Sign in

← All builds

Will Holoman's 1965 MGB V6 Conversion

Will Holoman · 1965 MGB

MG MGB

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 cars

A 1965 MGB rebuilt from a derelict shell with a 1980 Chevy 3.8L V6

Will Holoman took a rotted, previously wrecked and badly flared MGB and built it into a lightweight V6-powered sports car, using an engine and spare parts he already had on hand. The write-up gives a detailed specification of the engine, drivetrain, suspension and interior work, with the owner describing it as a fun, self-guided project done without outside reference.

Specs

As stated in the original write-up.

Engine
1980 Chevrolet 3.8L V6, 0.030 over, balanced and blueprinted, ported and polished heads, oversized stainless steel valves, Schneider Racing cam
Induction
Edelbrock Performer aluminum intake manifold, Holley 600cfm 4-barrel carb, custom Ford Ram-Air shaker scoop
Ignition
GM HEI
Exhaust
Custom headers by Competition Design, dual exhaust
Fuel system
Holley fuel pump, 15 gallon fuel cell
Cooling
Howe aluminum radiator
Transmission
GM 700-R4 4-speed automatic with overdrive, B&M Megashifter
Rear axle
Dana 44 with limited slip, 3.54 ring and pinion
Front suspension
New late MGB front springs, re-valved front shocks, 3/4 inch sway bar, V-8 A-arm bushings
Rear suspension
MGB-GT rear springs, polyurethane bushings, tube shocks
Brakes
CNC dual master cylinders with adjustable bias bar, cross-drilled rotors
Wheels
Corvette Rally wheels
Interior
Custom wood and metal dash, full VDO gauge set, turn signal switches integrated into steering wheel, Blaupunkt CD-MP3 player, custom carpet by R&M, MG Midget seats
Electrical
Painless wire harness
Body
Most chrome shaved, custom bullet front turn signals, factory hardtop, transmission tunnel widened on driver's side for clutch arm and slave cylinder

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 2

  • 1980 Chevrolet 3.8L V6 (0.030 over)

    Balanced and blueprinted, ported and polished heads, oversized stainless steel valves, used as the conversion engine

  • Schneider Racing camshaft

    Fitted as part of the engine build

Fuel & Ignition 5

  • Edelbrock Performer aluminum intake manifoldEdelbrock

    Fitted to the V6

    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 600cfm 4-barrel carburetorHolley

    Fitted to the intake manifold

  • GM HEI distributorGM

    Used for ignition

  • Holley fuel pumpHolley

    Supplies fuel to the carburetor

  • 15 gallon fuel cell

    Fitted as the fuel tank

Cooling 1

Gearbox & Drivetrain 3

Suspension & Steering 7

Brakes 2

Wheels & Tyres 1

  • Corvette Rally wheels

    Fitted to the car

Body & Trim 2

Interior 6

  • Custom wood and metal dash

    Built for the interior

  • VDO gauge setVDO

    Fitted as full instrumentation

  • Steering wheel with integrated turn signal switches

    Fitted to the interior

    In the shops
    Turn Signal Lens Unit ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $13.75 USD
    Clear Turn Signal Lens ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $8.41 USD
    Amber Turn Signal Lens ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $8.41 USD
  • Blaupunkt CD-MP3 playerBlaupunkt

    Fitted as the stereo

  • Custom carpetR&M

    Made and fitted to the interior

  • MG Midget seats

    Fitted in place of original seats

Electrical 1

Other 2

  • Custom headersCompetition Design

    Built for the V6 swap

  • Custom Ford Ram-Air shaker scoop

    Fitted for induction/hood scoop

Photos

4 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.

Will Holoman's 1965 MGB, with 1980 Chevrolet 3.8L (229ci) V6Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
EnginePhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars
interiorPhoto: 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 owner found the MGB rotting in a backyard. It had no floors, had been hit in the front and rear fenders, and had been crudely flared with vise-grips and Bondo. He describes it plainly as junk before he started.

The build

With a spare engine and assorted parts already on hand, the owner decided to build a V6 conversion for fun, working it out himself without outside guidance. The goal was light weight, so he stripped out everything not needed to drive the car, including the heater, side windows and top. The build covered a built 3.8L V6, a 700-R4 automatic, a Dana 44 rear axle, upgraded suspension and brakes, a custom interior, and body modifications including a widened transmission tunnel.

Progress so far

The owner reports the car has had only a few teething problems and that it drives very fast and is fun to use.

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 ↗

FIND YOUR NEXT IDEA

Explore

VideosSearch videos and spoken topicsPartsFind parts from specialist storesBuildsLearn from other people’s projectsSocialsIdeas from the communityTechnical & communitiesGuides, advice and owner clubsGalleryBrowse photos and inspiration