup truck.
Electric cooling fan. |
| Exhaust: | Hooker shorty headers.
2.5" exhaust plumbing by Baxters in Rhode Island.
Dual Flow Master mufflers. |
| Transmission: | Turbo 350 automatic.
Hurst Pro-Matic ratchet shifter.
Custom drive shaft made at Rhode Island Drive Shaft. |
| Rear End: | Ford 8".
2.79:1 gears.
Limited slip differential. |
| Front Susp.: | MGB V8 springs.
Stock steering rack with modified input shaft. (Extra U-joint added.) |
| Rear Susp.: | new custom leafsprings.
Longer spring shackles.
Lakewood traction bars. |
| Brakes: | stock. |
| Wheels/Tires: | Kudo "Wagon Wheel" 15x6.5 aluminum wheels, in Gun Metal gray.
205-65r15 (front) and 215-70r15 (rear). |
| Interior: | custom instrument panel.
Climate system deleted.
Grant GT steering wheel.
AM/FM/cassette stereo radio.
Custom wood door caps.
Heavy duty window cranks. |
| Instruments: | Smiths speedometer, fuel level, and temperature gauges.
R.A.C. oil pressure and ampere guages. |
| Body: | great big hood scoop.
Reinforced leafspring mounting points. |
| Electrical: | 12 volt battery.
Delco 100 amp alternator.
Entirely new wiring.
Aftermarket headlights with angel eyes, which are wired to the turn signals.
|
| Completed: | April 2013. Driven ~15,000 miles since completion, as of October 2014. |
| Bill's Comments: | I took two years to do this. Everything but the exhaust was done by me.
The LS series engine originally came with EFI, but I found Edelbrock made an intake manifold for a carburetor and MSD made a box for the ignition. I changed over to a four-barrel because that's what I wanted from the beginning. My brother was pushing me for EFI but I'm old school. I'm running a Street Demon 625cfm carburetor and I love it. After I cut away the heater shelf and made enough room for the motor, I had to raise the tunnel by one inch for the Turbo 350 automatic transmission. I was going to put the dash cluster from a Silverado pickup in the dash, so I cut away the dash for it then decided against it because I changed my mind about the computer and EFI, so I made my own piece and wrapped it in black leather. It came out great. I raised the front of the car off the crossmember by 2 inches. I also raised the rear by the same amount. I love the stance. I'm not road racing, and she still handles great. The paint was an awesome experiment I took a gallon of hunter green rustoleum and added a pint of gloss enhancer and hardener bought a Harbor Freight spray gun and went for it. I was so surprised and happy with the results. Two years later, I still get asked where I had it painted. |
Engine Installation
LSX 4.8L (292cid) V8.
"LS2 Truck" ignition coils.
Hooker shorty headers.
Electric cooling fan.
Serpentine accessory drive belt, pulleys, and brackets.
Delco 100 amp alternator.
Coil-near-plug ignition coils.
Edelbrock LS1 Timing Control Module by MSD
Steering shaft modifications to suit lowered front crossmember.
Motor mount and passenger-side engine bay modifications.
Harmonic balancer clearance. Note also modifications for radiator installation.
Tunnel modifications required for Turbo 350 automatic transmission.
Steering universal joints. Trimmed spark plug boot.
Aluminum radiator, sourced from a 1995 GMC pickup truck.
Suspension and Brakes
"Two inch spacers between front crossmember and body to get more room
for the motor so I didn't have to notch the crossmember."
New custom leafsprings.
Lakewood traction bars. Reinforced leafspring mounting points.
(Neither had been installed yet when the previous photo was taken.)
Extended spring shackles.
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Interior
The following photos show how Bill remodeled his MGBs interior in early 2016.
New dashboard framed out of birch and covered with African mahogany.
"I made a jig and welded it to my bench to get the curve I wanted."
RAC oil pressure gauge (0-80psi), Smiths fuel gauge (E-F), Smiths speedomter (0-120mph),
tachometer (0-10,000rpm), Smiths coolant temperature (C-H).
"Free Box" and "Drink Holder".
Glove box.
Previous custom instrument panel.
Grant wood rimmed steering wheel. Custom wooden door caps and window crank handles."
Stainless steel sill plates.
Earlier Bodywork and Paint
A lighter (more Lotus or Triumph looking) shade of British Racing Green.
Aftermarket headlights with angel eyes, which are wired to the turn signals.
Stance!
Kudo "Wagon Wheel" 15x6.5 aluminum wheels, in Gun Metal gray.
Deleted bumper overriders.
2016: Updated Bodywork and Paint
"I've replaced all chrome: headlight rings, cowl grille, wiper bosses, etc.
I've even replaced the door handles."
"I changed the color of the car. It was hunter green and now it is dark teal metallic."
"This past winter I stripped all the paint off the car. I replaced the bottom of the front
fenders, rockers, dog legs and I welded-in VW Rabbit fender flares over the rear tires.
I also removed all seams, beads on top of rear fenders and backup lights."
Omitted bumper over-riders.
New front valance.
New hood scoop blended into the hood instead of just sitting on top.
New hood scoop, side view.
"I pulled the motor and tranny to redo the engine bay."
"I wanted to drop the steering shaft down lower where it comes through the firewall.
One reason was to get it away from the bottom of header. Also, this lifted the
steering wheel up off my lap. I love it."
"I installed a new heater core and a valve that remains closed until I turn fans on.
This photo shows how heater hoses pass through the passenger's side wheel well."
Driver side wheel well.
Modified boot.
Photos by Bill Gaulin for BritishV8.org.
Copyright 2016. All rights reserved.
Use by written permission only.
(Do not print, copy to your hard drive, or post these online without permission.)
