Jim Lewenauer's Rover aluminum V8 powered 1974.5 MGB-GT

Jim Lewenauer's Rover aluminum V8 powered 1974.5 MGB-GT

as published in BritishV8 Magazine, Volume XVI Issue 2, October 2008

Owner: Jim Lewenauer
City: Mequon, WI
Model: 1974.5 MGB-GT
Engine: 4.2L Rover aluminum V8
Conversion by: Tom Hoagland, Richland Motor Cars

Engine: 4.2L Rover aluminum V8 engine, rebuilt with all new wear items (including rings, bearings, gaskets, cam, lifters, seals, etc.). Standard bore and grind. Offenhauser intake manifold (ceramic coated). Edelbrock 500cfm carb with low-rider air filter. Pertronix Ignitor ignition. Melling high volume oil pump. Alternator and A/C brackets are ceramic coated. Rover aluminum valve covers. TSI geared reduction starter.
Cooling: aluminum radiator with Spal 16" puller fan.
Exhaust: RV8-style 1-5/8" exhaust manifolds (ceramic coated) with dual exhaust. Magnaflow muffler.
Transmission: rebuilt Borg-Warner T5 ("World Class") 5-speed with 0.63:1 5th gear. Heavy duty 10" clutch assembly, lightened flywheel, and hydraulic throw-out bearing.
Rear Axle: new Chevy S10-spec (10-bolt) axle, narrowed. 3.63:1 final drive ratio.
Front Susp. : lowered coil springs, oversized anti-roll bar, Monroe tube shocks, and polyurthane bushings.
Rear Susp. : De-arched springs, Monroe tube shocks, anti-tramp bars, and polyurethane pads and bushings.
Brakes: Wilwood 4 piston calipers with cross-drilled, vented rotors.
Wheels/Tires: Saab/Shelby Minilite-style 15x6 wheels with Goodyear Eagle GPS 195/60R15 tires.
Exterior: basecoat/clearcoat paint in MG "damask red" with stripes in Rover "Zambezi silver metallic". Moss Motors "Sebring" valances, front and rear.
Interior: new gray leather upholstery (from "Prestige Leather"), custom gray dashboard trim, radio console, and center console. Mountney leather-wrapped steering wheel. Stainless shifter knob. New carpet. New fabric headliner.
Electrical: Autometer "Cobra" gauges. Vintage Air air conditioning system.
Completed: June 2008. 300 miles driven.
Comments: this car was originally built to spec for Marc Kuritz.

Rover aluminum valve covers

RV8 headers

vented rotors and Wilwood calipers

emergency brake cables

Autometer Cobra gauges

gray interior   Prestige Leather gray leather seat upholstery

engine compartment mods   boot

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primer

Moss Sebring valance

MGB front suspension

vented and crossdrilled rotors

RV8 style headers

heat shields

exhaust pipes

rear suspension

Magnaflow muffler

anti-tramp bars


cobra marker lights

Sebring rear valance

Sebring front valance


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