The MGB GT V8 had a conventional rack and pinion steering with on the chrome bumper cars a unique collapsible steering column. From the start of “rubber bumper” production in 1974, an alternative design energy-absorbing column was fitted. With its redesigned steering column, column cowl and column-mounted stalks. Both CB and RB steering columns had side entry ignition key lock. Basically, from the start of production, the MGB GT V8 was fitted with a three-spoked steering wheel with badge in the centre and slight depressions in the spokes.
The MGB GT V8 was the first MGB to introduce a modified front cross member that raised the cars ride height by approximately an inch and was bolted to the body shell on both sides as per the existing four-cylinder cars, but using longer bolts. The suspension followed the same format as the CB four-cylinder MGBs with a double-wishbone with two lower arms pivoted from the crossmember, with spring pans between the two arms. Interestingly the inner pivot bushes fitted were unique to V8 with a harder single piece construction, The V8 had the same sized 5/8” front anti-roll bar as fitted to four-cylinder GTs. The upper wishbone is the same double-arm Armstrong lever damper.
At the rear, the MGB GT V8 has stiffer semi-elliptic leaf springs to control the significantly higher engine torque, with hydraulic lever arm Armstrong shock absorbers like the four cylinder cars. The only difference in the springs between the V8 and that of its 4 cylinders brothers was the increased load rating. The rear ride height was also increased to match the front and was achieved primarily from lowering the position that the rear springs bolted to the body. These suspension changes predated the arrival of the Rubber Bumper MGBs by just over a year but were adopted on the RB cars, and in turn, the V8 also had to adopt those rubber bumpers, even though the V8 was not been sold in North America where the demand for the RB changes originated.