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Martyn Harvey's 1979 MGB LE, with Rover V8

Martyn Harvey · 1979 MGB-LE

MG MGB

BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports carsAs originally featured in British V8 Newsletter, Volume 4 Issue 1

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 1979 MGB LE converted to Rover V8 power by its owner

Martyn Harvey converted his 1979 MGB LE to a Rover SD1 3.5 litre V8 and 5-speed transmission between October 1995 and 1996, doing the conversion himself with the engine and rear end rebuilt by Forest Racing in Kitchener, Ontario. The write-up gives a detailed specification list plus the owner's own notes on driving impressions and planned refinements after the first 500km.

Specs

As stated in the original write-up.

Engine
Rover SD1 3.5 litre (215 cu.in) V8, 9.75:1 compression, Vitesse pistons, Isky 262 camshaft, Cloyes/True Roller timing chain, balanced crankshaft, flowed heads and intake, Melling oil pump (50psi), 1964 Buick 300 water pump
Induction
Holley 390cfm 4-barrel carburetor (originally fitted) / Carter 400cfm AFB, Offenhauser dual-port intake manifold
Ignition
Rover distributor with Crane-Allison optical electronic ignition, Lucas Sport Coil, Taylor spiro 8mm wires, timing 12 BTDC with 35 degrees max advance at 2500rpm
Exhaust
Clive Wheatley stainless RV8-style headers and exhaust system (originally tubular headers from V8 Conversion Co.), 2-1/4 inch single pipe, no muffler, twin custom resonators, double chrome tip
Transmission
Rover SD1 5-speed, new main shaft bearings, seals and oil pump
Bellhousing
1979 Rover SD1
Clutch
1979 Rover SD1, relined
Flywheel
1979 Rover SD1, balanced
Driveshaft
New driveshaft using Triumph TR6 Hardy Spicer and U-joints at both ends
Front suspension
1974 MGB/GT coil springs, Spax adjustable telescopic shocks, 3/4 inch Ron Hopkinson sway bar, MGB V8 bushings
Rear suspension
MGB/GT leaf springs, Ron Hopkinson sway bar, Spax adjustable shocks, Towery traction bars, Nylatron rear shackle bushings
Rear axle
Ford 9 inch narrowed, 3.25:1 ratio, Posi-Traction limited slip, MGB drums, Triumph TR6 U-joint adapted
Brakes
Standard MGB front discs and rear drums, Kevlar cold stop pads and linings, braided hoses, silicone fluid, MGB power assist, new master cylinder
Cooling
New heavy-duty North American core radiator, twin electric cooling fans with Chrysler thermostat switch, manual fan switch added
Wheels
GB Minilite replicas, 14x6
Tyres
Yokohama A509 195-65 H (originally Michelin XGT4 185/70)
Instruments
Original factory V8 tachometer, all 1979 MGB instruments with chrome bezels
Interior
Pontiac Fiero seats with integral stereo speakers
Electrical
Delco alternator, Hella driving lights, security kill switch, anti-theft system
Body
Snugtop hardtop, double roll bar, louvered hood
Weight
2500 pounds
Performance
174 ft-lbs max torque, 174 SAE horsepower at 6000rpm, measured at the wheels on a DynoJet 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 6

Fuel & Ignition 5

Cooling 2

Gearbox & Drivetrain 6

Suspension & Steering 6

Brakes 2

Wheels & Tyres 2

Body & Trim 3

Interior 1

Electrical 2

Photos

6 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.

Martyn Harvey: Autocrossing at British V8 2004Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
Martyn Harvey: in Tennessee for British V8 2003Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
HARV8: modeling a brand new convertible topPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
MGB V8 from the backPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
MGB V8 from the sidePhoto: 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 condition

The car was a 1979 MGB LE. The write-up does not describe its condition before conversion, focusing instead on the engine swap itself.

The conversion

Between October 1995 and October 1996, Martyn Harvey converted the MGB to a Rover SD1 3.5 litre V8 with the Rover 5-speed gearbox, doing the work himself. The engine was built with an Isky camshaft, balanced crank and flywheel, and a Holley carburettor on an Offenhauser intake. A narrowed Ford 9 inch rear axle with Posi-Traction was fitted, along with new suspension bushings, Spax shocks and sway bars. Forest Racing in Kitchener, Ontario rebuilt the engine and rear end.

Early impressions and planned changes

After about 500km on the road, Harvey reported the car ran strongly and sounded throaty through its custom dual resonator exhaust. He found the Ford Posi-Traction tight and still needed friction modifier, and noted the front ride height was too high on the new GT coil springs. He planned to try used 1972 chrome-bumper coil springs to lower the front, and intended to fit Fiero seats over the following winter.

Later specification

A separate specification summary, evidently from after further work, lists Vitesse pistons, flowed heads and intake, Clive Wheatley stainless headers, a Carter AFB carburettor option, Towery traction bars, Kevlar brake pads, GB Minilite replica wheels on Yokohama tyres, Fiero seats with integral speakers, a Snugtop hardtop and a double roll bar, along with dyno-measured performance figures.

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

  • A tight Ford Posi-Traction unit needed ongoing friction modifier additions
  • New GT front coil springs left the front end sitting too high, prompting a plan to try shorter 1972 chrome-bumper springs

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Martyn Harvey's 1979 MGB LE, with Rover V8 | Restomod Life