Modified roadgoing MGBGTV8
Modified MGBGTV8s are always interesting and here Mark Rawlins describes the modifications he had made to his V8. (December 2003)


Brooklands Green 0587 has sleek lines. (Photo: Mark Rawlins)

My Green Mallard V8 is slightly modified with a fibreglass "C" bonnet and Compomotive ML wheels and has also been lowered and fitted with an ST spoiler. I have used the V8 shell but rebuilt it in a 1969 "G" reg identity for obvious reasons, athough this can be reversed at any time. I have been using the car for track days and the odd sprint as well as a fun road car.

The V8 has an interesting specification with a Factory V8 shell, a Ron Hopkinson front bilstein conversion, a 7/8 inch anti-roll bar with rose jointed drop links, nylatron bushes, lowered springs, chrome bumper crossmember conversion (1inch lower), rear composite fibreglass springs, Gaz shocks, anti-tramp bars, panhard rod, my own adjustable rear anti roll bar, Quaife limited slip differential. The engine is a 4 litre (year 2000) V8 with Peter Burgess modified heads, a 270 cam, an Edelbrock 500 carburettor,

K&N extream filter ( hence the need for "C" bonnet), RV8 manifolds, an R380 gearbox and a baffled sump.

The front brakes are Wilwood 300mm vented discs on an aluminium bell with superlite callipers with cooling ducts. The modifications in progress include twin mastercylinders with a balance bar adjustment. For the back brakes there are 10.75 inch discs with Cosworth 4x4 calipers.

The modifications above have been done over a period of about four years on a trial and error basis, each modification has been tested on road and track. The result is very encouraging and the car is very capable on the track both on performance and handling. Having said that I still have a very enjoyable road car that can return up to 30mpg.and will do 0 to 60mph in around 5 seconds!