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Rob Ficalora's 1976 MGB Ford 5.0L V8 Conversion

Rob Ficalora · 1976 MGB

MG MGB

BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports carsas published in BritishV8 Magazine, Volume XX Issue 2, December 2012

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 1976 MGB rebuilt around a Ford 302 V8, independent rear suspension, and modern brakes

Rob Ficalora transplanted a Ford Racing 302 crate V8 and five-speed into his 1976 MGB, then built custom front and rear suspension, a wide track, and a mix of parts sourced from Mazda, Nissan, Chevrolet, and Volvo. The write-up documents engine installation, suspension fabrication, brake and fuel system choices, and interior/wiring work, including early dyno results. It is a detailed parts-and-process reference for anyone attempting a similar V8 swap.

Specs

As stated in the original write-up.

Engine
Ford Racing 302cid V8 crate engine (M-6007-XB3), 345hp, 9.0:1 compression
Camshaft
Ford Racing hydraulic roller camshaft (M-6250-B303), 0.480" lift, 224° duration at 0.050"
Cylinder heads
Ford Racing GT40 aluminum heads (M-6049-X306), 64cc chambers, 178cc intake runners
Intake manifold
Edelbrock Performer 289 with Fel-Pro gasket
Carburetor
Holley 650cfm four barrel, part# 4777S, manual choke, mechanical secondaries
Ignition
Ford Duraspark distributor (Cardone 30-2831), MSD Blaster SS coil, MSD6AL CD ignition, MSD Street Fire wires
Cooling
FastCars aluminum crossflow radiator, short nose aluminum water pump, Volvo S90 electric fan with custom shroud
Exhaust
Coyote four-into-one through-the-fender headers, Dr Gas 2.25" oval primary pipe and H-pipe, Spintech 7000 series mufflers
Transmission
Borg Warner T5 five-speed from a 1994-95 SN95 Mustang, King Cobra clutch, 1994 Toyota 4Runner slave cylinder
Rear axle
1996 Nissan Skyline viscous limited slip differential (R200S case), 3.54:1 gears, uprated halfshafts from The Driveshaft Shop
Front suspension
Fast Cars (Ted Lathrop) coilover front suspension with Hypercoil springs
Rear suspension
Custom Rod Works (Todd Budde) independent rear suspension, QA1 single-adjustable coilovers, QA1 250#/10" springs, 54.25" hub-to-hub width
Brakes (front)
Wilwood Dynalite 4-pot calipers, 11.75" vented rotors
Brakes (rear)
1994 Camaro Z28 calipers with mechanical e-brakes, Corvette C4 rotors
Brakes (master)
1996 Mazda Protege 15/16" bore master cylinder, 1987 Isuzu Trooper reservoir, JEGS proportioning valve, Wilwood 2psi residual pressure valves
Wheels
American Racing 427P, 15x7 front / 15x8 rear, 5x4.75" lug pattern
Tyres
Falken ZIEX ZE-912, 205/55/15 front, 225/50/15 rear
Fuel system
Custom Rod Works aluminum fuel tank, Walbro 255lph in-tank pump, Professional Products Powerflow bypass regulator
Electrical
EZ Wiring 21-circuit mini harness, 140amp polished Vintage Air alternator, Optima red top battery
Interior
MGB Mk1 steel dashboard (body color), Autometer HotRod Designer Black gauges, Mazda Miata seats, Vintage Air Gen-II air conditioning
Paint
Merlot Jewel Metallic (GM code 79U / PPG code WA517Q)
Dyno result
255hp and 285ft-lbs at BritishV8 2012, before final tuning

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 9

  • Edelbrock Performer 289 intake manifoldEdelbrock

    Intake manifold fitted with Fel-Pro gasket

    In the shops
    Intake Manifold ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $305.25 USD
    Intake Manifold to Head Gasket ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $6.40 USD
    Dual Intake Manifold (HS6, MGB) ↗bpnorthwest.com· $329.44 USD
  • Holley 650cfm carburetor (part# 4777S)Holley

    Manual choke four barrel carburetor feeding the engine

  • Ford Duraspark distributor (Cardone 30-2831)Cardone

    Distributor sourced from a 1985 Mustang manual transmission car

  • MSD Blaster SS ignition coilMSD

    Ignition coil used with the MSD CD system

    In the shops
    Ignition Coil & Wires ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $0.00 USD
    Pertronix Ignition Coil ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $68.50 USD
    Ignition Coil Mounting Bracket ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $50.99 USD
  • MSD Street Fire spark plug wiresMSD

    Spark plug wiring for the ignition system

    In the shops
    Magnecor 8.5mm Spark Plug Wires ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $135.25 USD
    NGK Spark Plug ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $3.89 USD
    NGK Spark Plug ↗Betaset (France)· €5.52 EUR
  • Motorcraft spark plugs (AGSF32C)Motorcraft

    Spark plugs gapped to 0.028 inch

    In the shops
    NGK Spark Plug ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $3.89 USD
    NGK Spark Plug ↗Betaset (France)· €5.52 EUR
    NGK BPR7ES Spark Plug ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $5.40 USD
  • MSD6AL capacitive discharge ignition controllerMSD

    CD ignition box controlling spark

  • Walbro 255lph in-tank fuel pumpWalbro

    Fuel pump with 3/8 inch feed and return lines

    In the shops
    Walbro 255LPH Fuel Pump + Install Kit (1997-2001 Prelude) ↗JDMuscle — Mazda MX-5· $98.99 USD
    Fuel Tank to Pump Inlet Pipe ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $46.99 USD
    Fuel Tank to Pump Inlet Pipe ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $88.25 USD
  • Professional Products Powerflow bypass fuel regulator (part# 10653)Professional Products

    Drops EFI-ready fuel pressure to suit the carburetor

Cooling 3

Gearbox & Drivetrain 5

Suspension & Steering 7

Brakes 7

Wheels & Tyres 2

Interior 8

Electrical 8

Other 5

  • Coyote four-into-one through-the-fender headersFast Cars (originally Steve Carrick)

    Headers routed through the fender, ceramic coated for heat control

  • Fel-Pro exhaust gaskets (part# 1415)Fel-Pro

    Gaskets used in exhaust assembly

  • Dr Gas 2.25 inch oval primary exhaust and H-pipeDr Gas

    Exhaust piping connecting headers to mufflers

  • Spintech 7000 series mufflersSpintech

    Main mufflers for the exhaust system

  • 10 inch glass pack mufflers

    Additional mufflers fitted at exhaust tips

Photos

40 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.

Rob Ficalora's 1976 MGB with Ford 5.0L V8 EnginePhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Ford Racing 302 V8 engine, part# M-6007-XB3. 9.0:1 static compression ratio.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Rated 345 horsepower.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
JEGS adjustable brake proportioning valve. Wilwood 2psi residual pressure valves.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Professional Products' Powerflow adjustable fuel pressure regulator.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Holley 650 double pumper.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Edelbrock Performer 289 intake manifold.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Ford Duraspark distributor (Cardone part# 30-2831) as used on a 1985 Mustang with manual transmission.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
MSD Blaster SS ignition coil. Sanden SD7 air conditioning compressor.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Volvo S90 electric cooling fan with custom fabricated aluminum fan shroud.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Bright silver ceramic coating protects the headers and helps keep heat inside.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
140amp polished alternator (part of Vintage Air Front Runner system.)Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Jump start studs, circuit protection, and Volvo fan relay..Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
MSD6AL capacitive discharge ignition controller.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Holley part# 4777S is a 650cfm carburetor with manual choke.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Bottom left: hoses for the re-located cabin heater haven't been hooked up yet.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Ford Racing GT40 aluminum cylinder head (part# M-6049-X306) with 178cc intake runners.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
FastCars aluminum crossflow radiator, 19 tall x 18.25 wide.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Coyote four-into-one, through-the-fender headers were originally created by Steve Carrick.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Dr Gas 2.25 inch oval primary exhaust pipe and H-pipe. Spintech 7000 series mufflers.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Custom Rod Works lightweight, high capacity aluminum fuel tank.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Dyno'd during BritishV8 2012, Rob's car pulled 255hp and 285ft-lbs.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Fast Cars coilover front suspension.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Hypercoil springs.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Wilwood Dynalite 4-pot calipersand 11.75 inch vented rotors.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Rob specified his suspension two inches wider-than-stock track width and with Ford V8-ready motor mounts.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Transmission crossmember. Note heat deflector between fuel lines and muffler area.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
First trial installation of Rob's Ford 302 V8 on the motor mounts Fast Cars installed on their front suspension crossmember.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Custom Rod Works (Todd Budde) independent rear suspension with coilovers.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
QA1 single-adjustable coilover shock absorbers. QA1 250# / 10 inch springs.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Because wider is better, 54.25 inch hub-to-hub width at ride height!Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
1994 Camaro Z28 calipers with cable-operated emergency brakes.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
The rear suspension is designed to bolt-on at the old leafspring mounts.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
1996 Nissan Skyline viscous limited slip differential. 3.54:1 final drive ratio.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Revised rear suspension subframe with double-shear shock absorber mounts.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Revised mountings to place the shock absorbers at a more-vertical angle.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Battery shelf, sized to fit an Optima battery.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Uprated halfshafts from The Driveshaft Shop in Salisbury, North Carolina.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
MGB MK1 steel dashboard, except in body-color instead of black wrinkle finish.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Autometer HotRod Designer Black gauges: tachometer (0-7000rpm), clock, & speedometer.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

How it was done

A crate V8 and modern gearbox

Rob fitted a Ford Racing 302 crate engine rated at 345 horsepower, paired with GT40 heads, an Edelbrock intake, and a Holley 650 carburetor. Behind it he installed a Borg Warner T5 five-speed from a Mustang, matched with a King Cobra clutch, giving the MGB modern gearing and reliable manual shifting.

Cooling and exhaust sorted

To manage heat from the V8, he used a FastCars aluminum crossflow radiator and a Volvo-sourced electric fan with a custom shroud. Exhaust gases exit through fender headers originally designed by Steve Carrick, feeding Dr Gas pipework and Spintech mufflers, with ceramic coating on the headers to control underhood heat.

Building the front end

A Fast Cars coilover front suspension, designed by Ted Lathrop, was installed with Hypercoil springs and widened track to suit the V8 motor mounts. Wilwood Dynalite four-piston calipers with 11.75 inch vented rotors handle front braking duties.

A fully custom rear suspension

Rob fitted a Custom Rod Works independent rear suspension built by Todd Budde, widened to 54.25 inches hub-to-hub. A Nissan Skyline viscous limited-slip differential and uprated halfshafts from The Driveshaft Shop handle power, while QA1 coilovers and Chevy S10 hubs round out the setup.

Brakes and fuel delivery

Braking uses a mix of sourced parts: a Mazda Protege master cylinder, Isuzu Trooper reservoir, and Camaro Z28 rear calipers with mechanical e-brakes. Fuel comes from a custom aluminum tank built by Custom Rod Works, fed by a Walbro in-tank pump and regulated for carburetor use by a Professional Products bypass regulator.

Interior, wiring, and finishing touches

The cabin received a repainted MGB Mk1 dashboard, Autometer gauges, Miata seats, and a Vintage Air climate system. Wiring was simplified with an EZ Wiring harness and supported by a polished high-output alternator. Bodywork includes a chrome grille, louvered hood, shaved trim, and Merlot Jewel Metallic paint.

First dyno results

At the BritishV8 2012 event, the car pulled 255 horsepower and 285 ft-lbs on the dyno before final tuning and break-in miles, with Rob expecting further gains as the engine settled in.

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

  • Welded axle halfshafts proved unsatisfactory and should be avoided.
  • Doing less at once makes the project more manageable.
  • Getting the car running first, then adding and modifying as you go, works better than trying to finish everything before driving.
  • Widening the rear track and suspension mounting points required reworking the subframe rather than a simple bolt-on fit.
  • Choosing a bypass fuel regulator let an EFI-style pump work with a carburetor setup.

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