Bob Atkinson's Journal

Lots of progress since June 30 when I drove it last with the MG engine.
Engine removed July 1
July 6-The first attempt was to try and install a 3.8 Mustang motor- with trans it only weighed about 40lb more than the MG eng/trans and had a perfect shifter location but was too wide- it would have required a completely fabricated front structure & Suspension.
Ford Engine was sold to get a 3.4 Chevy and use Bills installation kit- very professionally built parts I might add.
August 18- waiting for parts from Bill and Brian so the clean up began- with some rust repair in work.
Lots more work than I expected - little things seem to take more time than expected but it only makes the results more fun- really great support from Bill and Brian on the V6 install. Should have the motor in and most of the basic systems done before winter

The car is ready for a test drive. I took it off the jack stands last night and will make some final checks and installs for a short drive. All electrics work except turn signals and heater circuit ( a bit more work there). The body needs attention so I plan to drive long enough to validate the installation is fine then do a tear down for freshening.

The engine is rebuilt and back in the car. I think all thats left besides the body work is finishing the fan supports and replacing the ring and pinion, oh, and a new interior.....These jobs take on a life of their own. I think I'm going to like the Rabbit flares but the whole weld and grind and fill and sand and paint is not my favorite part.

This is my first "real" paint job. I've done a couple race cars but they only needed to look good from the track. Im changing the color from BRG to Rosso Corsa Red.

I had a 65 B in high school and helped get another one, as my sons first car. It's a 76 that he drove every day for 3 years and he really did no maintenance. I bought it about 3 years ago with the idea of rebuilding it and replacing the motor with a Chevy V6. I had no idea how much work that would take!
June 23 2012 was the last day it was driven as a stock MG- so I'm 3 years into this project.
What I've done:
Removed the old engine and transmission.
Purchased a Ford V6 and "tried" to install it.
Cut a big chunk from the transmission tunnel and it still didn't fit- no way!
Traded for a Chevy V6 and bought a Classic Conversions kit.
I built a homemade rotisserie and used it to clean a cut out rust.
Rust on all 4 corners at the rocker panel were fixed internally with fabricated patches and externally with Moss patch panels. The left front had quite a crunch so lots of metal work was needed to get it "close".
I left the body at that point knowing I wanted to paint it after the mechanical work was done. I installed the motor with parts from CCC and BMC. Then I routed new stainless fuel lines to provide fuel injection plumbing. Compatible Gage's were new Smiths electronic units that look like the old ones without a red line. Lots of work to verify wiring and mechanical installation allowed me to drive as a shakedown. ( a couple hundred miles). The motor was a rough junkyard motor so I pulled it for a rebuild. I replaced the heads with bigger valve heads from a business near KC. Also bought a new cam, 1.6:1 roller rockers and a larger throttle body. I added a Hurst Shifter when I re-installed the motor. I drove enough to break in the motor and then started the body work. I had never done much body work- wow was that a lot of work. I removed the chrome strips welded in VW Rabbit Flares, welded the rivets and the side light holes shut, welded the luggage support holes on the trunk shut and started the filler work. I got better with the welding as I progressed but some of the early weld really distorted the body and needed a lot of metal work to get close to avoid excessive Bondo thickness, I got much better doing Bondo as time passed including fabrication of check templates for front fender contour at the Rabbit fenders.
I finished painting the car in early June and I'm still cutting and buffing.
I have new carpet, new body seals and new seats to installed. The seats are Miata seats with Mr Mike upholstery. I also have new Rota 16 x7 wheels which seem just right for the "B" and a new 3.07 rear axle ratio to install as soon as I get to it.
Some suspension work has been completed with rebuilt front kingpins and stiffer springs and plastic bushings. The ride height was too high and I've made some adjustments but I'd like to go down more but won't. We moved to a dirt road in 2011 and its as low as it can go on the dirt. Ive got a few hundred miles on it and I'm gradually fixing little issues. In the spring I'll probably change the brakes and may do some suspension work