Hobo Jungle

[healey36]

Robert - It could very well be a small-block Ford...the owner wasn't nearby at the time to give the details. I know MG built a V8-powered version of the GT from 1973-1976...the unit was an alloy 3.5 litre V8, originally a GM design for Buick, that Rover manufactured under license up until 2003. The MGB GT V8 was only sold in the UK, but they occasionally turn up in the US these days. This particular car is an MGB roadster...British Leyland never put a V8 into the drop-top model. They did manufacture a straight-six version, the MGC, which was an attempt to mollify the folks pissed off by BL's decision to cease production of the big Healey's (scarcely a suitable replacement, IMHO).

In 1992 The Rover Group (successor to British Leyland) brought back the MGB in the form of the MG RV8. That car, a roadster, was powered by the venerable Rover alloy V8, now in 3.9 litre form. They built about 2,000 of them through 1995, most being exported to Japan (the Japanese apparently have an affection for Brit sports cars, above and beyond that of the U.S.).

Healey

Rover 3.5 litre V8 (MGB GT V8)


MGB GT V8

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Be careful out there - September 29 is . . . . Poisoned Blackberries Day!

[ChipR]

Wayne,

A little too young. Try nubile young maidens about 18 - 19.

ChipR

[v8vega]

Its unique to have a old English sports car or any old car attracts peoples eye as you go down the road. And sports cars have always been fun to drive much more so than some big family car. But I just love my 95 Honda Del Sol with the rare DOHC VTEC engine that I can fully expect to drive home in without any trouble except a speeding ticket if I don't restrain myself. A car you can drive very fast, with electronic engine management, fuel injection and a 5 speed overdrive trans.

[healey36]

As teenagers my brothers and I were constantly bringing home various cast-offs from the motoring public. There was a steady stream of domestic makes, but at some point our tastes became somewhat more eclectic. Besides the obigatory experimentation with the VW Beetle, we quickly branched off into products of the mother country. MG's (A, B, Midget), Austin Healey (100-4, 3000, Sprite), Triumph (TR-250, TR-6, Spitfire, Stag), Sunbeam (Alpine), all paraded through our parents' garage. My father found great humor in all of it, commenting that we "spent more time laying under it than sitting in it", but even he had to look up from his evening paper when we drug home the E-Type (coupe, 2+2). My mother, on the other hand, was unhappy with the fact that the garage was frequently occupied by something that could only loosely be associated with a road-going vehicle, and that there was no space in there for her precious Buick Estate.

Haynes manuals were bibles. Local garages gave life-lessons in how to track down parts, as well as how to perform basic maintenance. They also helped us with some of the bigger jobs. Sadly most of those fellows are gone now, but the knowledge they gave us remains. You knew you had reached some level of basic competency when you could synchronize a triple-carb set-up using not much more than a couple of wrenches and a length of hose. Points and condenser...not too many folks today would even know what you're talking about. My Sprite has two sets...one in the distributor and one on the fuel pump.

For me, there is still nothing like a cool Fall day out in a two-place sports car. If it's vintage even better. It's about as close to sensory overload as I can get. The smell of old leather upholstry, the heat, smell and sound of the engine, the exhaust report, the feel of a non-synchromesh four-speed gearbox...it's all good.

And if you make it home without overheating, a fuel leak, a busted belt, or some other calamity, so much the better.

[HONDO74]

I know MG built a V8-powered version of the GT from 1973-1976...the unit was an alloy 3.5 litre V8, originally a GM design for Buick, that Rover manufactured under license up until 2003. The MGB GT V8 was only sold in the UK, but they occasionally turn up in the US these days.

After reading what you said I did some further investigation and have come to the conclusion that it is not a Sm Block Ford. The distributor is not on an angle. It has to be the Buick 215 cu in V8 / Rover 3.5 L.
Robert
http://www.hemmings.com/hsx/stories/201 ... ure22.html

[Berk765]

Those cars are not my style. I prefer American Muscle cars.

[v8vega]

I bought another BB gun last night, I sort of collect them, this makes 14. This one is BB only no pellets, 600 feet per second and many times they shoot less than advertised
but this was confirmed at over 600 on some shots on a video where they have the thing that test velocity. Semi auto with a 30 round clip and 12 Gram Co2 powerlet, 60 shots per powerlet.
I have been wanting this one and airgundepot has a promotion right now with a code for 12% off and I figure I will never get it cheaper. No Calif. Tax what a relief!
I like to shoot tin cans and with the BB or pellet whacking the tin can the effect is about the same as a real gun 22.
I'm surprised that they can ship to Calif. and Los Angeles as strict as they are, some states they can't. As soon as our Democrat city, county and state officials realize this oversite I'm sure they will prohibit it promptly.

[2railjon]

My boy turned 11 this Sept. 27th. Here's the BB gun I bought him on his 2nd birthday.
John Wayne would be proud.


A shot of the lil' cowboy from a few years ago...........

[Rufus T. Firefly]

You''ll shoot your eye out!

And that's not right, going around shooting your eye out! It's not right!

We'll have to take you to the hospital and we won't be able to pay the bill and we'll lose the house! That's not right shooting your eye out and then losing the house!

It's not right! I tell you, it's not right!

[rogruth]

Yep.I never had a BB gun because I might "shoot your [my] eye out".

[John Webster]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rover_V8_engine

[sarge]

Healey, those photos just make me feel soooo old. ("Well, you are mate!")

I had the parade through my world, too. I remember being a young lad when circumstance and a move had my Dad go from a huge whacking '54 Plymouth station wagon to a Morris Minor 1000 estate. I still remember the wood framing and those dark burgundy leather seats. We hated that car, because suddenly my father could reach us without turning around. A Spit, a proper Mini, and a 650 Trumpet (two wheels on that), I miss 'em. Today I think fond thoughts of a Spridget or some other little roadster with which one can have a proper argumentative relationship.

Muscle cars? Not in my blood I'm afraid. I prefer a car where both ends go around the same corner very quickly at the same time without requiring me to look out the rear window to see where I'm going. My neck doesn't rotate that far, I'm afraid.

Then someone haaaaaad to mention Hondas on the same page as these images of Timeless Beauty and Breeding... Oriental cars are so dreadfully boring and, well, Oriental; they typify a culture where everyone is expected to think alike. It's all so identical and perfect as to be absolutely devoid of life and joy. "Electronic Engine Management"? Why the very term is so hopelessly Technoriental as to have me gamely back away whilst brandishing my Uni-syn.

Yes I know someday I will be assimilated and resistance is futile and all that rubbish, but until then give me a machine with some soul.

[v8vega]

Healey, those photos just make me feel soooo old. ("Well, you are mate!")

I had the parade through my world, too. I remember being a young lad when circumstance and a move had my Dad go from a huge whacking '54 Plymouth station wagon to a Morris Minor 1000 estate. I still remember the wood framing and those dark burgundy leather seats. We hated that car, because suddenly my father could reach us without turning around.

A Spit, a proper Mini, and a 650 Trumpet (two wheels on that), I miss 'em.

I think fond thoughts of a Spridget or some other little roadster with which one can have a proper argumentative relationship.

Muscle cars? Not in my blood I'm afraid. I prefer a car where both ends go around the same corner very quickly at the same time without requiring me to look out the rear window to see where I'm going. My neck doesn't rotate that far, I'm afraid.

Then someone haaaaaad to mention Hondas on the same page as these images of Timeless Beauty and Breeding... Oriental cars are so dreadfully boring and, well, Oriental; they typify a culture where everyone is expected to think alike. It's all so identical and perfect as to be absolutely devoid of life and joy.

"Electronic Engine Management"? Why the very term is so hopelessly Technoriental as to have me gamely back away whilst brandishing my Uni-syn.

Yes I know someday I will be assimilated and resistance is futile and all that rubbish, but until then give me a machine with some soul.

(Just in case you don't see the humour )

Standing beside the road broke down, stressed out, and wondering what to do is definitely not boring.
My 95 Honda Del Sol Vtec with its 8200 redline is defiantly fun and lots of it. Extremely free revving, eager to rev, you often don't shift when you would in another car, just rev a little more when there is a stop ahead. I'm old and my friend lives in the past, he thinks high school was yesterday.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Yes I know someday I will be assimilated and resistance is futile and all that rubbish, but until then give me a machine with some soul.

As long as you know where your towel is, you'll be just fine; DON'T PANIC!