Darren Jones's 1979 MGB GT V8 Sebring

Darren Jones · 1979 MGB-GT

MG MGB GT

BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports carsas published in British V8 Magazine, Volume XVI Issue 1, May 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 1979 MGB GT rebuilt into a Rover V8 Sebring-style hot rod

Darren Jones converted a rust-rescued rubber bumper MGB GT into a Sebring-style coupe powered by a Rover 3.5 V8, with fiberglass flared arches, a lowered stance, and a touchscreen PC built into the console. The write-up follows the project from finding the donor car in 2003 through sill repairs, bodywork, suspension and driveline swaps, pausing partway when a friend took over the garage work while the author was abroad for his job.

Specs

As stated in the original write-up.

Engine: Rover 3.5L V8, reconditioned block with reground crank and new internals, around 200bhp, Piper 270/110 cam, electronic ignition
Induction: Weber 500 carburetor (planned replacement with 14CUX Hot Wire EFI)
Cooling: New MGB V8 radiator with twin electric fans as fitted to the factory V8 model
Exhaust: Big-bore system with RV8-style through-the-wing headers
Transmission: Rover LT77 5-speed, sourced from a Rover SD1
Rear Axle: Salisbury axle, 3.07:1 ratio
Front Suspension: Standard layout with Spax adjustable shock absorbers and polyurethane bushings
Rear Suspension: Standard layout with Spax adjustable shocks, modified anti-sway bar acting as anti-tramp bars, flipped main leaf springs for lowered stance, polyurethane bushings
Brakes: EBC grooved and dimpled front rotors with Green Stuff pads, stock rear brakes
Wheels: 15x8 Minilites
Tyres: 225/50-VR15 Toyo Proxes T1-R
Body: Sebring-style fiberglass fender flares and valances over reshaped steel wheel arches, frenched license plate, MG Trophy Blue paint
Interior: 1 GHz Mini-ITX computer with 7 inch touchscreen for navigation, MP3 and DVD, Classic Vinyl bucket seats with blue piping, Securon four-point harnesses, Mountney steering wheel, rear seat removed and replaced with PC/amplifier housing and parcel shelf, Sony stereo with Pioneer speakers

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

Rover 3.5L V8 enginePiper (camshaft)
Reconditioned block with reground crank and new internals, fitted with a Piper 270/110 cam, giving about 200bhp

Fuel & Ignition 2

Weber 500 carburetorWeber
Current induction setup on the V8, with electronic ignition fitted
In the shops
Filter, mesh type, Weber DCOE 45, pair ↗Moss Europe (UK)· £61.00 GBP
Linkage Kit, Weber DCOE, top mount, twin cable ↗Moss Europe (UK)· £163.25 GBP
Linkage Kit, Weber DCOE, top mount, single cable ↗Moss Europe (UK)· £148.50 GBP
RV8-style through-the-wing headers
Part of a big-bore exhaust system fitted during the conversion

Cooling 1

MGB V8 radiator
New radiator with twin electric fans matching the factory V8 setup

Gearbox & Drivetrain 2

Rover LT77 5-speed gearbox
Sourced from a Rover SD1 and fitted with the V8
In the shops
Bell Housing, Rover V8 to LT77 Gearbox ↗Robsport International· £ 443.99
Bell Housing, Rover V8 to LT77 Gearbox ↗Robsport International· £ 443.99
Clutch Release Arm Pivot Pin (Rover V8, LT77 Gearbox) - Used ↗Robsport International· £ 5.40
Salisbury rear axle
Reinstalled with a 3.07:1 ratio after being shot blasted and repainted

Suspension & Steering 2

Spax adjustable shock absorbersSpax
Fitted front and rear in place of standard units
In the shops
Shock Absorbers, telescopic, rear, Spax, adjustable, lowered, pair ↗Moss Europe (UK)· £227.25 GBP
Shock Absorbers, telescopic, front, Spax, adjustable, lowered, pair ↗Moss Europe (UK)· £227.25 GBP
Shock Absorbers, telescopic, rear, Spax, adjustable, standard, pair ↗Moss Europe (UK)· £227.25 GBP
Polyurethane bushings
Used front and rear suspension in place of original rubber bushings
In the shops
Polyurethane Panhard Rod Bushing Set ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $15.99 USD
Polyurethane Front Shock Bushing Kit ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $7.50 USD
Complete Polyurethane Rear Bushing Kit ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $147.50 USD

Brakes 1

EBC grooved and dimpled front rotorsEBC
Fitted with EBC Green Stuff pads to upgrade front braking
In the shops
EBC GD Sport Slotted and Dimpled Rear Rotors - 22-26 Civic Si ↗JDMuscle — Mazda MX-5· $567.56 USD
EBC Sport Rotor Set, Front (X-Type) ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $578.59 USD
EBC Sport GD Series Front Brake Rotors (S-Type) ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $336.63 USD

Wheels & Tyres 2

15x8 Minilite wheelsMinilite
Fitted with Toyo Proxes T1-R tyres for the finished car
In the shops
Minilite Rally Wheel 8x13 GP4 Ford - Gold ↗West Wales Rally Spares· £180.00
Minilite Rally Wheel 8x13 GP4 Ford - Blue ↗West Wales Rally Spares· £180.00
8.0x13" Minilite Wheel ET3 Anthracite Grey (Toyota AE86 4x114.3) ↗C Bradley Motorsport· £157.90 GBP
Toyo Proxes T1-R tyresToyo
225/50-VR15 size fitted to the Minilite wheels

Body & Trim 1

Sebring-style fiberglass fender flares and valances
Bonded over reshaped steel wheel arches to retain structural strength, giving the Sebring look
In the shops
Sebring Rear Valance ↗MGOC Spares· £118.40

Interior 4

Mini-ITX PC with 7 inch touchscreen
Mounted in the console to provide navigation, MP3 audio and DVD video
Classic Vinyl bucket seatsClassic Vinyl
Fitted with blue piping to match the car's trim
In the shops
Heated Rear Window Switch by Lucas Classic ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $92.99 USD
Fog Lights, Lucas Classic ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $243.48 USD
Headlight Bucket Unit - Alpine 1-5 / Tiger ↗Classic Sunbeam Auto Parts· $98.95 USD
Securon four-point safety harnessesSecuron
Fitted for the two-seat configuration
In the shops
3-Point Inertia Front Seatbelt Kit (Securon) ↗ANG Classic Car Parts· £53.88 GBP
TRS Clubman 3-Point Safety Harness Superlight ↗Racetorations· £125.00 GBP
Mountney steering wheelMountney
Fitted as part of the interior refresh
In the shops
Boss Kit, steering wheel, 48 splines, Mountney ↗Moss Europe (UK)· £30.00 GBP
Ford Sierra Mountney Boss Kit ↗Rally Design· £29.50 GBP
Ford Fiesta 1989-1996 Mountney Boss Kit ↗Rally Design· £29.50 GBP

Electrical 1

Sony stereo with Pioneer speakersSony / Pioneer
Installed alongside the onboard PC for audio
In the shops
Pioneer MVH-S120UBG Car Stereo ↗MX5 City· $78.87 USD

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.

Darren Jones's 1979 MGB GT V8 Sebring features a Rover 3.5Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

Rover 3500cc V8 with Weber 500 carburetorPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

donor car: 1979 rubber bumper MGB GTPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

rust atop the wheelarch reinforcementPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

rust in the castle railPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

rust in the inner sillPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

rust repairsPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

replacement rocker panel installedPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

repaired side bulkheadPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

MGB 1800cc B-series enginePhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

patched wiringPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

MGB fuse blockPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

bullet connectorsPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

pulling the B-series enginePhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

tilting the body for underside accessPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

MGB GT boot floorPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

trial fitting the Rover V8Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

cutting holes in the inner wingsPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

trial fitting thru-the-fender headersPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

modifying the transmission tunnelPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

priming suspension bitsPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

painting suspension bitsPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

reinstalling the Salisbury axlePhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

Salisbury axle hanging from the strapsPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

rear anti-sway bar turned into anti-tramp barsPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

flaring the MGB rear fendersPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

checking the sight linesPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

laying in some fiberglass clothPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

check out Darren's Land Rover in the backgroundPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

fitting fiberglass Sebring fender flaresPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

filling the gab between steel and fiberglass fender flaresPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

you can see the steel flares through the transparent resin...Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

roomy, well-lit lock-up makes for enjoyable workspacePhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

inner rear valancePhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

filler pieces added under the taillightsPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

finesse - filling and featheringPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

frenched-in registration plate (ie recessed license plate)Photo: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

sculpted Sebring valance installationPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

reinforced header holes and transmission tunnel modPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

another view of the inner wingsPhoto: BritishV8: the site for enthusiasts of modified British sports cars

How it was done

Starting condition

Darren bought a 1979 rubber bumper MGB GT in June 2003 as a donor. It was a running car recently out of MOT, generally sound apart from previously poor sill repairs, which further inspection showed would need a full rebuild.

Body repairs

Working first on his driveway and then in a rented lock-up garage, Darren had the sills professionally rebuilt, then removed the engine, gearbox and interior himself. He stripped underseal by hand, fan-sliced and reshaped the steel rear wheel arches before bonding on fiberglass Sebring flares, and fabricated the transmission tunnel and header clearance in the inner wings.

Mechanical work

A Rover 3.5 V8 and LT77 five-speed gearbox were sourced from a Rover SD1 club contact, who also loaned a spare block and gearbox to help locate header holes and relieve the tunnel without using the full engine. Suspension and axle parts were sent for shot blasting and repainted before reinstallation, including the Salisbury rear axle.

Paint and trim

The car was finished in MG Trophy Blue, applied in April 2005. Darren mentions test-fitting doors and wings for correct panel gaps before paint, and selecting seats and harnesses, though full completion of trim is described later as finished by summer 2005.

Progress so far

Career commitments abroad repeatedly stalled the build, and for roughly six months a friend, Robin, took over hands-on work in his own garage while Darren followed progress remotely. Darren witnessed the first engine start in December 2004 and the new paint in April 2005 before the narrative breaks off.

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

Reshaping and fan-slicing the steel wheel arches before bonding on fiberglass flares preserves more structural integrity than simply cutting them out.
Borrowing a spare engine block and gearbox to trial-fit header and tunnel clearances avoids repeatedly handling the full, heavier engine.
Stripping underseal by hand with a heat gun can aggravate repetitive strain injuries, so care is needed with prolonged awkward work.