Carl Halcomb's 1979 MGB Ford 5.0L V8 conversion
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 carsA 1979 MGB fitted with a 1994 Ford 5.0L V8 and T-5 gearbox
This MGB was built by Tim McCracken for owner Carl Halcomb, swapping in a 1994 Ford 5.0L V8 and matching T-5 transmission while keeping the car looking stock inside and out. The write-up is a brief submission with photos rather than a detailed build log, but it highlights a clean, professional installation that even retains air conditioning and the factory gauges, shifter, wheels and single exhaust.
Specs
As stated in the original write-up.
- Engine
- 1994 Ford 5.0L V8
- Gearbox
- Ford T-5 five-speed manual
- Exhaust
- Single exhaust, retained to look stock
- Wheels
- Stock MGB wheels retained
- Interior
- Stock gauges and shifter retained
- Electrical
- Air conditioning fitted
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 1
- 1994 Ford 5.0L V8 engineFord
Installed as the replacement powerplant for the MGB
Gearbox & Drivetrain 1
- Ford T-5 five-speed manual transmissionFord
Paired with the 5.0L V8 for the drivetrain swap
In the shops
Five Speed Gearbox Unit, ford T9 ↗Moss Europe (UK)· £3,185.75 GBP
Mount, gearbox, Ford 5 speed ↗Moss Europe (UK)· £23.75 GBPFord Five Speed Clutch Alignment Tool ↗Bugeye Guys Parts Store· $11.99 USD
Electrical 1
- Air conditioning system
Fitted to the car as part of the build, kept functional
Photos
3 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.
How it was done
The build
Tim McCracken built this 1979 MGB for owner Carl Halcomb, installing a 1994 Ford 5.0L V8 paired with a T-5 manual transmission. The goal was to keep the car looking completely stock both inside and out, so the factory gauges, shifter, wheels and single exhaust were all retained despite the engine swap.
Impressions
A visitor named Jay Smith, who submitted the photos, took a ride in the car and described it as a very professional installation, noting it even includes air conditioning. He said that unless you lift the hood, there is no sign the car is anything other than a stock MGB.
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 ↗