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Michael Cubbon's 1969 MGB V6 conversion

Michael Cubbon · 1969 MG MGB

MG MGB

BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports carsBritishV8 Magazine, Volume XXIII Issue 1, December 2017

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 1969 MGB re-converted from Ford to a fuel-injected Chevy 3.4L V6

Michael Cubbon took an MGB that a previous owner had already fitted with a Ford V6 and redid the conversion around a rebuilt, fuel-injected Chevrolet 3.4L V6 from a 1990s Camaro. The car received a matching T5 manual gearbox, a reworked fuel and cooling system, a complete rewire, and a bare-metal interior refurbishment with modern instruments and trim. It is a thorough, detail-documented swap covering engine, chassis, electrics, and bodywork.

Specs

As stated in the original write-up.

Engine
Rebuilt 1993-95 Chevrolet Camaro L32 3.4L V6, stock sequential EFI, stock wasted-spark ignition, stock GM computer
Gearbox
Borg-Warner T5 manual transmission, V6 version, reconditioned
Rear axle
MGC 3.07:1 ring and pinion
Front suspension
Standard geometry, World Wide Auto Parts rebuilt/uprated Armstrong shocks
Rear suspension
Standard new leaf springs, World Wide Auto Parts rebuilt/uprated Armstrong shocks
Brakes
New standard MGB master cylinder, rebuilt stock front and rear brakes
Wheels
Minator (KN Wheels Ltd.) eight-spoke aluminum wheels, 15x5.5J
Tyres
General Altimax 185/60R15
Body
Preform Resources MG RV8-style fiberglass bonnet, MG RV8-style CHMSL, luggage rack, factory hardtop
Interior
Completely refurbished from bare metal with POR15 paint, sound and heat insulation, new carpets, Flashpower leather steering wheel, Mazda Miata seats, Pioneer stereo, JBL Flip 3 speaker, 3-point inertia seat belts
Instruments
VDO fuel, tachometer (0-7000rpm), GPS speedometer (0-120mph), coolant temperature (100-250F) gauges; Smith oil pressure gauge (0-100psi)
Electrical
Completely rewired, all circuits LED fused, relays on major systems, Delco 125A alternator
Performance
Approximately 160hp at 4800rpm and 200 ft/lbs at 3600rpm

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 5

Fuel & Ignition 3

Cooling 3

Gearbox & Drivetrain 2

Suspension & Steering 1

  • World Wide Auto Parts rebuilt/uprated Armstrong shock absorbersWorld Wide Auto Parts

    Fitted front and rear on otherwise standard suspension

    In the shops
    Shock Absorber Bush ↗TRGB· £1.65 GBP
    Uprated Shock Absorber ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $452.50 USD
    Rebuilt Shock Absorber ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $313.50 USD

Brakes 1

Wheels & Tyres 2

Body & Trim 4

  • Preform Resources MG RV8-style fiberglass bonnetPreform Resources

    Replacement bonnet styled on the MG RV8

  • MG RV8-style centre high mount stop lamp (CHMSL)Hella (Australia)

    Added for a factory-style high brake light

  • Luggage rack

    Fitted to the exterior of the car

    In the shops
    Luggage Rack ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $570.00 USD
    Boot Luggage Rack ↗MGOC Spares· £324.95
    Factory Style Luggage Rack ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $252.50 USD
  • Factory hardtop

    Fitted as a removable hardtop

    In the shops
    MGB/MGC Factory Hardtop (Used) ↗Sports & Classics· $1,150.00 USD

Interior 9

Electrical 3

  • Delco 125A alternatorDelco

    Upgraded alternator to support electrical demands

  • Standard Motor Products aftermarket brake light switchStandard Motor Products

    Used in the engine/brake wiring

    In the shops
    Piston & Ring Set, standard, 2.4" long, aftermarket (8.75:1) ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $294.75 USD
  • Upgraded fuse block and relays

    Rewired electrical system with LED-fused circuits and relays on major systems

    In the shops
    Upgraded 80A Main Relay for NA/NB ↗Flyin' Miata· $119.00 USD

Other 2

Photos

38 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.

Michael Cubbon's 1969 MGB with Chevrolet fuel injected 3.4L V6Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Rebuilt 1993-95 Camaro 3.4 SFI V6.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Standard Motor Products aftermarket brake light switch.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Wiring for stock sequential electronic fuel injection.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Classic Conversions Engineering headers.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Classic Conversions Engineering motor mounts.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Stock wasted spark electronic ignition.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Royal Purple Extended Life oil filter (part# 30-8A).Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
K&N air filter.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Wizard custom aluminum radiator.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Evan's waterless engine coolant.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Spal electric fan.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Spal 1390cfm electric fan (type VA03-AP70/LL-37S), pushing.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Relays control lights, horn, fuel pump, heater fan, etc.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Delco 125A alternator.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Top left: manifold air pressure (MAP) sender.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
AC Delco Premium Silicone 7mm spark plug wires.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Upgraded fuse block and relays.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Stock MGB front suspension, with World Wide Auto Parts rebuilt Armstrong shock absorbers.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Billet aluminum fuel filter.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Custom Rod Works aluminum fuel tank...Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
...with built in Walbro high pressure fuel pump.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Magnaflow muffler.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
VDO gauges including GPS speedometer.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Flashpower Classic full leather steering wheel.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Pioneer AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo radio.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
JBL Flip 3 Splashproof Bluetooth Speaker.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Mazda Miata seats.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Stereo speakers mounted in the pedal boxes.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Michael selected this custom color, similiar to but not the same as MG's black tulip.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Preform Resources MG RV8-style fiberglass bonnet.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Factory hardtop.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
MG RV8 centre high mount stop lamp (CHMSL) by Hella of Australia.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Luggage rack.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
V6 badge.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Minator (KN Wheels Ltd.) eight spoke aluminum wheels, size 15x5.5J.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
General Altimax 185/60R15 tires.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 point

The MGB arrived already carrying a Ford V6 from a previous owner. Michael Cubbon chose to redo the conversion around a rebuilt Chevrolet 3.4L V6 instead, pulling the car back to bare metal for a full rebuild rather than just swapping engines.

Engine and fuel system

A rebuilt 1993-95 Camaro L32 3.4L V6 was fitted using its stock sequential fuel injection, wasted-spark ignition and GM computer. Classic Conversions Engineering supplied headers and motor mounts, and a Custom Rod Works aluminum fuel tank with a built-in Walbro high pressure pump feeds the engine through a billet aluminum filter.

Cooling and exhaust

Cooling is handled by a Wizard custom aluminum radiator and Evan's waterless coolant, with a Spal electric fan. The fan was initially mounted pulling for the 2016 All British Field Meet, then changed afterward to a higher-capacity 1390cfm unit mounted pushing. Exhaust routes through a custom 2-into-1 system with a Magnaflow muffler.

Drivetrain and suspension

Power goes through a reconditioned Borg-Warner T5 V6 manual gearbox to an MGC 3.07:1 rear axle. Front and rear suspension keep standard geometry and new leaf springs, upgraded with World Wide Auto Parts rebuilt Armstrong shocks. Brakes were rebuilt to stock specification front and rear with a new standard master cylinder.

Electrical system

The car was completely rewired, with every circuit on LED fuses and relays added to major systems such as lights, horn, fuel pump and heater fan. A Delco 125A alternator was fitted along with an upgraded fuse block to support the electronic engine management.

Interior and instruments

The interior was refurbished from bare metal and coated with POR15 before adding sound and heat insulation and new carpet. Mazda Miata seats, a Flashpower leather steering wheel, a Pioneer stereo with a JBL Flip 3 speaker, and VDO/Smiths instruments including a GPS speedometer complete the cabin.

Exterior finishing touches

A Preform Resources MG RV8-style fiberglass bonnet, an RV8-style centre high mount stop lamp, a luggage rack and the factory hardtop were fitted, finished in a custom color close to MG's black tulip, along with a V6 badge and Minator aluminum wheels on General Altimax tyres.

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

  • Fitting a higher-capacity pushing fan improved cooling over the original pulling fan setup.
  • Using a donor engine's stock EFI, ignition and computer simplifies a V6 swap.
  • A full rewire with LED-fused circuits and relays helps the electrics handle a modern fuel-injected engine.
  • Pairing an MGC rear axle ratio with a T5 gearbox suits the V6's power characteristics.
  • Rebuilding the interior from bare metal with protective coating addresses corrosion before retrimming.

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