Ken Nicks' 1974 MGB GT with GM 3.4L V6 Engine
as published in BritishV8 Magazine, Volume XX Issue 1, July 2012
Owner: Ken Nicks
BritishV8 UserID: tr302
City: Jonesville, North Carolina
Model: 1974 MGB GT
Engine: GM 3.4L V6
Conversion performed by: Eclectic Rods and Restorations
"How It Was Done"
| Engine: | 1995 Camaro 3.4L V6, bored 0.030" over.
Edelbrock Performer Plus camshaft (p/n 3790) & lifters.
Crane roller rocker arms.
Edelbrock Performer lower intake manifold (p/n 3785).
Edelbrock Performer Torker II upper intake manifold (p/n 3789).
Holley 390cfm 4 barrel carburetor (p/n 0-8007).
Mallory Unilite distributor (p/n 4569201).
Mallory Promaster e-Series ignition coil (p/n 30440). |
| Cooling: | Northern early Mustang V8 style aluminum radiator with transmission cooler section used as an engine oil cooler.
Zirgo 3630cfm electric fan, thermostatically operated with manual override switch. |
| Exhaust: | Classic Conversion Engineering headers, modified with triangular flanges welded onto outlets.
Dual header pipes converge into single 2.5" stainless steel exhaust pipe.
Hushpower muffler. |
| Transmission: | Borg Warner T5 5-speed specially configured as follows.
Chevy V6 style case, tailshaft, and output shaft.
Ford style input shaft and gear set (2.95:1, 1.94:1, 1.34:1, 1.00:1, and 0.63:1.
With a stock MGB axle, this fifth gear ratio gives 80mph at 2800rpm.)
Chevy S-10 flywheel.
Camaro pressure plate.
Ford 9.5" clutch disc.
McLeod hydraulic release bearing.
Stock MGB master cylinder. |
| Rear Axle: | stock (3.909:1 ratio and open differential). |
| Front Suspension: | rebuilt stock MGB suspension with poly bushings.
Targett MotorSport camber reducing wedges for reduced steering effort. |
| Rear Suspension: | stock except telescoping gas shock absorbers in lieu of lever shocks. |
| Brakes: | rubber bumper style master cylinder bracket.
Chrome 1" bore Corvette style master cylinder.
Corvette style proportioning valve.
7" power brake booster.
Drilled and slotted front rotors.
Kevlar brake pads.
Stock MGB rear brakes.
All new stainless steel brake lines (both hard and flex lines). |
| Wheels/Tires: | 60-spoke 14" wheels with chrome rims and stainless steel spokes.
Dunlop SP20 FE P185/70R14 tires. |
| Electrical: | 18 Circuit street rod wiring harness with relays.
Delco 100-amp 1-wire alternator. |
| Climate System: | Vintage Air Generation II Mini Universal Climate control unit (with heat, defrost, air conditioning, and electric controls.)
V/A superflow condensor (p/n 03261-VUC).
V/A 4-knob panel (p/n 491229).
Sanden 508 compressor (V/A p/n 04805-VMG).
V/A 4-port thru-firewall kit (p/n 384600-MBA).
V/A chrome receiver drier (p/n 07310-VUQ).
Custom made hoses with inline trianary switch. |
| Interior Mods: | Hushmat sound and heat insulation - $350.00 worth of it! - from the top of the firewall all the way back to and including the spare tire well.
VDO electric gauges except used stock MGB oil pressure gauge.
Reworked center console with Vintage Air control panel and "Hidden Audio" control module.
6-disc CD changer (mounted behind seats under folding cover).
Air conditioning vents at top of kick panels.
Moss power window kit with controls at old ashtray location.
Cruise Control.
Mountney of Britain leather wrapped steering wheel.
Pontiac Fiero seats.
Did away with rear seat and made folding cover and carpeted it all. |
| Body Mods: | fiberglass "Special Tuning" style air dam from Moss Motors.
Original very rusty front bumper was trimmed down to fill space between grill and air dam
(1" off top, 1 1/2" off bottom split in the middle to narrow and ends "bobbed".)
Reinforced air dam with more fiberglass and installed studs to hold lower grill in place.
Rear bumper narrowed and corner spaces fill in.
Built new front and rear bumper mounts.
Sand blasted bumpers and used self etching epoxy primer with body color base and clear coat.
"Cowl Induction" hood scoop fabricated to clear carburetor and air cleaner.
Moved gas filler to behind right tail light.
Note: this car came from the factory painted this same "Mirage" color. (It's very rare!) |
| Comments: | Ken Nicks owns and operates Eclectic Rods and Restorations of Jonesville, North Carolina.
This is however one of his own personal cars. He reports that it's loads of fun to drive,
and that he has received many compliments about its distinctive appearance.
|
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Engine Installation
1995 Camaro 3.4L V6, bored 0.030" over.
Delco 100-amp 1-wire alternator.
Chrome Corvette style master cylinder and proportioning valve, plus 7" power brake booster.
Holley 390cfm 4 barrel carburetor (p/n 0-8007).
Classic Conversion Engineering exhaust headers.
Edelbrock Performer lower manifold (p/n 3785) and Torker II upper manifold (p/n 3789).
Zirgo 3630cfm electric fan, thermostatically operated with manual override switch.
Northern aluminum radiator. Made in the U.S.A.
Sanden 508 compressor (V/A p/n 04805-VMG).
Vintage Air chrome receiver drier (p/n 07310-VUQ).
Mallory Promaster e-Series ignition coil (p/n 30440) and Unilite distributor (p/n 4569201).
Suspension
Rebuilt MGB suspension is stock except with polyurethane bushes. What you can't see here is
that Targett MotorSport wedge-shaped spacers have been inserted between the crossmember
and the frame to reduce caster angle and thereby reduce steering effort.
Radiator and air conditioning condensor spaced to leave room for a stock MGB anti-sway bar.
Drilled and slotted front brake rotors viewed through stainless steel spokes.
Dual header pipes converge into single 2.5" stainless steel exhaust pipe. Hushpower muffler.
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Interior
Pontiac Fiero seats.
Mountney of Britain leather wrapped steering wheel.
Cruise control switch module has been installed where the brake failure warning light used to be.
Reworked center console with Vintage Air control panel and "Hidden Audio" control module.
Moss power window controls placed in the old ashtray location.
Hushmat sound and heat insulation.
Closed in rear fender cubbies with carpet covered metal inserts, with speakers installed.
Exterior
The car came from the factory painted this marvelous color: "Mirage". We understand MG only
painted about 244 cars this color before canceling the option. It's a very difficult
color to color-match and therefore a difficult color to do spot repairs on.
Beige? Mauve? Lavender? Lilac? Taupe? Grey? No, it's more mysterious than those.
The original, very rusty front bumper was trimmed down to eliminate most of the usual gap between
grille and air dam. Ken cut about 1" off the top, 1.5" off the bottom, split the bumper in the
middle to narrow it, and "bobbed" the ends for a more refined and finished appearance.
Fiberglass "Special Tuning" style air dam from Moss Motors, but heavily reinforced,
and studs were installed on the air dam to help hold the lower grille in place.
A custom cowl induction hood scoop, fabricated to clear the carburetor and air cleaner.
This MGB GT was equipped with the rare rear window defogger option.
Blue Ridge Parkway (North Carolina and Virginia) - Scenic America Roadtrip
V6 and 3.4 badges.
Bumpers were sandblasted and sprayed with self-etching epoxy primer, then basecoat/clearcoat paint.
Rear bumper cut in the middle and narrowed. Corner spaces (by tail lights) filled in.
Fuel filler hidden behind right tail light.
(A single snap at the bottom is enough to hold the tail light closed.)
60-spoke 14" wheels with chrome rims and stainless steel spokes.
Dunlop SP20 FE P185/70R14 tires.
