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MGB Engine repair or replace?

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snookn42 Avatar
snookn42 Robert Pelot
Bradenton, FL, USA   USA
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First, thanks to everyone for the help the last few days diagnosing my issues. I am trying to weigh the options, to get my self back on the road ASAP, as I am now addicted to driving this car.

I can take A) the whole car in to get fixed.
B) Remove the engine and take it in
C) Buy a new engine

This engine either has 80 or 180k miles. I do not know which. So there is that. It needs the rod bearing replaced at a bare minimum.

My father has a 1500 engine from an early 60s MGA that has been sitting in the garage for 40 years, as well as the transmission. He said it ran great then, and thats why he kept it. The body of the car deteriorated and he wanted to keep the engine.

So that presents another option. Clean this engine up that has low miles but sat for ever in the garage throw it in the B. Can this be done? Or.. I can sell the transmission and the engine to pay for the repairs?









Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017-01-16 07:15 PM by snookn42.

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Charley38 Charley Robinson
KERRVILLE, TX, USA   USA
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1969 MG MGB "Her Majesty"
2007 Ford Ranger Pickup
What seems to be wrong with the engine in the car?

CR

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gooser Avatar
gooser Drake Myers
Danville Va, USA   USA
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1. other than the miles why do you think your engine has problems.
2. i highly doubt that you would be satisfied with that 1500 engine in your car. it would also ruin the resale value of the whole car.

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Rod H. Avatar
Amity, OR, USA   USA
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1964 MG MGB
1968 MG MGB GT
Under ideal conditions an engine can be fine stored. Forty years, however, would be a miracle. Then there is the issue already stated of it being the wrong engine for the car.



Friends talking around a fire is the history of mankind.

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snookn42 Avatar
snookn42 Robert Pelot
Bradenton, FL, USA   USA
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sorry,

forgot to say. I threw a rod in the one in the car, spun the bearings. Its knocking and needs the rod bearings replaced and probably the rods. My dad was thinking, and thought it may work to throw is old engine in the B.

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19DPMGB69 Avatar
19DPMGB69 Gold Member Denton Perry
Snellville, GA, USA   USA
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1969 MG MGB
Pull the pan and see what is really going on in the B engine first.

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thehoupts Avatar
thehoupts Jim Houpt
Pasadena, CA, USA   USA
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If your MGB is a 74 and still has stock transmission, the 1500 will not bolt up to the transmission in your car. The input shaft on the later transmission is to large for the 1500.

Jim from Pasadena

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dawvid Avatar
dawvid David B
Sharon, MA, USA   USA
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Robert

If the current engine is bad as you say, then do s small teardown by taking the head and the pan off as Denton mentioned. If the engine is not worth fixing, the head is most likely still good and so you did not waste your time. If the engine looks to be rebuildable, then you are all the wiser.

I would not put the 1500 CC engine into the B. Maybe you could swap the A engine for a decent B engine.

David



74 Damask Red BGT
Davesmg@outlook.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017-01-16 08:42 PM by dawvid.

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Fogliner Avatar
Fogliner Mark Vanherd
Port Clements, BC, Canada   CAN
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1974 MG MGB
My vote is as others have said, don't give up on the original engine until you know whats up inside. They are pretty robust engines and if you have the right head etc you can get it all rebuilt and have something that will bolt right in without modification to the original spot.

Unless there's a hole in the side of the block or the crank is scored beyond repair you can probably use all your parts except the bad rod, just find a machine shop and ask some questions, it might surprise you.


Kind Regards

MarkV

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Rick Fawthrop Avatar
Rick Fawthrop Gold Member Richard Fawthrop
Langley, WA, USA   USA
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Get the engine out of the car and tear it down. Use the 1500 for trading material to get the parts to repair yours.

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Perdido Avatar
Perdido Gold Member Rut Rutledge
Tuscaloosa, AL, USA   USA
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Robert,
Great driving season in your neck of the woods this time of year and I would be anxious to get back on the road as well. As far as a rebuilt short block is concerned you can post in the BST forum and probably do as well as any place out there. We have some talented people on this forum and you can get what you need rebuilt properly...there might even be a forum member down there who can do the same. Pull your engine and remove all of the ancillary parts in preparation for the new short block and while your at it drop the head off at the machine shop.
Good luck, Rut



1960 Bugeye,1275, 5 speed
1970 MGB, Pale Primrose
1967 Triumph TR4a
1966 Triumph TR4a
When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down 'happy'. They told me I didn't understand the assignment, and I told them they didn't understand life. John Lennon

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snookn42 Avatar
snookn42 Robert Pelot
Bradenton, FL, USA   USA
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thanks yall. there was no hole punched in the head, and im hoping that there is nothing wrong with it. And no I doubt the damage is catastrophic. Im just tryin not to spend a bunch of money... my first child will be born any day!

im going to start working on it this weekend. how do you guys pull the engine? ive seen engine pullers for 150 , or just use the rafters?

once I get the engine out is that the hard part?

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J Baz Avatar
J Baz Silver Member Jerard Basmagy
Middletown, NJ, USA   USA
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Here's a little tip, you can either rent a engine crane or if you have a harbor freight near you purchase an engine crane on your credit card and return it for a full refund within 90 days. That should give you plenty of time to pull the motor, inspect and repair and return it back into the car.



jb

Too soon we get old, too late we get smart!

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dipstick Avatar
dipstick Kenny Snyder (RIP)
La Center, WA, USA   USA
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1941 Ford N-Series
1958 MG MGA 1500 Coupe "Rosie"
1970 MG MGB GT "Pat's GT"
1971 MG MGB "Gifted To Me"    & more
The MGA 1500 run hard - put away wet in that condition for 40 years is simply a core. The transmission will not fit into the MGB.



Be safe out there.
Kenny

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jjonns74 Avatar
jjonns74 Gold Member John Dailey
Indianapolis, IN, USA   USA
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1974 MG MGB "Athena"
1974 MG MGB "Apollo"
Robert,

Clear out your garage, put car inside, jack very high, prep car (hood, radiator, intake/exhaust manifold, wiring, driveshaft, tranny, etc), use strong engine crane (Not Rafters).

See posts on engine pulling for where to connect lifting chains. Pull engine & tranny as one.

Once on floor, remove oil pan and cylinder head.

Determine which replacement parts you need (in block).

Decide how thorough you want to rebuild (only broken parts, or all piston rings and crankshaft bearings, etc)

Now is good time to r&r clutch and throw out bearing (unless you know that was done recently)

How about upgrading your original cast iron cylinder head/valves for unleaded gas ??

Lots to consider while it's disassembled and accessible.


John

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