David Rowen's 1972 Arkley Midget with Chevy 383cid V8
Owner: David RowenCity: Houston, Texas
Model: 1972 MG Midget / Arkley Conversion
Engine: Chevy 383cid V8
Built by: owner
Features and Specifications
| Engine: | Chevrolet 383cid V8.
Custom-ground Patriot Performance camshaft.
Hydraulic lifters.
Roller rockers.
Aluminum cylinder heads.
Edelbrock intake manifold.
Holley 750 double-pumper carburetor.
MSD ignition.
MSD billet distributor.
High capacity oil pump. |
| Cooling: | Griffin aluminum radiator.
Dual electric cooling fans. |
| Exhaust: | custom 4-into-1 headers.
Modified Cobra sidepipes. |
| Transmission: | Tremec TKO II five-speed.
McLeod clutch.
McLoed hydraulic throwout bearing.
Custom built 15" driveshaft.
Chevy/Ford u-joints. |
| Rear End: | Currie Enterprises narrowed Mustang Cobra rear end.
Posi-traction.
3.73:1 gears. |
| Front Susp.: | Chris Alston Racing front suspension.
Custom rack and pinion.
QA1 adjustable coil-over shock absorbers. |
| Rear Susp.: | modified Chassis Engineering four-link suspension.
QA1 adjustable coil-over shock absorbers. |
| Brakes: | Corvette dual master cylinder.
11.5" Wilwood front discs.
11" Mustang Cobra rear discs. |
| Wheels/Tires: | aluminum wheels (16x8 front, 17x11 rear).
Kuhmo tires. |
| Chassis: | purpose-built 2" square-tube chassis.
81" wheelbase. |
| Body: | highly modified, widened Arkley kit front and rear clips.
Fenders widened 4" each side over original.
Cobra hood scoop.
Sheetmetal front spoiler.
Additional hood scoops.
Hood bulges to accommodate side-pipes.
Chromed roll bar and rear bumper/nerf bar. |
| Interior: | seats are built into body in order to provide more leg room.
Custom-built hanging pedals and pedal box.
Front footwells custom built to provide maximum space.
Custom built aluminum gas tank with 13gal capacity. |
| Instruments: | Smith gauges (tachometer, speedometer, oil pressure gauge, ammeter,
fuel level gauge, and coolant temperature gauge.)
Custom built instrument panel. |
| Electrical: | Optima battery (mounted in rear.)
100 amp alternator.
Painless wiring harness.
Stereo with 2 speakers in center console.
Front driving lights. |
| Weight: | ~1800 pounds. |
| Performance | 501 horsepower on the dynomometer. |
| Comments: | first built in 1985 with Mazda RX7 engine.
Totally rebuilt in 2010.
Driven ~5000 miles since second conversion.
|
Engine Installation
Chevrolet 383cid V8 with custom 4-into-1 headers and modified Cobra sidepipes.
Griffin aluminum radiator and dual electric cooling fans.
Edelbrock intake manifold. Holley 750 double-pumper carburetor.
Interior
Custom seats built right into the body provide more legroom than stock.
Custom built instrument panel.
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Exterior
Arkley produced fiberglass body kits to give MG Midgets an old-school roadster look.
David built out the Arkley front and rear fenders - four inches on each side!
Cobra hood scoop, plus two small hood scoops further forward.
Chromed roll hoop and rear bumper/nerf bar.
