Mikel Moor's 1978 MGB with 1964 Buick 300 V8

Mikel Moor's 1978 MGB with 1964 Buick 300 V8

Owner: Mikel Moor
City: Angola, IN
Model: 1978 MGB roadster
Engine: Buick 300 V8

Engine: 1964 Buick 300, 4bbl high compression model, Carter 500 cfm carburetor, Crower cam & lifters, double roller timing chain, high volume oil pump, Pertronix ignition
Cooling: cross-flow Griffith aluminum radiator
Exhaust: MG V8 tube manifold, Jet-Hot coated, custom dual exiting same side
Bellhousing: 231 Buick V6, bolts to 300 block
Clutch: 10.5" Borg&Beck clutch
Transmission: Borg-Warner T5 (1988 Camaro V6)
Rear end: 1979 Chevy Monza Spider, 2.93:1 gears with Posi, narrowed 3"
Suspension: Fast Cars Inc. (front), tube shocks, urethane sway bar bushings (rear)
Brakes: vented rotors and Wilwood 4-pot calipers (front), 1982 Trans-Am discs (rear), hydraulic parking brake
Wheels: Prime
Instruments: Stewart-Warner in mahogany dash inlay
Notes: louvers in hood for heat extraction, RV8-style hood bulge, welded & filled body seams, back-up lights, side marker lights, & locks. Power antenna, chromed windshield frame, chrome-bumper conversion, interior reupholstered in dove grey, Fiero seats (with headrest speakers)

New cowl induction system (installed in 2011.)
New cowl induction system (installed in 2011.)

Preform Resources fiberglass hood.
A new fiberglass hood from Preform Resources was the basis of this development.

cowl induction air cleaner details

rear mounted air cleaner assembly
(Previous rear-entry air cleaner.)

Offenhauser valve covers for Buick 300

1964 Buick 300 V8 block hugger headers

1964 Buick 300 V8 billet pulleys

Honda brake light switch installed on an MGB


MGB wooden dashboard inserts and steering wheel

1978 MGB Pontiac Fiero Seat Installation

etched-glass MGB vent-a-plane windows

trunk lining, battery disconnect switch

Mil-Spec battery disconnect switch, mounted in trunk floor
Mil-Spec battery disconnect switch

Glamour Shot of Mikel Moor's 1978 MGB

Glamour Shot of Mikel Moor's 1978 MGB

Front View of MGB Chrome-Bumper Conversion

RV8-style MGB hood bulge and cooling vents

V8 badge and roll hoop

Rear View of MGB Chrome-Bumper Conversion

Prime wheels on an MGB

MGB electric antenna installation   isn't that neat-o

Previously Published Information

The following "How It Was Done" article was originally published in British V8 Newsletter, Volume 4 Issue 2.
It's reprinted for historical reference here to illustrate how almost all of the specifications have changed.

Owner: Mikel Moor
City: Angola, IN
Model: 1978 MGB roadster
Engine: Buick 215 V8

Engine: 1963 Buick 215, factory 4-barrel, Crower cam and lifters, Carter 500 AFB carb
Bellhousing: stock Buick dual bolt pattern
Flywheel: McLoad steel aftermarket
Clutch slave cylinder: Quartermaster internal (hydraulic throw out bearing)
Transmission: Borg-Warner T-50 5 speed
Rear end: 1979 Chevy Monza Spider, 2.93:1 gears with Posi, narrowed 3"
Brakes: stock MGB (front), 1982 Trans-Am discs (rear)
Tires/Wheels: Front - Prime wheels 14x6 with MGB offset, Goodrich "Radial Touring" 185x70x14 tires
Rear - Prime wheels 15x7 with proper offset & 5-bolt hubs, Goodrich "Radial Touring" 195x65x15 tires
Notes: I'm happy to say that my V-8 is done! So far there have been no surprises after about 500 miles. What a ride! It was all worth it. The color is '96 Ford Sapphire Blue Metallic. The headers were Jet-Hot coated for heat resistance. I made my own tube-shock conversion, in the rear, using Monroe Matic Plus shock absorbers. The car has also been totally re-wired using a "Painless Wiring" fuse block mounted on the passenger kick panel. I used a marine-type distributor that uses two coils. Each coil fires four cylinders, thus allowing me to use the stock 4-cylinder tach. (Kurt Schley commented: Mikel sent a photo of the car, just gorgeous! He did not mention the louvered hood which adds a nice touch to the car. Unfortunately, the color photos do not convert to B&W printing very well. I want one of those distributors too!)

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