Lyle Jacobson's 1957 MGA with a Buick 215cid V8
BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports carsBritish V8 Newsletter, Volume 10 Issue 2
Read the full write-up at BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars ↗
Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports carsA 1957 MGA rebuilt by its owner with a Buick 215 V8
Lyle Jacobson converted a 1957 MGA, assembled from two rusty parts cars, to run a 1962 Buick 215 V8 with a Borg-Warner T5 five-speed. The write-up covers the engine build, cooling and exhaust work, and the extensive chassis and bodywork modifications needed to fit the driveline, along with a tip on sourcing a donor car.
Specs
As stated in the original write-up.
- Engine
- 1962 Buick 215cid V8, 9.0:1 compression, ported heads, mild cam, stock Rochester 4bbl carburetor
- Ignition
- Pertronix Ignitor with 40,000 Volt Flame Thrower coil
- Cooling
- Custom aluminum radiator (Ron Davis Racing), 20" x 19" x 3", with 3000cfm electric puller fan
- Exhaust
- Block-hugger headers with high temperature coating, 2" duals, glass packs with resonator tips, cross-over pipe
- Transmission
- Borg-Warner T5 5-speed, 0.63:1 fifth gear
- Bellhousing
- Aftermarket aluminum bellhousing from D&D Fabrications
- Clutch
- 10" D&D Fabrications clutch with hydraulic throw-out bearing (D&D 1400/1420), stock Olds 215 flywheel
- Rear axle
- Stock MGB, 3.909:1
- Front suspension
- MGB front suspension with MGA steering rack rolled down to clear headers; stock MGA steering column shortened with three extra U-joints and bearings
- Rear suspension
- Stock MGA springs and shocks
- Brakes
- Stock MGB front and rear
- Wheels/Tires
- 165R15 tires on Moss Minilite-replica wheels
- Instruments
- VDO white faced gauges
- Interior
- Stock MGA interior with a custom walnut dashboard
- Body
- MGA fuel tank re-centered to allow dual exhaust
Parts used
Parts named as used in the original 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.
Engine 7
- 1962 Buick 215cid V8 engine
Base engine for the conversion, built with 9.0:1 compression, ported heads and a mild cam
- Rochester 4-barrel carburetorRochester
Stock carburetor retained for fueling the V8
- High volume oil pump
Fitted with enlarged oil passages for improved lubrication
In the shops
Oil Pump - High Volume - L-Series ↗
The Datsun Depot· $177.00 USD
Pump to Pressure Relief Valve High Pressure Pipe ↗
TRGB· £20.85 GBP
High Pressure Steering Hose, Pump to Steering Box, Later, No Banjo ↗
Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $131.50 USD - Modified oil pan
Enlarged to hold 5.5 quarts of oil
- Swing-away oil filter adapter
Adjustable adapter fitted for filter clearance
In the shops
Oil Filter Adapter (MGA/MGB to 1967) ↗
bpnorthwest.com· $42.25 USD - Double roller timing chain
Upgraded timing chain for durability
In the shops
Iwis Uprated Double Row Timing Chain ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $52.99 USD
Timing Chain Cover ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $0.00 USDTiming Chain Cover ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $0.00 USD - Custom air cleaner
Made specifically to clear the lowered hood line
Fuel & Ignition 4
- Pertronix Ignitor ignition systemPertronix
Electronic ignition upgrade fitted to the distributor
In the shops
Pertronix Ignitor Electronic Ignition System ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $165.25 USD
Pertronix Ignitor Electronic Ignition System ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $165.25 USD
Pertronix Ignitor Electronic Ignition System (23/24/25D4, Positive Ground) ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $183.25 USD - Flame Thrower coil (40,000 Volt)Pertronix (Flame Thrower)
High output ignition coil paired with the Pertronix system
In the shops
Pertronix Flame Thrower Electronic Distributor ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $356.50 USD
Pertronix Ignition Coil ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $68.50 USD
Pertronix Ignition Coil, ballasted ↗Moss Europe (UK)· £112.50 GBP - Block-hugger headers
Close-fitting headers with high temperature coating for exhaust clearance
- Glass pack mufflers with resonator tips
Used in the 2 inch dual exhaust system with a cross-over pipe
In the shops
Muffler Tip ↗
JDM Car Parts· $298.00 USD
Würth Active Glass Cleaner 500ml (Pack of 3) ↗
MazSpec MX-5 Spares & Accessories· £32.25 GBP
RC40 Exhaust Resonator and Side Exit Muffler (Mini) ↗bpnorthwest.com· $186.78 USD
Cooling 3
- Short shaft water pump
Fitted to the Buick 215 for the conversion
In the shops
Short Oil Pump Stud ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $7.50 USD
Bolt, Short, Shaft To Crossmember ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $3.75 USD - Custom aluminum radiatorRon Davis Racing
20 x 19 x 3 inch radiator built to fit the MGA after a wood mock-up
In the shops
Aluminum Alloy Radiator ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $348.50 USD
NC Aluminum Race Radiator ↗
Flyin' Miata· $549.00 USD
Single Pass Aluminum Race Radiator (ND) ↗Flyin' Miata· $549.00 USD - Electric puller fan (3000cfm)
High flow fan fitted behind the custom radiator
Gearbox & Drivetrain 6
- Borg-Warner T5 5-speed gearboxBorg-Warner
Fitted with a 0.63:1 overdrive fifth gear
In the shops
Borg & Beck Clutch Kit ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $529.25 USD
Cover, clutch, Borg & Beck ↗Moss Europe (UK)· £273.25 GBP
Borg & Beck Pressure Plate, 8" ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $263.00 USD - Aluminum bellhousingD&D Fabrications
Aftermarket bellhousing adapting the Buick V8 to the T5 gearbox
- 10 inch clutchD&D Fabrications
Clutch kit used with a hydraulic throw-out bearing
- Hydraulic throw-out bearing (1400/1420)D&D Fabrications
Operates the clutch hydraulically
In the shops
McLeod Racing 1400 Series Hydraulic Throwout Bearing ↗
JDMuscle — Mazda MX-5· $295.00 USD
Clutch Masters Replacement Throw-Out Bearing (94-01 Integra / 99-01 Civic Si) ↗JDMuscle — Mazda MX-5· $127.50 USD
Clutch Masters Hydraulic Release Bearing ↗JDMuscle — Mazda MX-5· $292.27 USD - Stock Oldsmobile 215 flywheel
Retained flywheel used with the V8 and clutch assembly
- MGB rear axle
Stock unit geared at 3.909:1 used for final drive
In the shops
Rear Axle U-Bolt (MGA, MGB Roadster 1963-67) ↗bpnorthwest.com· $3.52 USD
Rear Axle Oil Seal (Austin Healey BN1, MGA, MGB Roadster 63-67) ↗bpnorthwest.com· $2.75 USD
Wire Wheel Axle Plug (MGA, MGB to 1967) ↗bpnorthwest.com· $1.05 USD
Suspension & Steering 4
- MGB front suspension
Fitted in place of the original MGA front end
In the shopsWasher thrust suspension MGA/MGB ↗Motaclan Limited· £0.59 GBP
Major Suspension Kit with MGB-GT V8 Bushings ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $168.50 USD - MGA steering rack
Rolled down and relocated to clear the new headers
In the shops
Steering Rack Boot (MGA) ↗bpnorthwest.com· $8.85 USD
Replica Steering Wheel, MGA ↗Betaset (France)· €360.00 EUR
Steering U-Joint, Greasable (MGA, MGB to 1974) ↗bpnorthwest.com· $11.29 USD - MGA steering column
Shortened with three extra U-joints and bearings added
In the shopsSeal steer/column MGA ↗Spring column MGA/TD/f ↗
Steering Column U-Joint ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $36.99 USD - Stock MGA springs and shocks
Retained for the rear suspension
In the shops
Spring Pan Kit (MGA) ↗bpnorthwest.com· $113.17 USDSpring column MGA/TD/f ↗
Front Spring Eye Bushing, MGA ↗bpnorthwest.com· $15.19 USD
Brakes 1
- MGB brake system
Stock front and rear brakes fitted to the car
Wheels & Tyres 1
- Moss Minilite-replica wheelsMoss
Fitted with 165R15 tyres
In the shops
Top, Three Window, Tan Stayfast Canvas (Moss Handcrafted) ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $915.25 USD
Top, Three Window, Black Stayfast Canvas (Moss Handcrafted) ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $915.25 USD
Minilite Replica Wheel Set 13x5 ↗James Paddock Ltd· £409.50 GBP
Body & Trim 1
- MGA fuel tank
Re-centered in the body to allow dual exhaust pipes to pass
In the shops
Fuel Tank (MGA) ↗bpnorthwest.com· $189.95 USDPacking fuel tank MGA ↗
Fuel Pipe, Tank to Pump (MGA) ↗bpnorthwest.com· $44.99 USD
Interior 1
- Custom walnut dashboard
Hand-made dash replacing the stock MGA item
In the shops
Burl Walnut Wood Dashboard ↗
Sports & Classics· $549.95 USD
Walnut Dashboard (LHD) ↗MGbits4U· £362.34 GBP
Walnut Dashboard (RHD) ↗
Electrical 1
- VDO white faced gaugesVDO
Instrument cluster upgrade for the dashboard
In the shops
Magnolia Faced Speedometer Gauge ↗TRGB· £200.00 GBP
Photos
29 pictures collected from the write-up, in the order they were posted, shown from BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars. A picture opens larger here, with the way through to the page it is on.
How it was done
Starting point
Lyle Jacobson built this 1957 MGA V8 conversion himself, restoring the car from two junk, heavily rusted parts cars rather than cutting up a good original. The chosen powerplant was a 1962 Buick 215cid V8, a compact aluminum engine suited to the MGA's small engine bay.
Engine build
The Buick 215 was built with 9.0:1 compression, ported heads, a mild cam and the stock Rochester four-barrel carburetor. Oiling was upgraded with a one-piece seal, high volume pump, enlarged block oil passages, a 5.5 quart modified pan and a swing-away filter adapter. A double roller timing chain, short shaft water pump and custom low-profile air cleaner were also fitted, with Pertronix electronic ignition and a high output coil.
Cooling and exhaust
A custom aluminum radiator was commissioned from Ron Davis Racing after mocking up the fit in wood, paired with a high-capacity electric puller fan. Exhaust uses close-fitting block-hugger headers with heat coating, feeding 2 inch dual pipes, glass pack mufflers with resonator tips and a cross-over pipe.
Drivetrain
Power goes through a Borg-Warner T5 five-speed gearbox with an overdrive fifth gear, using an aftermarket aluminum bellhousing and a 10 inch clutch, both from D&D Fabrications, with a hydraulic throw-out bearing and the stock Oldsmobile 215 flywheel. Drive continues to a stock MGB rear axle geared at 3.909:1.
Suspension, steering and brakes
The front end uses MGB suspension, with the MGA steering rack rolled down to clear the new headers and the steering column shortened and fitted with extra universal joints and bearings. Rear suspension remains stock MGA. Braking is stock MGB components front and rear.
Chassis and body surgery
Extensive frame work was needed: the front crossmember was removed, relocated and rewelded once the engine location was set, heater shelf braces were cut and shortened for header clearance, and inner fenders were trimmed for airflow. The frame extension was widened for the radiator, the duct panel cut forward, floorboard brackets relocated, and the transmission tunnel widened. The steering rack mounting required a notched and patched crossmember.
Interior and finishing touches
Inside, the MGA cabin stayed largely stock apart from a custom-made walnut dashboard. VDO white-faced gauges were fitted, and the fuel tank was re-centered to allow a true dual exhaust system to run through.
A summary in our own words. The full account, with all its detail, is in the original write-up: read it at BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars ↗
Worth knowing
- Don't cut up a good MGA; use rusty parts cars as donors instead.
- Mock up a custom radiator in wood before having it built to confirm fit.
- Expect to modify inner fenders and heater shelf bracing for header clearance.
- Rolling the steering rack down and adding extra U-joints can resolve steering-to-header clashes.
- Widening the transmission tunnel and relocating floorboard brackets is often necessary to fit a V8 and modern gearbox.