FWIW- I'd love to see a nailhead in a TR- car, but since you're going with the later BBB, go with the "star wars" air cleaner from the '67. One of those would look fantastic peeking through the hood of an MG! Someone is also casting them in aluminum now.
If your interested , there is a MGB (nice looking ) in our local sunday paper. If you'd like the # send me a note and I'll send the # back to you. I'd like to see this built. I've seen a MGB with the rover motor , but never a BBB. I now it can be done if someone can put a 427 BBC in a early honda civic.:TU:
not to mention the most compelling one, simply that it CAN be done so it MUST be done. Bravo! Bra-Vo! :TU: People that should know here have said you might but you still need 455 heads. i too, am confused by this. we all the time recommend putting 430 heads with stage 1 valves on a 455 block, why would we now be saying he needs 455 heads? although if you go with new Aluminums, that would help the weight balance quite a bit...
Jim, thanks for the intro. I may have to actually go to a driving school to live up to that rep. Carl Floyd
Here's today's update. Eric has donated the 430 to the project, I should be able to pick it up on Thursday if all goes well. Eric will most likely have his name lettered on the car somewhere along with the other contributors, will be a named contributor on the web page, and perhaps most importantly will get to drive the finished car. At this point Carl has donated the tranny, Pete Mantell has contributed a Griffin radiator along with a matching electric fan, and we have several options on the car. Curtis Jacobson Has offered to put a page on the British V8 website and it's likely I will begin posting the updates there as soon as it is ready. I hope to be looking at one car tomorrow. Speaking of cars, is that one in Carrolton KY? That's real close if so. Maybe they would consider donating it. Also for anyone with a source for a car we could use (or other components or contributions) you can contact me directly at: Jim@BlackwoodLabs.com or cell: (859) 816-2187. At this point the short list of needed components includes an axle, bellhousing, flywheel, clutch, pressure plate, and hydraulic throwout bearing. I have to admit, the "Star Wars" air cleaner does indeed look good. We were headed towards a custom intake to keep it under the hood, but may want to reconsider. Also, another name has been suggested, "MGB Roadmaster" so we may need to vote on it, that will probably be on the web page as well. The porthole idea has gained support, is there by chance a web page or other source that shows all the various styles of porthole used by Buick? Regards, Jim Carl, guess we just won't know until we drive it, will we? ;-)
Jim, Do an Ebay search for Buick portholes. Check out the oval Buick Lacrosse portholes. Would look good on the fenders or on the hood.
Well, that raises a question. Are we better off with the 430 of unknown mileage but possibly the good heads ('68 or '69) and which will need to be bored about 1/8" but which is free, or with the '72 455 which will cost a couple bills or maybe more and gas to go get it? It's north towards Lima, 2-3 hours from here so probably $75 in gas, but has about 70K miles. Opinions? Jim This Star Wars air cleaner brings up an interesting idea. Since it seems it was used on the 430 in the '67 Riviera, and we have a 430 it makes the sort of serendipitous coincidence that this project is just starting to get lousy with. Almost as if it were intended to be that way. Then throw in the guy doing the cast aluminum reproduction housings and it may be reasonable to consider doing it.
Guys, I'm hoping someone here can step up and send us a bellhousing. We will need that before we can begin fitting up the driveline. As of now we have the engine which I picked up from Eric this morning, the tranny and driveshaft which Carl has at his place, and the radiator and fan which is in transit and should be here today or tomorrow. From the MGcars.org website: [SIZE=-0]"MGB Roadmaster The Big Block Buick MGB project is moving ahead. We now have an engine (Eric Enneking, V8Buick board), transmission (Carl Floyd, MGB converter), driveshaft (Carl), and a Griffin radiator (Pete Mantell, Mantell Motorsport) http://www.britishv8.org/Sponsors/Mantell-Motorsport.htm with matching fan also from Pete. We are still looking for a suitable car. Location is not a big problem as long as it isn't overseas. We've decided the best choice is a 1974-1/2 RB GT but will gladly accept the donation of any MGB with a solid body. We hope to have non-profit status by mid-summer, making donations tax deductable for all of this year and following. Curtis Jacobson, editor of the British V8 Newsletter and website will provide webspace for tracking of the project and contributions, and contributors will get signature and ad space on the car body. This car, upon completion will achieve instant celebrity status due to the nature of it's construction and because it closes the loop on the use of Buick V8's to create the MGB-V8. You have an opportunity to be a part of that and to put your name on a piece of automotive history. I encourage you to do so by contributing parts, labor or funding to the cause by contacting me by email or phone.[/SIZE][SIZE=-0] Jim Blackwood Jim@BlackwoodLabs.com cell: (859) 816-2187"[/SIZE]
"Here is one of the aluminum reproducion "Star Wars" air cleaners on eBay right now." Yes, and 4 of them available. I have sent a message to the seller to see if he can contribute to the project. If he is willing it makes the choice that much easier. Jim
I'm sort of surprised nobody has answered that question. Well Carl, far as I know it's the standard GM corporate BOP bell. Should be a blue million of 'em. We now have an axle and a body for mock-up. Kelley Combs down in the Carolinas has contributed the axle, though we'll have to come up with the axle shafts or shorten the ones he has. Jim Littrell, a local MGB enthusiast has donated the car, a roadster with collision damage and no title, but it means we can mock up the conversion while looking for the right car. I'll be transporting the car early next week. We are now also accepting cash contributions and I will place all funds in an escrow savings account, keep track of the donations and outlays and as soon as we can this info will go on the web page. Donations can be made to me by paypal (Jim@BlackwoodLabs.com) or by checks sent to: MGB Roadmaster Project c/o Blackwood Labs 9406 Gunpowder Rd. Florence, KY 41042 Jim
Well, even with all the interest a project like this gathers I'm not sure everyone reads this thread so a separate thread about this in the proper section (transmissions?) would probably result in more replies.
Been searching the archives. Yep, BOP & Caddy from 1968 on. There is some question about whether the early bellhousing will handle an 11" clutch. Some bellhousings have provisions for a starter on either side. Olds had a driver side starter. Since we'll have the starter on the passenger side the other one may just be in the way. I'll be on the lookout for pass. side starter bellhousing. Looks like some V6 bellhousings will work as well. We certainly can't tell Bill Guzman if we wind up with a V6 bellhousing. More bellhousing info here: http://www.answers.com/topic/list-of-gm-bellhousing-patterns
Seems to be some misinformation on that page Carl, as we already know the bellhousing pattern is not the same as the 215 or Rover. Therefore the '64-on BOP pattern couldn't very easily fit Rover engines. Undoubtedly the 215 pattern passed to Rover along with the engine. Anyway, I'm pretty sure the BBB and SBB used the same bellhousing pattern, as dual pattern 200-4r transmissions are used behind both, as well as V6's. (The dual pattern being both BOP and Chevy) Obviously the safe choice would be one for a post '63 Buick V8, but we might as well tell Bill it came from a V6 just so he can get a little fired up about it. In fact, I'd just about bet he'd be willing to find us one. Jim
the one in the picture has passenger side starter provision only. and it did come from a buick V-6 although v-6 -340 bellhousing is the same. cant say if it will handle an 11" clutch
