Steve Carrick's 1974 MGB, with 375 horsepower Ford V8
as published in British V8 Newsletter, Volume X Issue 1, January 2002Photos shown are from British V8 2006, Townsend TN (and more recent modifications).
Owner: Steve Carrick
City: Middleville, MI
Model: 1974 MGB roadster
Engine: Ford SVO 302 V8
| Engine: | Ford Motorsport (SVO part number M-60070-B40) crate engine. |
| Heads: | GT-40 aluminum heads (SVO part number M-6049-Y302) weigh 22 pounds
each, 25 pounds lighter than similar iron heads. Intake valves: 1.94".
Exhaust valves: 1.54". |
| Induction: | a single 4bbl 625cfm Road Demon carburetor sits on an Edelbrock
"airgap" 7121 aluminum manifold. Throttle cable by Lokar. |
| Cam: | hydraulic roller type (SVO part number M-6250-B303) with intake and
exhaust duration of 284 degrees (224 degrees at 0.050" lift). Intake
and exhaust lift = 0.480". |
| Oil pan: | a rear sump pan was fitted, but the front crossmember required
extensive modification for clearance. Even the rear sump pan on a
Ford has a small front "sump" to allow room for the oil pump drive.
This front sump can cause difficulties in some installations,
interfering with the front crossmember as in this application. |
| Power: | An identically configured engine was tested by Car Craft magazine
recently, and their engine produced 375HP! |
| Water pump: | stock Ford, configured for V-belt operation (with opposite rotation
from the normal serpentine belt drive). |
| Cooling: | Griffen brass construction radiator, designed as a stock replacement
for a '65 Mustang. Spal electric fan in a puller configuration. Note:
car runs way too cold at highway speeds. (150 degrees at 80 MPH.) The
thermostat is a modified Robert-Shaw 180 degree thermostat. The bypass
was opened up to 1/2". Will go back to a stock Robert-Shaw 180 degree
and stock 3/8" bypass opening to try and get the temperature up to
normal. |
| Alternator: | Delco 100 amp, one wire. |
| Starter: | gear reduction type from PA Performance. |
| Wiring: | re-routed to clean up engine bay. |
| Headers: | custom made with 1.50" primaries. Mufflers are chambered, and
48" long. |
| Transmission: | Borg-Warner T5, installed with a bellhousing from a Mustang.
Fifth gear is 0.63:1. |
| Rear axle: | Ford 8.8", with a 2.73:1 final drive ratio. (I plan to upgrade
to a Ford 9".) |
| Suspension: | (Front) lowered one inch. Currently running a Ron Hopkins
(Bilstein telescoping shock conversion), but will soon upgrade to a
Fast Cars, Inc. front suspension setup. (Rear) lowered one inch.
Composite springs and Koni shock conversion supplied by British
Automotive, Inc. |
| Brakes: | (Front) stock for now, but will be upgraded to Wilwood four
piston calipers and 12 3/4" diameter rotors as part of the Fast Cars
front suspension upgrade. (Rear) stock Mustang as part of the Ford
8.8" axle assembly. |
| Wheels/Tires: | ARE 15x7, with BF Goodrich TA 225R15 tires. |
| Interior: | Fiero seats. Other interior improvements are a future project. |
| Recommendations: | Start with the engine of your dreams! Rebuilding your car later
to achieve your dream will only cost you time and money. |
Please support the sponsoring companies who make BritishV8 possible, including:
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!)
