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Victor Guerrero's 1971 MGB with 435hp Chevy 383 V8

Victor Guerrero · 1971 MGB

MG MGB

BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports carsas published in BritishV8 Magazine, Volume XVI Issue 2, October 2008

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 1971 MGB converted to a 383ci small block Chevy V8, hill-climb derived

Victor Guerrero's MGB carries a V8 conversion originally built by Paul Knott for hill-climb racing, now driven on the road. The write-up details a fully rebuilt and stroked small block Chevy, a Holden-sourced rear axle and brakes, and a stripped-down, race-oriented interior, making it a strong example of a track-bred conversion adapted for street use.

Specs

As stated in the original write-up.

Engine
Small block Chevy V8, bored 0.040 over and stroked to 383cid, 4-bolt mains, Scat crankshaft, Crower I-beam rods, 18 degree aluminium heads, Clive Cams camshaft (360A, .332 lift-lobe, 246 degrees duration at 0.50), Manley stainless valves, T&D shaft mount roller rockers, Edelbrock Victor Jr intake, Proform 750cfm Race Series carburetor with mechanical secondaries
Cooling
Custom aluminium radiator with 17 inch thermostatically-controlled electric fan and shroud
Exhaust
Custom headers and dual exhaust system
Gearbox
Tremec 5-speed
Rear axle
Borg Warner 9-bolt axle (ex-Holden Commodore V8) with 28 spline shafts, limited-slip differential and 4.11:1 gears
Front suspension
Uprated springs
Rear suspension
Koni telescoping shocks, traction bars
Brakes
HSV Group A disc brakes front and rear, front 4-pot calipers with vented rotors, relocated parking brake lever
Wheels
American Racing 17x7 wheels
Tyres
215/40 tyres
Interior
Autometer gauges, Nardi steering wheel, Cobra seats, carbon fiber trim for instrument panel, door skins and boot liner, roll hoop, fuel cell

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

  • Small block Chevy V8 engine, stroked to 383cid

    Fully rebuilt with 4-bolt mains, 0.040 overbore, machined and assembled for the conversion

  • Scat crankshaft

    Used to stroke the engine to 383cid

  • Crower I-beam connecting rods

    Fitted as part of the rotating assembly

    In the shops
    Connecting Rod ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $6.99 USD
    Connecting Rod Bolt ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $21.99 USD
    Connecting Rod, #1 & 3 ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $205.25 USD
  • 18 degree aluminium cylinder heads

    Fitted to improve airflow on the rebuilt engine

    In the shops
    Alloy Cylinder Head, Bare ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $1,316.25 USD
    Cylinder Head Stud, 7-13/16" ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $19.99 USD
    Manifold to Cylinder Head Stud (UNC) ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $2.45 USD
  • Clive Cams camshaft (360A)

    332 lift-lobe, 246 degrees duration at 0.50 inch, chosen for the build

    In the shops
    Fast Road Camshaft by Comp Cams ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $979.00 USD
  • Manley stainless valves

    Fitted in the cylinder heads

  • T&D shaft mount roller rockers

    Used for the valvetrain

    In the shops
    Rocker Shaft ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $27.75 USD
    Rocker Shaft, Tuftrided ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $52.75 USD
    Uprated Outer Rocker Shaft Pedestal Set ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $399.99 USD

Fuel & Ignition 2

  • Edelbrock Victor Jr intake manifold

    Fitted to feed the carburetor

    In the shops
    Intake Manifold ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $305.25 USD
    Intake Manifold Adaptor ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $0.00 USD
    Intake Manifold to Head Gasket ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $6.40 USD
  • Proform 750cfm Race Series carburetor

    Fitted with mechanical secondaries

Cooling 2

Gearbox & Drivetrain 2

Suspension & Steering 3

Brakes 2

  • HSV Group A disc brakes

    Fitted front and rear, with 4-pot calipers and vented rotors at the front

  • Relocated parking brake lever

    Moved and swapped to suit the conversion

Wheels & Tyres 1

  • American Racing 17x7 wheels

    Fitted with a 5-lug pattern to match the Holden axle and brakes, shod with 215/40 tyres

Body & Trim 1

  • Roll hoop

    Fitted for safety given the car's racing heritage

Interior 4

Other 2

  • Custom headers and dual exhaust system

    Fabricated for the V8 conversion

    In the shops
    Exhaust Adapter, Header Flange to Dual 1-3/4in ↗Good Parts· $129.00 USD
  • Fuel cell

    Fitted in place of the standard fuel tank, freeing up space for the exhaust

Photos

32 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.

Victor Guerrero's 1971 MGB with Chevy 383 V8Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
radiator shroudPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
unique custom aluminum radiatorPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Proform 750 carburetorPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
small block Chevy engine blockPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
4 bolt main bearing capPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
roller rockersPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
18 degree aluminum headsPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Holley 750 carburetorPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
custom aluminium radiator, with 17 inch electric fanPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
ACL double corrugated aluminum heat shield (Race Series HR140-GTR)Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Edelbrock 18 Victor High-Torque ManifoldPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
custom through-the-fender headersPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
modified-tri-y headersPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
ACL corrugated aluminum exhaust heat shieldPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
remote reservoirs for the brake master cylinderPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Koni telescoping shocks. Traction barsPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Holden Commodore 9-bolt with limited-slip differential and 4.11 gearsPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
rear disc brakesPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
muffler mount... moving the fuel tank made a lot of room!Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Nardi steering wheelPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Cobra seats and carbon fiber door skinsPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
notice that the emergency brake lever has been swapped and relocatedPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
roll hoop and battery disconnect switchPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
fuel cellPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
MGB hood scoopPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Sebring headlight fairingsPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
wire mesh grille for MGBPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Sebring front valancePhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
American Racing 17X7 wheelsPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Dyno ResultsPhoto: 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

Background

The MGB was originally converted to V8 power by Paul Knott, built for hill-climb competition. Owner Victor Guerrero now runs the car on the road, describing it as very potent for street driving given its racing origins.

Engine and drivetrain

The small block Chevy was fully rebuilt and stroked to 383 cubic inches with 4-bolt mains, a Scat crank, Crower rods, ported aluminium heads, a Clive Cams camshaft and roller rockers, feeding through an Edelbrock Victor Jr manifold and Proform 750cfm carburetor. Power runs through a Tremec 5-speed to a Holden-based Borg Warner 9-bolt limited-slip axle with 4.11 gears.

Chassis and brakes

The rear axle, a 9-bolt unit from a Holden Commodore V8, brought its own 5-lug pattern, matched by HSV Group A brakes with 4-pot front calipers and vented rotors, and by the American Racing wheels. Suspension was upgraded with stiffer front springs, Koni shocks and traction bars at the rear.

Interior and finishing touches

Inside, the car received Autometer gauges, a Nardi wheel, Cobra seats and carbon fiber trim on the dash, doors and boot, along with a roll hoop, fuel cell and relocated parking brake lever for its track-oriented layout.

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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Victor Guerrero's 1971 MGB with 435hp Chevy 383 V8 | Restomod Life