James Englehart's 1967 MGB with Buick 3.8L V6

James Englehart's 1967 MGB with Buick 3.8L V6

as published in BritishV8 Magazine, Volume XVII Issue 1, July 2009

Owner: James Englehart
City: Ault, CO
Model: 1967 MGB
Engine: Buick 3.8L V6
Conversion by: Butch Pilgrim

Engine: Buick 231cid (90 degree) V6, with a rated output of about 140hp. Edelbrock "Performer" high rise intake manifold with Edelbrock 650cfm 4 barrel carburetor. Stock cam. Delco-Remy H.E.I (high energy ignition) distributor. All new wiring.
Cooling: stock radiator except lengthened 3 inches with a new core, relocated and enlarged ports, and the whole assembly has been relocated forward. Single electric cooling fan (pushing).
Exhaust: custom built exhaust manifolds with a rear dump leading into side pipes with Harley Davidson motorcycle mufflers.
Transmission: Borg Warner T-50 5-speed transmission. Cable operated clutch, utilizing the Buick cable, operated by a modified MGB pedal on custom modified brackets. Stock MG driveshaft, except rebuilt with a GM front yoke.
Rear Axle: stock MGB.
Front Susp.: stock MGB.
Rear Susp.: stock MGB.
Brakes: stock MGB.
Wheels/Tires: stock MGB wire wheels.
Body: "pull-handle doors" (from a 1963 MGB), fiberglass "Sebring" valances, front and rear. Custom fabricated grille. The aluminum hood was replaced with a steel hood and a fabricated steel cowl-induction hood scoop was added. PPG acrylic urethane base coat ("Porsche red" with a a black racing stripe) with 2 coats of PPG clearcoat.
Interior: custom walnut dashboard. AM/FM/CD stereo. (Unidentified seats.) Custom upholstery by Keith Hall of University Upholstery in Eaton CO.
Completed: 2005. (About 500 miles driven since conversion, as of December 2008.)
Comments: this conversion took 2 years from start to finish. To minimize firewall modifications, and get clearance at the cylinder heads, the (90 degree V6 motor) was mounted rather far forward. The crank pulley sits just in front of the MG steering rack. The passenger-side subframe was sectioned and boxed back in to clear the starter motor and oil filter.

Buick 3.8 V-6

Buick 231 V-6

Buick Grand National engine

Delco Remy HEI distributor for Buick 231cid V6

hood scoop


 Please support the sponsoring companies who make British V8 possible, including:

MGB radiator

fabricated exhaust manifold

log type exhaust manifold

clutch release cable

cable operated clutch


bellhousing for 3.8L Buick V6

motor mount for 3.8L Buick V6

walnut dashboard

upholstery by Keith Hall of University Upholstery in Eaton CO

Harley Davidson mufflers

Butch Pilgrim of LaPorte, CO
The car's builder, Butch Pilgrim of LaPorte, Colorado.


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