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Tuesday, 27 July 2010 19:26

T-16 Powered MGB GT

Written by  Kevin Leaper
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T-16 Powered MGB GT

I admit it, I like MGBs. Okay it’s not something I’m proud of but it’s probably best I get it out in the open straight away. Since first being diagnosed with the affliction I’ve probably had more than ten bouts of MGB, some cases were worse than others. Full restorations, Heritage shells, V8s, Roadsters with dodgy Bermuda roofs, I’ve had them all, but my current project started off as the most boring of the lot.
It began life as a 1973 MGB GT, I got it six years ago and ran it around in standard form for the first two years. Then I found out the family history of the Rover 800 turbo engine.  It turns out the Rover engine was a development of the the O-series engine, and the O-series engine was a development of the original B-series engine. With an illustruisous family heritage like that I had to find out if the Rover
(T-16) engine would fit an MGB, well you would wouldn’t you.


Well with a little work it does, quite nicely actually as it’ll go on the front of the original MGB box and with some carefully made engine mounts drop in the engine bay without any metal cutting. Trouble was during the devolpment work the MGB’s GT bodywork rusted away so badly that needed a full rebuild too. Rather than embarking on a full body restoration I went out and found a rust free American Roadster shell and I’m just about to weld that up (they rarely are truly rust free are they?) before reshelling the car with Rover T16 power.

Last modified on Wednesday, 28 July 2010 20:38
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Published in 1973 MGB GT
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Kevin Leaper

Kevin Leaper

Has more cars than most main dealers and more projects than South-Central LA. Almost none of them work.

Website: www.ppcmag.co.uk/kevin-leaper.html

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Practical Performance Car (PPC) is a monthly magazine aimed at real car enthusiasts interested in affordable performance tuning. At PPC we pride ourselves in providing the most entertaining, informative and inspiring features for petrolheads everywhere. Each month we feature an eclectic mix of affordable performance cars, great driving adventures and world-class technical features for the DiY tuner. Our editorial team is headed up by well known Will Holman who has a deserved reputation for 'stick a V8 under the bonnet' attitude to life. His editorial team is stacked with experience including Dave Walker (speciality engine management), of the sadly missed Cars and Car Conversions (CCC) magazine, David Vizard, the legendary engine tuning guru, and Kevin Leaper - ex technical editor of Practical Classics.

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