1980 MG MGB

MGB V8 Convertible

Manual

Clear

Gasoline

Bought from lady lawyer (aging and wanted AC) with electric overdrive inop on the 4speed 4banger. So expensive to fix that, that I figured what the hell... drove it to Ohio to meet experienced guy who converts to 80s original option Rover-style all-aluminum V8 4.6 = same weight as the cast iron 4banger with four times the power. Does gorgeous suspension mods too if asked (and paid handsomely). After admiring the half dozen others he had underway and giving basic instructions of "no dual exhaust - keep it looking stock to surprise people", I left it in late summer with way too large a deposit in advance "for parts." He had personal and time management issues. I had to visit regularly unannounced and tell the sonovabitch "My health is fading fast (charcot feet). I may be in a wheelchair soon (fortunately only need giant custom elephant pad shoes but can't handle the clutch any more) and you said I'd have it back in the Spring" ... "Yeah, but I didn't say Spring what year... nyuck nyuck nyuck" Seven agonizing years in the shop for conversion to new engine, drivetrain, racing suspension, drilled rotors, etc. Fortunately always indoors as promised. Every time I visited got more creative excuses but always saw SOME progress. Still, completion in 2010 was too late for me. I can't easily drive it anymore and should sell it and buy a Buick and move into a nursing home or some gd thing.. Well maybe a Hennessey CTS-V... I live out in the boondocks (near Sebring but car has never been raced, used to teach kids manual transmission shifting, or had those dogs in it) so before getting it shipped south this year I had it trailered over to genuine Brit racing expert in northwest Ohio to drive locally there for a week and do a final quality control check. He said despite the inactive years, car remained essentially rust-free (traditional tiny bubbles at luggage rack legs), guy had actually done a nice job, and he only needed to add aircraft-quality fittings and braided hoses to move the oil filter ahead of radiator for neatness and easier access. And PS: it was the best sounding B-V8 he'd ever heard. Told me put a hundred miles on it and change to Brad Penn zinc oil which photos show I have just done. Five liters (six quarts)? So today just over 100miles on the new engine, clutch, etc. Listen to the part throttle, easy shifting video to hear how friggin' amazing it sounds and how smooth it runs. Utube Xenathedog... watch?v=iC6X-xgwqso New front racing suspension, drilled HD discs and hardware New top, new 195/60-14 A-temp A-traction tires, stainless steel big bore exhaust, carpets. much much more. NEW & UPGRADED front wishbones, bearings, races, coil springs, swivel assemblies, shocks, trunions, calipers, V8 brake pads, cross-drilled racing rotors, and stainless steel brake hoses You can have both steering locks and the new still-boxed air horns/big pedals all seen in trunk photo under the glow of the functional trunk light! I will miss her but she'll either go to a good home (with your promise of no hood scoops / fender portholes) or stay here on static display. On Aug-02-10 at 00:36:14 PDT, seller added the following information:On Aug-03-10 at 21:28:17 PDT, seller added the following information: eBay Supplement 3 AUG 10 Current mileage 39,549 Basic Conversion: $14,197 2984.00 - V8 Rover aluminium engine rebuilt New - rod bearings, main bearings, oil pump, timing cover, pistons and rings, performance camshaft, cylinder heads, surfaced and complete valve job with new valves and springs, 4BBL 500cfm carb, Edelbrock intake manifold 1800.00 - Rover 5spd transmission with bell housing and remote shifter assembly, shortened shifter stick, clutch slave cylinder, stainless clutch hose, 3pc clutch kit, throwout fork 300 - V8 alloy embossed/grooved valve covers w/MG logo 90 - V8 engine mounts 240 - gear reduction starter 399 - MSD distributor, electronic, w/rev limiter 249 - electronic 6AL box 98 - stainless accelerator lokar assy 595 - headers, block hugger, 5pc set 340 - exhaust system, big bore ’85 - stainless oil pressure line 420 - driveshaft, custom 320 - radiator, V8 70 - radiator hose set 94 - air cleaner, K&N 14 inch 81 - lid assembly, K&N “Extreme”, chrome 74 - water pump 54 - pulley, water pump, aluminum 120 - pulley, bottom crankshaft, grooved 270 - base oil pump 145 - alternator, 85 amp, Delco, chrome 95 - brackets, Delco alternator 240 - flywheel, lightened (23 pound) 120 - misc (spark plugs, fuel filter, pluig wires, bolts, washers, nuts) 89 - battery 2800 - labor (70 hours over seven years @ 40/hr) 85 - bead blast wheels 220 - tires, Falken ZIEX ZE329 195/60R14 1720 - front suspension rebuild (replace and upgrade with front and rear wishbones, spring pans, coil springs, swivel assemblies, shocks, trunion bolts, brake calipers, cross drilled rotors, wheel bearings, steering rack assembly tie rods) ================= After completion, transported for independent quality control inspection: Final QC Invoice – 1980 MGB V8 Transport - Intrastate Ohio and Interstate (to Florida) 983.00 Vehicle inspection including compression check, Coolant protection (anti-freeze), diff and trans fluid, lights, horn, initial break-in, road tests,etc.150.00 Relocate remote oil filter, fabricate new mount & bracket150.00 Parts: Anti-freeze 8.99 Metal & misc hardware for oil filter mount 35.00 Custom made HD hoses with fittings 167.38 --------- 211.37 ------------ $1494.37 On Aug-08-10 at 12:50:53 PDT, seller added the following information:To share with everyone two recent answers I gave to backchannel (no public E provided) questions :.......(1)....... "Are those racing-style pedals installed already?" No. That was only a photo comparison I sent the builder proposing to do so... for a looming disability rather than racing. He never put them in and likely would not have been enough. The "racing style" pedals COULD be installed and will be in the trunk (per photo) new in box along with new in box air horns...though to anticipate another question the present horn works fine. ......(2)......."This isn't actually one of those godawful nose heavy big Ford cast-iron V8 conversions is it?" NO!!! Maybe I should have emphasized that more in the original item description and provided a closeup of the MG heads (still could add the photo if requested). Some of those big American V8 conversions (I've seen Ford 302, 351, and Chevy 350)have slightly more ultimate HP and look more macho (usually including garish hood scoops) but I guess they do badly change the weight and balance and thus handling detrimentally. This car looks and really in essence IS stock. It now has nearly the identical all-aluminum Rover V8 block used by MG/BL in a few cars toward the end of production (larger displacement and more power here) and the 80 engine bay was designed to accommodate it. Again, it does not weigh any more than the original cast iron four cylinder, probably weighs less with the upgraded accessories, and corners and stops BETTER than new with the upgraded suspension, brakes, wheels, and tires. Thanx for asking and watching. Good luck bidding in the sprint to the finish.