Build catalogue
Dan Masters' 1974 MGB-GT with Ford 302 V8
britishv8.orgas published in BritishV8 Magazine, Volume XVI Issue 2, October 2008; build by Fast Cars Inc., paint and body by Don Marcott
Photo: britishv8.orgA 1974 MGB-GT rebuilt with a Ford 302 V8 by Fast Cars Inc.
Dan Masters had Fast Cars Inc. build his MGB-GT around a Ford 302 crate V8 with fuel injection, custom independent front and three-link rear suspension, and a Ford 8 inch axle. The car also got a reworked interior with air conditioning and power accessories, and a full color change with subtle body modifications. The article documents the bodyshell surgery, engine and suspension trial fits, wiring, and paint in detail, making it a useful reference for anyone planning a similar V8 swap.
Specs
As the owner states it.
- Engine
- Ford 302 crate motor (M-6007-B51), GT-40 aluminum heads, Ford hydraulic roller cam (M-6250-E303), Edelbrock Pro-Flo multiport EFI with Edelbrock/Magneti Marelli
- Cooling
- Fast Cars aluminum cross-flow radiator, Flex-a-lite 118 electric fan
- Exhaust
- All stainless-steel system with Fast Cars block hugger headers, dual chambered mufflers, and a cross-over pipe
- Transmission
- Tremec Super T5 with 0.73:1 fifth gear, Ford MotorSport clutch, Howe hydraulic throw-out bearing, stock MGB master cylinder
- Rear Axle
- Ford 8 inch with limited slip differential and 3.25:1 final drive
- Front Suspension
- Fast Cars IFS
- Rear Suspension
- Fast Cars three-link
- Brakes
- Stock MGB master cylinder, Wilwood discs on all four corners
- Wheels/Tires
- Billet Specialties Street Lite wheels (15x7 front, 15x8 rear) with Dunlop G/T Qualifier tires (195/60 front, 215/60 rear)
- Electrical
- Custom wiring harness with Advance Auto-Wire components, 15 relays, 20 fuses, Classic Instruments gauges, Kenwood stereo receiver, 6.25 inch round speakers, rem
- Body
- All body seams filled, recessed parking lamps from Factory Five Racing (#10621), side marker and back-up lights removed, gas filler moved to right rear fender,
- Paint
- 2003 Toyota Prius Electric Green Mica metallic paint
- Interior
- Fiero seats with Mr Mike Italian Style seat covers in Lamborghini cream leather, electric seat heaters, modified Mk1 MGB steel dashboard, Flaming River GM-style
Parts used
What the owner names in the write-up, grouped the way the Parts page groups them. Where one of the shops we index lists the same thing for this car, it is shown underneath with a link to the shop.
Shop suggestions are being prepared. The owner's parts list is available below.
Engine 4
- Ford 302 crate engine (M-6007-B51)Ford
Base engine for the V8 swap
- GT-40 aluminum cylinder heads
Fitted to the 302 for improved flow
- Ford hydraulic roller cam (M-6250-E303)Ford
Camshaft used in the build
- Billet Specialties TruTrac pulley systemBillet Specialties
Serpentine accessory drive, also carried the A/C compressor
Fuel & Ignition 2
- Edelbrock Pro-Flo multiport fuel injectionEdelbrock
Fuel injection system for the V8
- Edelbrock/Magneti Marelli computerized EFI controlEdelbrock/Magneti Marelli
Engine management for the EFI system
Cooling 2
- Fast Cars aluminum cross-flow radiatorFast Cars
Radiator sized and mounted for the V8 conversion
- Flex-a-lite 118 electric fanFlex-a-lite
Electric cooling fan fitted with the radiator
Gearbox & Drivetrain 4
- Tremec Super T5 gearboxTremec
Five speed manual with 0.73:1 overdrive top gear
- Ford MotorSport clutchFord MotorSport
Clutch matched to the V8 and T5 gearbox
- Howe hydraulic throw-out bearingHowe
Hydraulic release bearing for the clutch
- Ford 8 inch rear axleCurrie/Ford
Rear axle with limited slip differential and 3.25:1 gears, sourced via Currie
Suspension & Steering 3
- Fast Cars independent front suspensionFast Cars
Custom IFS giving good oil pan clearance
- Fast Cars three-link rear suspensionFast Cars
Custom rear suspension requiring reinforced chassis pick-ups and a panhard rod bracket
- Flaming River tilt steering columnFlaming River
GM-style column fitted with the upper universal joint relocated into the foot box
Brakes 1
- Wilwood disc brakesWilwood
Fitted at all four corners, with a second caliper for the parking brake
Wheels & Tyres 2
- Billet Specialties Street Lite wheelsBillet Specialties
15x7 front and 15x8 rear wheels
- Dunlop G/T Qualifier tyresDunlop
195/60 front and 215/60 rear tyres fitted to the new wheels
Body & Trim 5
- Factory Five Racing recessed parking lamps (#10621)Factory Five Racing
Cobra-style lamps recessed into the front bodywork
- Dodge Omni fender flaresDodge (donor part)
Used at all four corners to cover the wider wheels, with left/right swapped front to rear
- Lizard Skin sound and heat insulationLizard Skin
Sprayed on the underside and interior of the shell
- Chrome nerf bars
Fitted in place of the stock bumpers
- Harley Davidson side view mirrorsHarley Davidson
Used as exterior mirrors
Interior 7
- Classic Instruments gaugesClassic Instruments
Instrumentation fitted to the modified dashboard
- Fiero seats with Mr Mike Italian Style coversMr Mike
Seats trimmed in Lamborghini cream leather with electric seat heaters
- Moss Motors power window kit (#299-000)Moss Motors
Power windows added to the doors
- Vintage Air Gen II Mini air conditioning unitVintage Air
Under-dash A/C system fitted with a Sanden SD-7 compressor
- Sanden SD-7 air conditioning compressorSanden
Polished compressor included with the pulley system driving the A/C
- Big Al's Carponents Marque arm rests/door pullsBig Al's Carponents
Fitted to custom-built door panels
- Cherry wood cargo floor
Hinged, removable floor held by stainless steel pins and nut-serts
Electrical 3
- Power Master hi-torque starter (9503)Power Master
Starter motor fitted to the engine
- Advance Auto-Wire custom wiring harnessAdvance Auto-Wire
Full harness with 15 relays and 20 fuses for the conversion
- Kenwood stereo receiverKenwood
Stereo system with round speakers and remote CD changer
Other 1
- Stainless steel exhaust system with block hugger headersFast Cars
Custom dual exhaust with crossover pipe and chambered mufflers routed under the axle
Photos
Shown from britishv8.org. A picture opens larger here, with the way through to the page it is on.
How it was done
Starting point
The MGB-GT was stripped down to a bare shell before work began. As is common with these cars, various rust repairs were needed, and provisions for new wiring routing were added at this stage to prepare the shell for the V8 conversion ahead.
Making room for the small block Ford
The engine bay and firewall were reworked to fit the Ford 302, including trial fitting the block, seam welding around new motor mounts, and cutting firewall clearance for both the engine and the air conditioning system. The front shelf was also modified to relocate the radiator and A/C condenser.
Engine and accessory trial fits
Before final installation, the engine driven accessories and pulley system were trial fitted, exhaust routing was checked for clearance, and the air conditioning system layout was confirmed, ensuring everything would fit before committing to final fabrication.
Bodywork beyond the factory design
Styling changes included Cobra-style recessed parking lamps, a widened and blended front valance, a relocated and recessed fuel filler, and Dodge Omni fender flares fitted at all four corners, with left and right flares swapped front to rear for the right profile.
Chassis modifications for suspension
The rear of the shell was reinforced for the new three-link rear suspension, with brackets added for the panhard rod and third link, and the driver side battery box cut away to make room. A parking brake lever mount also doubled as extra suspension reinforcement.
Suspension, axle and exhaust installed
The Fast Cars front and rear suspension were trial installed along with the Currie/Ford 8 inch axle carrying Wilwood brakes, including a second caliper for the parking brake. A dual exhaust system with a crossover pipe and chambered mufflers was built and routed under the axle.
Wiring, dashboard and paint
A steel first generation MGB dashboard was modified for a Vintage Air unit and a Flaming River tilt column, then wired using an Advance Auto-Wire harness with 15 relays and 20 fuses. The interior and underside were sprayed with Lizard Skin insulation before the shell was painted, inside first, then outside after careful masking.
Engine install and interior trim
The dressed Ford crate engine went in with a milled aluminum air cleaner top, block hugger headers, and the Billet Specialties pulley system carrying a Sanden compressor. The interior was finished with Fiero seats trimmed in cream leather, custom door panels, a removable cherry wood cargo floor, and chrome nerf bars replacing the bumpers.
A summary in our own words. The full account, with all its detail, is the owner's: read it at britishv8.org ↗
Worth knowing
- Trial fit engine accessories, pulleys and exhaust before final installation to catch clearance problems early
- Plan air conditioning packaging alongside the engine swap rather than as an afterthought
- Reinforce rear suspension pick-up points properly when converting to a custom three-link setup
- Using flares from an unrelated donor car, like the Dodge Omni, can work if you're willing to swap left and right pieces
- Waiting decades for a dream project is not necessary, start sooner if you can