Merv Hagen's 1966 MGB with Ford "Boss 302" Crate Motor
as published in BritishV8 Magazine, Volume XVII Issue 2, December 2009Owner: Merv Hagen
BritishV8 UserID: Merv
City: Dundee, IL
Model: 1966 MGB (rebuilt on a 1980 bodyshell)
Engine: Ford Boss 302 V8
Conversion by: Pete Mantell at Mantell Motorsport
| Engine: | Ford Boss 302 crate engine with 4 bolt mains (Ford Racing M-6007-X302B).
Aluminum heads (X306 GT-40). Hydraulic roller camshaft (E303).
Edelbrock Performer intake manifold. Edelbrock 650cfm carburetor.
MSD "Small Diameter" Pro Billet distributor (part number 8579).
MSD6AL capacitive discharge ignition system. MSD Blaster 2 ignition coil.
Ford Motorsport short-neck regular-flow water pump. Remote oil filter and oil cooler. |
| Cooling: | Mantell Motorsport aluminum radiator. Flex-a-lite low-profile electric fan with shroud. |
| Exhaust: | Fast Cars through-the-fender headers, with Jet Hot coating, exiting into 2.5"
aluminized dual exhaust with crossover pipe. Flowmaster 50 Series mufflers.
Both pipes exit at the rear, on the driver's side. |
| Transmission: | Ford Racing Super Duty T5 5-Speed (P/N M-7003-Z).
Gear ratios are 2.95, 1.94, 1.34, 1.0 and 0.63:1.
Ford Motorsport Aluminum Flywheel, CNC pull-type slave cylinder, MGB master cylinder.
Shifter was modified by Mantell Motorsport, and is great.
D&D Fabrications driveshaft. |
| Rear Axle: | Chevy S-10 10-bolt, narrowed by D&D Fabrications. Alburn limited slip differential.
3.42:1 final drive ration. (4 x 4.5" lug pattern was retained.) |
| Front Susp.: | crossmember was modified to accommodate Ford oil pan. New lever-arm shock absorbers.
Red polyurethane bushings. 7/8" front sway bar. |
| Rear Susp.: | stock 1980 MGB springs and sway bar. Moss Motors (Monroe) tube shock conversion. |
| Brakes: | late model MGB master cylinder and power brake servo. Stock front brakes.
Chevy S-10 rear drum brakes. D&D parking brake assembly.
Braided stainless steel flex lines. |
| Wheels/Tires: | 14" aluminum wheels, with 185/70 Touring LST tires. |
| Electrical: | stock MG wiring, modified for V8 installation.
100 amp Delco-Remy style chromed alternator. |
| Performance: | at BritishV8 2009, the car was dynomometer tested by Carolina Auto Masters
in Durham NC, and was rated 258hp with 268ftlbs of torque at 6000 RPM.
(That was with about 2500 miles on the new drivetrain.) |
| Completed: | May 23, 2009. (See comments!) |
| Comments: | I purchased the car from an eighth grade science teacher in February of 2006.
The previous owner had hired MG Limited to install a 1961 Buick 215 engine and a
Borg Warner T5 5-speed transmission. MG Limited had also re-bodied the car with
a 1980 bodyshell. Their work had been completed in February 2001. When I
purchased the car, it only had 3000 miles since that original conversion.
I enjoyed it for two and a half years and 13000 miles with that drivetrain.
It was great. My wife and I even did a Route 66 run - 4500 miles! Our MGB V8
got over 26 miles per gallon and performed flawlessly... but then there came
a time when I wanted something with a little bit more pep, so that's why I'm
where I am now.
Although I really wanted to do this engine swap myself, memories of the engine swaps I've done in the past kept coming back to haunt me. I had this drivetrain conversion performed by Pete from Mantell Motorsport. Pete was simply great to work with, he guided me through all of the parts decisions required, and allowed me enough input to make me feel like I was fairly smart. He very gently guided me away from some of my not-too-smart choices. His quality of work was superb and was much better than I could have or would have done myself. The Ford V8 conversion was completed on May 23. Almost immediately after picking up the car, I drove the newly converted MGB V8 to "BritishV8 2009" in Durham North Carolina - 2908 miles round trip. Two weeks later, I drove it to NAMGBR's "MG2009" meet in Breckenridge Colorado - 2107 miles round trip. The engine consumed no oil or water at all, and it provided over 20mpg fuel economy. The MGB V8 is simply a GREAT vehicle to travel in! |
Ford Boss 302 crate engine with 4 bolt mains (Ford Racing M-6007-X302B).
Engine conversion by: Pete Mantell at Mantell Motorsport.
Edelbrock Performer intake manifold. Edelbrock 650cfm carburetor.
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Fast Cars through-the-fender exhaust headers, with Jet Hot coating.
Late model MGB master cylinder and power brake servo.
Ford "Boss 302" aluminum valve covers.
MSD "Small Diameter" Pro Billet distributor (part number 8579).
Flex-a-lite low-profile electric fan with shroud.
Ford Motorsport short-neck, regular-flow water pump.
Thermostatic/electric choke wiring.
MSD Blaster 2 ignition coil.
Ford Racing spark plug wires.
MSD6AL capacitive discharge ignition controller.
Inline vent port for purging air from the cooling system.
Mantell Motorsport aluminum crossflow radiator.
A recirculation shield also prevents air from bypassing the radiator.
Exhaust crossover pipe, and dual FlowMaster mufflers.
Both tailpipes exit on the driver's side.
CNC pull-type clutch slave cylinder.
Chevy 10-bolt rear axle.
14" aluminum wheels, with 185/70 Touring LST tires.
Moto-Lita steering wheel.
Leather covered gear shift knob.
Pieces of Eight gas springs.
