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Nigel Cooper's 1967 MGB with Small Block Ford V8

Nigel Cooper · 1967 MGB

MG MGB

BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

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 cars

A 1967 MGB rebuilt with a Ford 302 V8 over seven years

Nigel Cooper converted his 1967 MGB to a Ford 302 crate engine, pairing it with a five-speed manual, independent rear suspension, and an upgraded brake system. The build also included extensive bodywork, seam-welding, and a fresh interior, taking seven years to finish, including a pause after the owner suffered a stroke in 2015.

Specs

As stated in the original write-up.

Engine
Ford 302cid V8 crate engine from Roadcraft UK, rated 367bhp, with hydraulic roller camshaft
Cylinder heads
Edelbrock Performer aluminum heads, 2.02" inlet / 1.60" exhaust valves
Induction
Edelbrock Performer intake manifold and carburetor
Ignition
MSD 8579 distributor with MSD Blaster 2 coil
Cooling
Griffin aluminum radiator with shrouded electric pulling fan
Exhaust
Four-into-one headers, crossover pipe, custom pipes by Redhill Classics, dual stainless glass-pack mufflers
Gearbox
Borg Warner T5Z 5-speed manual transmission
Propshaft
Custom built prop shaft
Rear axle
Cosworth rear end with limited slip differential
Front suspension
Hoyle coilover front suspension with MG RV8 sway bar
Rear suspension
Hoyle coilover independent rear suspension
Brakes (master)
Late model MGB system with tandem cylinder and booster
Brakes (front)
Vented rotors, 4-pot aluminum calipers, braided stainless steel hoses
Brakes (rear)
Disc brakes
Wheels
Minilite replica 15" aluminum wheels from The MGB Hive
Tyres
195/60R15 front, 205/50R15 rear
Weight
2447 pounds
Interior
All new interior trim with Moss Comfort seats
Instruments
Full ETB gauge set with custom center console and central gauge panel
Electrical
Delco-Remy style alternator, single Yuasa 12V battery on fabricated bracket
Body
Deseamed and seam-welded bodyshell, MGC style fiberglass bonnet with hood scoop, Frontline air dam, polished windscreen surround, new chrome trim from The MGB Hive, frenched rear license plate

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 6

Fuel & Ignition 5

Cooling 2

  • Griffin aluminum radiatorGriffin

    Provides cooling for the V8 conversion

    In the shops
    Aluminum Radiator ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $355.00 USD
    Aluminum Radiator ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $358.50 USD
    Aluminum Radiator ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $364.00 USD
  • Electric cooling fan

    Shrouded and pulling, mounted with the radiator

    In the shops
    Cooling Fan ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $17.99 USD
    Cooling Fan Motor ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $158.50 USD
    Cooling Fan Spacer ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $1.35 USD

Gearbox & Drivetrain 3

Suspension & Steering 3

  • Hoyle coilover front suspensionHoyle

    Front suspension upgrade

  • Hoyle coilover independent rear suspensionHoyle

    Replaces original rear setup with independent coilovers

  • MG RV8 sway bar

    Fitted at the front for handling

    In the shops
    Rear Sway Bar ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $0.00 USD
    Left Sway Bar Link ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $23.99 USD
    Right Sway Bar Link ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $22.99 USD

Brakes 5

Wheels & Tyres 3

Body & Trim 5

Interior 3

Electrical 2

Other 4

  • Four-into-one headers

    Exhaust headers feeding into neat flanges

  • Crossover pipe

    Part of the exhaust routing

  • Custom exhaust pipesRedhill Classics

    Built to route exhaust from the headers to the mufflers

  • Dual stainless steel glass-pack style mufflers

    Finish the exhaust system

    In the shops
    Stainless Steel Muffler & Pipe Assembly ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $449.99 USD
    Main Muffler, Stainless Steel ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $657.49 USD
    Front Muffler, Stainless Steel ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $134.99 USD

Photos

30 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.

Nigel Cooper's 1967 MGB with Small Block Ford V8Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Ford 302 crate engine from Roadcraft UK (rated 367bhp).Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Edelbrock Performer intake manifold. Ford Racing aluminum valve covers.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
MSD 8579 distributor. MSD Blaster 2 ignition coil.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
MG RV8 sway bar. Aluminum crank pulley.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Electric cooling fan, shrouded and pulling.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Four-into-one headers into neat flanges.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Exhaust routing.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Crossover pipe.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Custom exhaust pipes by Redhill Classics.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Dual stainless steel glass-pack style mufflers.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Single Yuasa 12V battery, mounted passenger side on specially fabricated bracketry.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Electric fuel pump.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Speed/rotation sensor?Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Seam-welded bodyshell.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Seam-welded bodyshell flanges, in the vicinity of the forward leaf spring hangers.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Hydraulic lifters.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Vented rotors. 4-pot aluminum calipers. Braided stainless steel hoses.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Hoyle coilover independent rear suspension.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Cosworth rear end with limited slip differential.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Full ETB gage set. Custom center console and central gauge panel.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Glossy new paintjob!Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Frontline air dam. Removed bumper overriders.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Polished windscreen surround.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
minilite replica 15 aluminum wheelsPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Deseamed joints between front fenders and cowl.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Deseamed joints between rear quarter panels and rear deck.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Deseamed joints between rocker panels and rear quarter panels.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Frenched rear license plate.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Donate Now!Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

How it was done

Starting the V8 conversion

Nigel Cooper began converting his 1967 MGB to Ford V8 power, fitting a Ford 302 crate engine from Roadcraft UK rated at 367bhp. The engine came with a hydraulic roller camshaft and was dressed with Edelbrock Performer aluminum heads, intake, and carburetor, plus Ford Racing valve covers. A 1979 MGB front bulkhead was grafted in to make the installation easier.

Ignition, cooling and exhaust

Ignition duties went to an MSD 8579 distributor and Blaster 2 coil, with an electric fuel pump feeding the engine. Cooling came from a Griffin aluminum radiator and a shrouded, pulling electric fan. Four-into-one headers fed a crossover pipe and custom exhaust pipework by Redhill Classics, finished with dual stainless glass-pack mufflers.

Driveline changes

Power reached the road through a Borg Warner T5Z five-speed manual gearbox and a custom-built propshaft. At the rear, a Cosworth differential with limited-slip was fitted to handle the V8's output.

Suspension and brakes

Hoyle coilover suspension was fitted at both ends, including an independent rear setup, with an MG RV8 sway bar added at the front. Braking was upgraded with vented front rotors, 4-pot aluminum calipers and braided stainless hoses, rear disc brakes, and a late-model MGB tandem master cylinder with booster.

Body strengthening and styling

The bodyshell was deseamed and seam-welded, including at the forward leaf spring hangers, an area the owner notes stays highly stressed even with independent rear suspension. Styling changes included an MGC-style fiberglass bonnet with a hood scoop, a Frontline air dam, removed bumper overriders, a polished windscreen surround, frenched rear plate, and new chrome trim.

Interior and finishing touches

Inside, the car received all new trim and Moss Comfort seats, along with a full ETB gauge set set into a custom center console and gauge panel. Minilite replica 15-inch wheels were fitted, wrapped in 195/60R15 front and 205/50R15 rear tyres, and the car was finished in a fresh paintjob.

A seven-year build

The conversion took seven years to complete, finishing in October 2017. The owner notes the project was significantly slowed after he suffered a stroke in 2015.

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

  • A V8 swap can take years of part-time effort; plan for a long project timeline.
  • Grafting in a later MGB front bulkhead can ease fitting a larger engine.
  • Seam-welding stressed areas like the leaf spring hangers helps the shell cope with extra power.
  • Sourcing a rated crate engine takes guesswork out of expected performance.
  • Switching to independent rear suspension does not remove the need to reinforce stressed chassis areas.

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