MGB GT V8 Motorsport Build

It's 6 months since my last post, so it's time for an update. I took the MG to Le Mans Classic in July for its first long run - longer than 5 miles around town. I went with my impending son-in-law and a group of friends in a wide range of cars: TVR Griffith, Jaguar XJ8, Citroen DS and a whole fleet of Triumphs. The MG ran well, a bit down on power, the wipers came loose and the bushes on the LT77 gearbox extension gave up on the way home. But we made it there and back.

Some of the power has been restored by rebuilding the Holley several times and setting it up with the AFR meter. But, I'm losing patience with the carb. Maybe someone will tell me what the benefits of the Holley are, but it is so unreliable that it will be taken off soon and replaced with something that works consistently.

I've stiffened and lowered the front suspension - it's the RV8 set up with 550lb/in MGB springs and slotted upper arms to get 1.5 degrees of negative camber. That has removed the slightly floaty feeling at high speed.

So yesterday I took my pal Stephen and his daughter Harriet to a track day to try the car out on the limit. Used standard Avon road tyres in very wet conditions in the morning, and cold, damp track in the afternoon. Came away very happy with it. Still a bit of development work, especially on the front brakes, and it could cope with more power, and a more reliable carb. But we were not outclassed by the modern cars!

The photo is of Harriet driving with her Dad giving instruction.