Perky and Charles Long's 1966 MGB with GM 3.4L V6
Owner: Perky and Charles LongBritishV8 UserID: Charles
City: McDonald, Tennessee
Model: 1966 MG MGB
Engine: GM 3.4L V6
Conversion by: Charles Long
Features and Specifications
| Engine: | GM 3.4L 60-degree V6 engine with sequential fuel injection, from a 1995 Chevrolet Camaro.
Machine work by Performance Race Engineering.
Bored 0.060" over. Stock bearing sizes. Three angle valve job.
ARP hardware throughout.
Classic Conversions motor mounts.
Classic Conversions accessory brackets and serpentine pulley kit.
Ultima 81-1004 remanufactured alternator.
Sanden air conditioning compressor.
Edelbrock valve covers.
1995 Chevrolet Camaro ECM, reflashed with Tuner Cats cable and software.
1995 Chevrolet Camaro cruise control computer/actuator.
Taylor Spiro-Pro 8mm spark plug wires.
Oiled gauze air filter.
Motorcraft FL-1A oil filter, remote mounted.
|
| Cooling: | late model MGB radiator, modified with short turn-up for bottom hose.
Honda hose spacer.
Two electric fans pulling, plus one electric fan for the AC condenser.
Late model MGB surge tank.
Stant 13psi radiator cap. |
| Exhaust: | Classic Conversions headers, ceramic coated inside and out.
Safety-wired header flange bolts. |
| Transmission: | Borg-Warner/TREMEC T5 5-speed (from 1998 Camaro).
0.72:1 fifth gear.
Chevrolet S10 bellhousing.
Diaphragm pressure plate.
BMC British Automobile hydraulic throwout bearing kit.
Wilwood master cylinder with modified Miata push rod. |
| Rear End: | stock. (Open differential. 3.909:1 ratio. Drum brakes.) |
| Front Susp.: | stock, although updated with red polyurethane bushings.
Borgeson steering universal joint. |
| Rear Susp.: | stock. |
| Brakes: | later model MGB pedal assembly and power brake booster.
Wilwood tandem master cylinder.
DOT5 brake fluid.
Summit bias valve, currently unconnected. |
| Wheels/Tires: | Toyota Celica 14" aluminum wheels. (Not sure what year.
They were laying in the wheel pile at my brother's salvage yard.)
Yokohama Avid Touring S tires (P185/70R14). |
| Interior: | wood rimmed steering wheel.
Custom dashboard and center console.
Custom door cards and panels.
Custom oak door caps.
Mazda Miata armrests.
New carpet.
Zebrawood shifter knob?
Two-cup cupholder. |
| Instruments: | VDO speedometer (0-120mph),
tachometer (0-8000rpm),
voltage gage (8-16V),
water temperature gage (100-250F),
oil pressure gage (0-80psi),
fuel level gage (E-F).
Summit fuel pressure gage (0-60psi, mounted in engine compartment.) |
| Climate System: | stock heater box.
New heater control valve and controller from Vintage Air.
ARA evaporator body.
(Service ports relocated from top to rear.)
Nostalgic Air vent tube adapter.
Sanden 807 compressor.
Nostalgic Air dryer/accumulator and condenser.
(Hoses sourced locally.) |
| Body: | stock. Sikkens "Diamond Pearl White" paint (see below). |
| Electrical: | custom wiring based on a Rebel Wiring kit, with four more fuses than stock. |
| Completed: | June 2014. |
| Comments: | "When I started in September 2013, I only planned to rebuild the MGB engine and repaint
the engine bay. I opened three MGB engines only to find mayhem and destruction. Then I
went to miniV8 meet 2013 in Townsend Tennessee, because brother Jim Watson invited me.
(We drove our VTEC powered Mini.) The rest is history. I completed the build in time to
leave on our maiden voyage to French Lick, Indiana to attend NAMGBR's 2014 convention.
We left with only only 34 miles on the speedometer. All went well. We drove to Colorado
Springs for BritishV8 2014. We've now covered over 5000 miles."
"Big upgrades are coming soon! I'm replacing the MGB rear end with a 1998 Camaro rear end, narrowed by Jeff at Hudlow Axle in Rossville, Georgia. The Chevrolet 10-bolt axle has been set up with limited slip differential, 3.42:1 gear set, and disc brakes. I'll upgrade to Bill Guzman's (Classic Conversions) 4-link rear suspension set-up and to new wheels and tires when I install the Chevrolet rear end." |
Please support the sponsoring companies who make BritishV8 possible, including:
Engine Installation
GM 3.4L 60-degree V6 engine with sequential fuel injection, from a 1995 Chevrolet Camaro.
"I had the air filter intake inside the engine bay. A car buddy of mine called
it a 'Hot Air Intake', so I moved it to in front of the radiator."
Charles fabricated this handsome cover for the fuel injector valley.
Later model MGB pedal assembly and power brake booster. Wilwood tandem master cylinder.
"I'm using no header to exhaust pipe flange gaskets. Instead, on the advice of a
friend who races dragsters, I'm using red silicone high-heat gasket cement.
Already 5000 miles, and no leaks!"
Borgeson steering universal joint, purchased from BMC British Automotive, provides clearance to headers.
Late model MGB surge tank. Stant 13psi radiator cap.
Alternator: Ultima 81-1004 73046402.
Remanufactured in Mexico. AR109062A 73 14046 I. 7340409495 02.
Spectre silicone hose. Ninety degree elbow. Rubber reducing coupler.
Air conditioning condenser and receiver drier.
Intake air temperature sensor. Oiled gauze air filter.
1995 Chevrolet Camaro cruise control computer/actuator.
Sanden air conditioning compressor on Classic Conversions Engineering bracket.
(Note slight relief added by Charles for valve cover flange clearance.)
Relays, left to right: ECM cooling fan, AC evaporator and condensor fan, ECM cooling fans override.
These Classic Conversions headers have been ceramic coated both inside and out.
The header flange bolts gave all been safety-wired to prevent loosening.
The engine computer is mounted inside this box. In the foreground:
stock ignition coil packs and MAP sensor. Summit fuel pressure gage.
Charles modeled the exhaust routing with pipe flexible air duct and then ordered
mandrel bent steel tubing which he cut and welded as necessary.
Suspension and Brakes
Later model MGB radiators, as shown here, are significantly taller than earlier ones.
Stock MGB front suspension, although updated with red polyurethane bushings.
Enjoying this article? Our magazine is funded through the generous support of readers like you!
To contribute to our operating budget, please click here and follow the instructions.
(Suggested contribution is twenty bucks per year. Feel free to give more!)
Interior
Custom door cards and panels. Custom oak door caps.
Custom dashboard and center console with air conditioning controls and vents.
Wood rimmed steering wheel.
VDO voltage, water temperature, oil pressure, and fuel level gages.
Zebrawood shifter knob and two-cup cupholder. "I was given this knob fifteen or
so years ago. All this time I kept saying, 'I'm going to use this thing some day.'
The day arrived, and the knob is what decided the color scheme of my interior."
Mazda Miata armrest.
Sewn, removeable, mesh screen eliminates wind buffeting.
This MGB has been totally rewired, utilizing a kit from Rebel Wiring which is located
nearby Charles Long in Etowah, Tennessee. Charles hinged the fuse block so that it
folds down for easier access. It supports four more fused circuits than stock.
Dashboard construction and wiring conceived for ease of service.
Cruise control "set" and "resume" and odometer "trip" reset pushbutton switches.
In-Process Photos
Making clearance for the driver-side cylinder head.
Late model MGB radiator in conflict with early model MGB steering rack.
Short turn-up provides radiator hose clearance.
This brake master cylinder will fit, but only if its forward reservoir is mounted remotely.
"This is called 'getting down to the wire'. I'm cutting to length, soldering,
and applying shrink tubing to all of the engine control and sense wires."
Electrical schematic drawings.
This transmission crossmember is part of the Classic Conversions Engineering kit.
Exhaust Y-pipe.
Chevrolet Camaro rear axle complete with disc brakes, ready to be narrowed.
Trial installation of Chevrolet Camaro instrument cluster.
Another dashboard mock-up. Note also trial installation of Pontiac Fiero seats.
Evaporator from the now defunct ARA. Flexible hose from Nostalgic Air.
Hard vent hose from Advance Auto.
Shifter lever has been bent to get its angle just right.
MGB fuel tank in foreground. Mazda Miata fuel tank in background.
Mazda Miata in-tank fuel pump cut and bent to fit in a shallower tank.
Modified MGB fuel tank with in-tank pump for electronic fuel injection.
"Time constraints got to me, so I'm using these for now. They're quiet above 20mph."
This photo shows the T5 transmission mated to a 1998 Camaro bellhousing, which puts the
starter motor on the driver side. For installation on an MGB, it's much better to move
the starter to the passenger side, so Charles substituted a Chevrolet S10 bellhousing.
Borg Warner Automotive developed and manufactured the T5 transmission for years before selling
production rights to TREMEC. This particular transmission was built in the transition.
Test fitting the hydraulic throwout bearing, diaphragm pressure plate, etc.
BMC British Automobile hydraulic throwout bearing kit. One hose connects to the clutch
master cylinder. The second hose is required for bleeding the system after installation.
Installation of the cylinder heads.
Induction ports of the Chevrolet 3.4L V6 cylinder head.
"This water control valve wasn't required for my application."
Pushrods and rockers.
Installation of the intake manifold.
Priming the oil pump.
Exterior
"The paint is a 1994 Lexus color. It consists of two-part primer, followed by three coats
of two-part base coat and a layer of pearl, then hand sanded with 3000 grit, resprayed,
and done again. I was told if you don't sand the pearl, some of it will stand on edge
and won't smooth out. Finally, two coats of two-part clear. The paintjob is twenty
years old now, and it's starting to show its age. It's been through two tornados (one
on the way to Reno and the other on the way to Champaign/Urbana), one serious
dust storm in Illinois, and two hail storms (one in Townsend the one in Colorado)."
"We got a good sand blasting in Death Valley on the way home from Reno.
It may be time for fresh paint but I'll do that later."
Early MGB roadsters have two windshield wipers. To comply with U.S. safety regulations
and to clear a larger percentage of the windscreen, later roadsters have three wipers.
Southern British Car Club of Greater Chattanooga
Side view mirrors were dealer-installed on early MGBs,
so placement and type have always varied widely.
Toyota Celica 14" aluminum wheels. (I'm not sure what year. They
were laying in the wheel pile at my brother's salvage yard.)
Yokohama Avid Touring S tires, size P185/70R14.
Photos of the completed conversion by Curtis Jacobson for BritishV8.org.
In-process photos of the conversion by Charles Long for BritishV8.org.
Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.
Use by written permission only.
(Do not print, copy to your hard drive, or post these online without permission.)
