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Tony Gentile's 1974.5 MGB V8 Conversion (347ci Ford Stroker)

Tony Gentile · 1974.5 MG MGB

MG MGB

BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports carsas published in BritishV8 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 1974.5 MGB rebuilt around a 347ci stroked Ford V8

Tony Gentile's MGB received a Ford 302 stroked to 347ci, built by Todd's Automotive Machine Shop with a Bessel-prepped race block, paired to a Tremec 5-speed and a narrowed Ford 8.8 rear axle. The car was reworked extensively with custom suspension, brakes, bodywork and interior detailing, and the conversion was carried out by Greg Beishir. On the dyno it produced 375 rear wheel horsepower and ran a 9.8 second quarter mile at 146 mph.

Specs

As stated in the original write-up.

Engine
Ford 302 stroked to 347cid, 11:1 compression, AFR 205 aluminum heads, Erson hydraulic roller cam (234/242 at .050, .584 lift)
Fuel & Ignition
FAST XFI 2.0 EFI, FAST four-barrel throttle body and fuel rails, Precision Flow 39# injectors, MSD billet distributor and Digital 6A ignition
Cooling
Griffin aluminum radiator (Mustang size, PN 7-565BC-FXX) with electric fan
Exhaust
Fast Cars Inc. RV8-style four-into-one headers, Doug's Headers Corvette side pipes
Gearbox
Tremec 600 5-speed manual, McLeod clutch and pressure plate, Fidanza aluminum flywheel
Rear axle
Narrowed Ford 8.8 axle, 3.73:1 gears, Traction-lok differential, Speed and Specialties finned cover
Front suspension
Fast Cars coilover front suspension with Art Morrison sway bar spacers
Rear suspension
Custom four-link with dual Panhard bars, Strange Engineering adjustable coilovers (#81587), QA1 springs
Brakes
Wilwood master cylinder and adjustable proportioning valve, Wilwood front calipers and rotors, Ford rear disc brakes
Wheels
Ford Mustang GT V6 aluminum wheels, 16x7, 5x4.5 pattern
Tyres
BF Goodrich G-Force Sport Comp-2, 215/55ZR16
Fuel tank
Tanks Inc. 15 gallon tank built for fuel injection
Body
Bumpers deleted, custom crate style grille, Mk3 vented front apron, VW Rabbit fender flares front and rear, louvered front fenders, two-level hood scoop, Preform Resources rear valance, MGB Mk1 taillamps
Paint
Custom two-tone, GM white #8554 and Ford red #6726
Interior
Stripped and painted Abingdon pillow-style dashboard, custom glovebox and center console, GM-style tilting steering column, MGB seats reupholstered by Classic Car Studio, electric seat and back heaters
Instruments
Autometer volt, tach, speedo, coolant temp and fuel gauges; Smiths oil pressure gauge; AutoMeter oil temp gauge; VDO clock
Electrical
Delco-Remy alternator, Pollak battery disconnect switch, vehicle speed sensor on rear axle
Performance
375 rwhp and 341 ft-lbs at 6600 rpm; quarter mile 9.8 seconds at 146 mph on dynamometer

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 13

Fuel & Ignition 11

Cooling 1

  • Aluminum radiatorGriffin

    Mustang-size radiator, part number 7-565BC-FXX, fitted with an electric fan

    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

Gearbox & Drivetrain 5

Suspension & Steering 4

Brakes 4

Wheels & Tyres 2

  • Mustang GT V6 aluminum wheelsFord

    16x7 wheels, 5x4.5 lug pattern, 2005-2008 style

  • G-Force Sport Comp-2 tyresBF Goodrich

    215/55ZR16 tyres fitted to the wheels

Body & Trim 8

Interior 7

  • Tilting steering column

    GM-style column fitted to the interior

    In the shops
    Steering Column Cowl ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $50.99 USD
    Steering Column Cowl ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $0.00 USD
    Steering Column Cowl ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $0.00 USD
  • Parking brake lever (EHB-7000F)Lokar

    Fitted in the custom console

  • CD/DVD playerClarion NX405

    Head unit fitted in the dashboard

  • AntennaAiskaer

    Fitted for the audio system

  • Reupholstered MGB seatsClassic Car Studio

    Headrests removed, seats reupholstered

  • Volt meter, tachometer, speedometer, coolant temperature and fuel level gaugesAutometer

    Instrument cluster fitted in the dashboard

    In the shops
    Temperature Gauge ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $0.00 USD
    Temperature Gauge ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $199.95 USD
    Temperature Gauge (1977-80) ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $0.00 USD
  • Oil pressure gaugeSmiths

    Fitted to the instrument panel

    In the shops
    Oil Pressure Gauge ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $0.00 USD
    Oil Pressure Gauge ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $299.99 USD
    Oil Pressure Gauge Bezel ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $0.00 USD

Other 5

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.

Tony Gentile's 1974.5 MGB with stroked Ford 302 V8 EnginePhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Ford 302, stroked to 347cid, delivers 375 rear wheel horsepower at 6600 RPM.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
AFR 205 aluminum cylinder heads with minor flow work.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Wilwood brake and clutch master cylinders. Note: one remote reservoir required.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Wilwood adjustable brake proportioning valve.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Fast Cars RV8-style through-the-fenderwell, four-into-one headers.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Fuel and Spark Technology (FAST) four-barrel throttle body and fuel rails.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Precision Flow 39# fuel injectors.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
MSD Digital 6A capacitive discharge ignition.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Delco-Remy alternator.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
MSD billet distributor.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Griffin aluminum radiator (Ford Mustang size, part number 7-565BC-FXX).Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Finned air cleaner.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Idler pulley for the serpentine belt set-up.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
MSD HVC Blaster II ignition coil.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Pollak battery disconnect switch.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
Art Morrison Enterprises sway bar spacers.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Fram Racing oil filter, mounted remotely behind drivers-side headlight.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Narrowed Ford 8.8 axle.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Panhard rods define rear suspension roll center.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Panhard rod mount rearward of the rear axle.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Secondary, redundant Panhard rod forward of the rear axle.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Vehicle speed sensor on axle's propshaft flange.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Double shear.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Speed and Specialties finned aluminum differential cover.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Strange Engineering adjustable coilover shock absorbers (#81587) and QA1 springs.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Tanks Inc. 15 gallon fuel tank, built for fuel injection.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Stripped down and painted Abingdon pillow-style dashboard.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Custom glovebox added. Note also custom center console.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Autometer volt meter, tachometer, speedometer, coolant temperature, and fuel level gauges.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Lokar parking brake lever (EHB-7000F).Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
MSD RPM Module Selector (8670) and MSD RPM Activated Switch (8950)Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
FAST XFI 2.0 electronic fuel injection control module.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Door card.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Bimini style soft top.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
VW Rabbit rear fender flares, installed front and rear.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Two level hood scoop.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Stainless mesh keeps debris out of the cowl vent.Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

How it was done

Engine and drivetrain build

The Ford 302 was stroked to 347ci by Todd's Automotive Machine Shop using a Bessel Motor Sports race-prepped block with splayed four-bolt mains, a forged crank, Manley rods and Speed Pro pistons for 11:1 compression. AFR aluminum heads, an Erson roller cam and lifters, and a FAST XFI 2.0 fuel injection system with MSD ignition complete the package. Power runs through a Tremec 5-speed to a narrowed Ford 8.8 rear axle with Traction-lok.

Suspension and brakes

The front end uses Fast Cars coilover suspension, while the rear is a custom four-link fitted with two Panhard bars, one of which the writer notes is apparently redundant, located on Strange Engineering coilovers with QA1 springs. Braking is handled by Wilwood master cylinder and proportioning valve, Wilwood front calipers and rotors, and Ford rear discs.

Body, interior and exterior detailing

Bodywork includes deleted bumpers, a custom grille with hidden driving lights, VW Rabbit fender flares, louvered fenders, a two-level hood scoop and a custom two-tone white and red paint job. The interior features a modified Abingdon pillow-style dashboard, custom console and glovebox, reupholstered MGB seats, and a full Autometer gauge set.

Performance result

On the dynamometer the finished car produced 375 rear wheel horsepower and 341 ft-lbs of torque at 6600 rpm, with a recorded quarter mile of 9.8 seconds at 146 mph.

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 ↗

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Tony Gentile's 1974.5 MGB V8 Conversion (347ci Ford Stroker) | Restomod Life