Scott Wooley's 1970 MGB with Ford 289 V8
as published in BritishV8 Magazine, Volume XXI Issue 2, December 2013Owner: Scott Wooley
BritishV8 UserID: mgbv81970
City: Frederick, Colorado
Model: 1970 MG MGB
Engine: Ford 289 V8
Built by: owner
Features and Specifications
| Engine: | Ford 289 V8 (from a 1966 Mustang), rebuilt.
All engine machine work done by Paul's Custom Grinding in Denver.
Engine balanced by Doug's Balancing in Denver.
Comp Cams High Energy 268H hydraulic flat-tappet camshaft (part# 31-218-2).
Comp Cams High Energy flat tappet lifters (part# 832-16).
1965 Ford 289 stock cast iron cylinder heads.
(Ported and polished, and machined for screw-in studs and guide plates.)
All new valve seats and guides.
Manley stainless steel valves.
Comp Cams valve springs, locks and retainers.
Comp Cams Ultra Pro Magnum roller rockers, 1.6:1 ratio.
Comp Cams High Energy push rods.
Edelbrock Performer 289 intake manifold with Endurashine finish (part# 21214).
Edelbrock Thunder AVS 500cfm carburetor with manual choke and Endurashine finish (part# 18044).
Cowl air induction air cleaner.
Carter electric fuel pump.
Mr Gasket fuel pressure gauge.
Professional Products fuel filter.
MSD Pro Billet distributor (part# 8479).
MSD Digital 6A (part# 6201).
MSD Blaster 2 ignition coil (part# 8202).
Accel Hi-Temp Super Stock Spiral Core 8mm spark plug wires.
Edelbrock Victor Series water pump with Endurashine finish (part# 88414).
Melling high volume oil pump (part# 10688).
Ford Motorsport double sump oil pan (for '79-'93 Mustang, modified to relocate drain plug to back).
Motorcraft oil filter (part# FL-1A).
|
| Cooling: | Northern aluminum radiator.
180° thermostat. |
| Exhaust: | modified Ford iron exhaust manifolds.
Jet Hot ceramic coated.
FelPro exhaust gaskets.
All-stainless steel dual exhaust, featuring flexible couplings.
Crossover pipe.
Pype's M-80 bullet style stainless steel mufflers.
Cherry Bomb double wall exhaust tips, cut short and welded directly to the mufflers. |
| Transmission: | Borg Warner T5 5-speed transmission from '87 Mustang GT.
(Rebuilt with Tremec Master rebuild kit and Timken bearings.
Upgraded with steel front bearing retainer / throw out bearing sleeve.)
Gear ratios: 3.35, 1.93, 1.29, 1.00, and 0.68. Reverse: 3.15.
Ford 10.5" clutch.
Custom driveshaft by Front Range Drive Line, in Commerce City.
Datsun pickup truck pull-type slave cylinder (~$18).
Hurst shifter, stick, and handle. |
| Rear End: | stock Salisbury axle with original 3.909:1 gear ratio. |
| Front Susp.: | stock, rebuilt with heavy duty lever shock absorbers.
Steering modified with second universal joint added for exhaust manifold clearance. |
| Rear Susp.: | stock, except for red polyurethane bushings and spring pads. |
| Brakes: | stock, with new Lucas master cylinder.
New brake lines throughout. |
| Wheels/Tires: | stock Rostyle 14"x5.5" steel wheels.
Michelin X-One P185/70R14 tires. |
| Body: | MGB Mk1 front grille.
1973-4 style front valance.
Louvered hood.
PPG Concept DCC single stage acrylic urethane paint.
3M 08883 rubberized undercoating, under the car and in the engine bay.
|
| Electrical: | Advance Auto Wire wiring harness.
Delco-Remy 10SI 100amp alternator.
Gear reduction starter.
Battery relocated to trunk.
|
| Interior: | restored with all-new upholstery and carpet.
Original Abingdon-pillow style dashboard stripped of foam and modified.
(Relocated holes for smaller gauges. Glove box added. Painted finish.)
Autometer Elite Series 2 instruments.
Pontiac Fiero seats.
Mr Mikes seat upholstery.
Electric seat heaters.
Custom dual-hoop roll bar with diagonal forward braces across door openings.
Alpine AM/FM/CD/MP3/Sirius stereo radio.
Polk Audio 3.5" speakers mounted in headrests.
Dual JL Audio 10" subwoofers in custom enclosure.
|
| Completed: | Spring 2013. |
Engine Installation
This is a Ford 289cid V8 from a 1966 Mustang. Balanced by Doug's Balancing in Denver.
This is actually the second Ford 289 that Scott built for his MGB V8. The first engine died
on initial start-up due to a misplumbed remote oil filter. Scott found a second 289 V8
on CraigsList, and paid just $200 for it. He used the cylinder heads from his first build.
Why 289? Scott says: "I like it way better than a 302!" The 260 and 289 V8s rev more freely
due to their shorter stroke: 2.87" versus 3.00" for the 302 (and 3.50" for 351 Windsor). The 289
has the same 4.00" cylinder bore diameter as the 302 and 351. (260cid V8 has a 3.80" bore.)
Stoplight switch has been relocated to the cool and dry side of the firewall.
Vintage Cal-Custom finned aluminum "bug catcher" carburetor cover (mock Enderle fuel injection
throttle body for a supercharger) modified to serve as part of a cowl induction system.
Air cleaner housing for a rectangular "panel" type air filter.
Positive crankcase ventilation.
Scott prefers cast iron exhaust manifolds to tubular headers because they're trouble-free and quiet.
On the driver's side he milled 1/8" off the flange surface for clearance to steering components.
Borgeson steering universal joint.
Electric radiator fan mounted on fabricated aluminum fan shroud.
This radiator is shifter about eight inches forward from the stock location.
Lucas horn.
Professional Products fuel filter.
185°F thermostatic switch for the radiator fan.
Edelbrock carburetor and Mr Gasket fuel pressure gauge.
MSD Blaster 2 ignition coil (part# 8202).
MSD Digital 6A ignition controller (part# 6201).
Finding a suitable passenger-side manifold proved difficult, so Scott made one by sectioning and
welding together two manifolds. He cut the outlet off the forward half of one and welded it onto the
rear half of the other. Cast iron welding is done with a stick welder and nickel rod, after the parts
are first preheated with an oxy-acetylene torch. The weldment must be allowed to cool slowly too.
Both exhaust manifolds were Jet Hot ceramic coated, and they were installed with Fel-Pro gaskets.
Foreground: Lava Mat adhesive-backed woven aluminum thermal barrier.
Scott mounted his Ford 289 V8 engine much farther rearward than many other people.
Carter fuel pump needs to be mounted upright, so that the motor is bathed in fuel during
operation. This pump produces a steady 5.5psi, no external regulator is required.
Front Suspension
Stock MGB front suspension, rebuilt with heavy duty lever shock absorbers.
Northern aluminum radiator.
Rear Suspension
Stock Salisbury (3.909:1) axle. Background: exhaust crossover tube.
Stock rear suspension, except for red polyurethane bushings and spring pads.
Rebuilt lever shock absorbers.
All-stainless steel dual exhaust, featuring flexible couplings and rubber exhaust mounts.
Pype's M-80 bullet style stainless steel mufflers.
Cherry Bomb double wall exhaust tips, cut short and welded directly to the mufflers.
Enjoying this article? Our magazine is funded through the generous support of readers like you!
To contribute to our operating budget, please click here and follow the instructions.
(Suggested contribution is twenty bucks per year. Feel free to give more!)
Interior
1970 MGB restored with all-new upholstery and carpet.
The original Abingdon-pillow style dashboard (circa 1968-72) had been stripped of its
foam covering, and the underlying steel structure has been modified and refinished.
Scott relocated holes for the gauges, added a glove box, and created a fabric-covered eyebrow.
Custom center console.
Autometer Elite Series 2 instruments.
The inspection mirror was "temporary"... but Scott likes it and he now plans to keep it.
Alpine AM/FM/CD/MP3/Sirius stereo radio. Switches for electric seat heaters.
Hurst shifter.
Clutch and brake pedals have been cut-and-rewelded to shift them to the left.
Throttle pedal was made from scratch.
Pontiac Fiero seats. Seat upholstery by "Mr Mike".
Dual JL Audio 10" subwoofers in custom enclosure.
Scott purchased an inexpensive twin-loop 1990-98 Mazda Miata spec roll hoop
from an eBay vendor, and then created a tubular structure to mount it to.
Forward braces may give a little extra protection in side impacts, and they also help stiffen the chassis.
Scott recommends the Advance Auto Wire wiring kit; its relays and fuses may be seen here.
Toggle switch under dash is for 4-way flashers. Scott will move it into the glove box eventually.
The subwoofer enclosure blocks access to the regular MGB battery boxes, so Scott relocated
his battery to the trunk. A large audio system amplifier will be installed here soon.
Scott centered his fuel tank to facilitate symmetrical dual exhaust, so the fuel filler
pipe has been twisted toward a relocated passthrough in the trunk floor.
Exterior
MGB Mk1 front grille. 1973-4 style front valance (with holes for oil cooler.)
Louvered hood.
Scott decided that the louvered hood would benefit from a longitudinal stiffener.
Scott removed ~7 coats of old paint. His MGB was originally painted "bronze yellow".
The new color is Ferrari's "Rosso Corsa".
Split rear bumpers were only provided on MGBs for one model year - 1970 - and
replacement split bumpers haven't been availabe for years.
The gap in the middle of the split bumper is sized for a U.K.-spec license plate.
Scott has omitted the original bumper overriders, both front and rear, and side marker lights.
MGBs use standard 7" round sealed beam headlights, mounted with a bright inner
retaining rim. A second trim ring snaps on to hide the mounting hardware.
Polished A-pillars.
Early MGB taillights. Chromed covers on the backup lights are an accessory.
Stock Rostyle 14" x 5.5" steel wheels.
Michelin X-One P185/70R14 tires.
Use by written permission only. (Do not print, copy to your hard drive, or post these online without permission.)
