PROGRESS REPORT ON MY
1974 MGB V8 CONVERSION

CONVERSION BEING PERFORMED BY MASTER CRAFTSMEN TED LATHROP AND TERRY SENEKER OF FAST CARS, Inc, WAYLAND, MICHIGAN.
BODY WORK BY MASTER BODYMAN DON MARCOT, ALSO OF WAYLAND.

(click on the thumbnails for a larger view)
This is the "before" picture. An excellent condition, all original, three owner 1974 GT.
This is the "after" picture. An excellent condition, non-original, three owner 1974 GT.
In the shop, doing a "strip tease" in preparation for some serious modifications.
This is the engine, transmission, brakes, and new front suspension system from Fast Cars, Inc, ready to go into my car (actually not mine, but mine will be exactly like this one).
The body, stripped, and on the way to the oven to bake off all the old paint and underseal. Here it is, all naked and bare, after a turn in the ovens. Pure, clean metal to work with.
Only a minimum of rust and a bit of a ding from an encounter with a parking lot barrier. Very minor rust on the passenger side. Should be no problem to fix.
A closer look at the drivers side rust. Close up of the rust in the inner rocker panel. All in all, this body is in excellent condition for a 32 year old car.
Master body man Don Marcot putting on an anti-rust protective coating to keep the rust away while the conversion work is being performed. When Don is finished working his magic, this car will be better than new. MUCH better than new, with fender flares and a few other custom touches.
Engine bay modifications under way. It's begining to look like a V8 belongs there, doesn't it?
Closing up the hole with metal. When Ted, Don and Terry are finished working their magic, this will look
like it came from the factory that way. There'll be no signs at all of the welds as you see here now.
Passenger side fire wall modifications on the interior.On the floorboard, you can see the fuse panel and the rocker switches I'll be installing as the car progresses.
Driver's side metal work, making room for the steering column. This has been reworked - see photo below. This just a joke, folks - I wouldn't do this. No, Really, I wouldn't.
The transformation begins! Adding the fender flares. Master bodyman Don Marcot, pondering his next move.
New rocker panel, with a conduit to run the wiring to
the rear of the car, rather than under the car as stock.
Making room for a recessed flip-top fuel filler cap, filling all unecessary body holes, and smoothing all body joints.
Got rid of those ugly ole parking lamps! Looks kinda sinister, don't it?
If ya gotta have parking lamps, make them round and recess them! The lamps are still visible from the side. These lamps are from Factory Five Racing, part #10621.
Closeup view of the lamps. The lamp hole without the lamps.
The transformation continues; the flares are on. The other side!
Moving right along! Does this look good or what. Notice the absence of body seams.
Love those parking lamps! Low down and mean. The wheels are just sitting there now for the picture. The car will be a little bit lower when the suspension is installed.
A Fast Cars, Inc front suspension unit in place. The view from underneath.
The first steps in placing the three-link rear
suspension set-up.
A closer view. The triangle bars on the left are the support for the panard rod.
Another view - can't have too many pictures! Strengthening ribs for the lower control arm connection.
The center control arm mount. Center control arm mount strengthening rib, with handbrake mounting.
Cutting out the hole for the behind-the-dash A/C installation. Home-made wiring kit, ready to go in.
The rear suspension almost complete! Installation of the dual exhaust system.
A closer view. A different view of the exhaust system, this time looking from the front of the car.
Another view of the exhaust system. Notice the
crossover pipe!
If nothing else, these two pipes sticking out back will serve notice - this is NOT your grandfather's MGB!
Fuel lines and battery cable in place. Note the protective cover over these items. Engine in place, complete with accessories - fuel injection, alternator, A/C compressor, water pump, and pulleys, with a serpentine belt drive. Shiny stuff!
Another view of the engine. A small dimple will be made on the inner fenderwell to provide a bit more clearance on the exhaust header. The A/C unit in place. A ribbed aluminum plate will cover the hole, yet provide access for repairs if ever needed.
Another view of the A/C unit, this time from inside the car. It will be completely hidden behind the dash. Radiator and A/C condenser in place, with shrouding to ensure all air flow goes THROUGH these, and not AROUND them. Nerf bars added for protection.
Another view of the front of the car and the engine in place. Rear disc brakes, with emergency brake calipers.The tiewrap holding the e-brake line will be replaced with a machined aluminum bracket.
Fuse box will go in the rectangular hole on the left. Locating terminals for the battery here seemed like a good idea at the time, but it wasn't!  They will be relocated or eliminated. A/C evaporator seen through the glovebox door. The blower fan will be mounted to the right and ducted into the evaporator box.
Phase one of the dash installation. Notice the speaker wells in the kick panels. A/C hoses will, of course, be pulled up out of the way when finsihed. Changes made to the firewall, different than shown previously (see photo above, near top of page).
Dash modifications to make room for the A/C vents and to use aftermarket switches and gauges. This steering wheel is no longer available in black, so this one will be dyed.
Interior structural bracing for the nerf bars. The rear seat is no longer needed, so space is being created for storage and the CD changer.
When finished, this will be one big flat area. This will be much more convenient, yet I'll still be able to store small items below.
Hi-gloss paint and flashbulbs don't work well together, but this gives a good idea of the final paint color. "Lizard Skin" heat and sound insulation has been sprayed on interior surfaces and under the car.
Should be a pretty quiet car, and easy to heat and cool. New wheels! These are "Street Lite" wheeels, a new line just released from Billet Specialties.
New wheels means more shiny stuff. Hot Rodders like shiny stuff.
Painted dash and new console! The bright streak by the speedo hole is from the flash unit - shiny surfaces and flash units don't get along very well. Gauges and switches installed. Center hole is for A/C vent. Boat on the window sill was made by my grandson when he was 10.
Wiring side. Still needs a bit of tidying up yet. Plugs at bottom left will mate with matching plugs from the car, so the dash can be removed as a unit if the need should arise.
Center console. Outside switches are for the power windows. Inside switches are for the heated seats - red LEDs indicate high setting; yellows indicate medium setting. Wiring side. Holes on the left are for cigar lighter sockets. One hot all the time and one hot only when the key is on.
More wiring. A lot of tidying up to do. Lots and lots of wire.
Dash in place. Console installed.
Wiring completed. Engine bay.
Engine bay - another view. Getting close! Now it's off to the paint shop.
The doors, hood, and rear hatch have already been painted. After the paintwork is completed, it's off
to the upholstery shop.
 Wicked!
In the paint shop. Out of the paint shop!
Engine bay. Closer look at the engine.