MGB engine/transmission paint : MGB & GT Forum : The MG Experience

MGB engine/transmission paint #1
ToyBug1600 Dan Wilson USA Sign in to contact	Topic Creator (OP) May 23, 2016 09:19 PM Joined 13 years ago 38 Posts

I pulled the engine and trans from my 1972 MGB roadster today, and found something that puzzles me....the transmission is a (dare i say it) light french blue, while the engine pan and rocker are dark red, and the block appears to be unpainted. Strange combination......
The engine is an 18GB-U-H, appropriate for the car, I think, and the car appears to have 52k miles, and about 200,000 miles worth of rust.
Was the light, bright blue a normal color for 1972 transmissions? Or do I have one of the oh so rare, and valuable five speed, straight cut, close ratio leMans gearboxes?
Or, more likely, the engine was rebuilt at some point and not repainted after hot tanking....but why would anyone paint the trans?

any clues appreciated!

Dan Wilson

Parts of this engine are intended for my MG Special, which is shown on that "v8" website in the project journals forum

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Re: MGB engine/transmission paint #2
ohlord Rob C A tiny Island off the coast of Washington State, N.W., USA Sign in to contact 1957 Land Rover Series I "EYEYIYI" 1957 Land Rover Series I "OVRLND" 1971 MG MGB 1971 MG MGB "Bedouin 2" & more	May 23, 2016 09:32 PM Top Contributor Joined 12 years ago 28,878 Posts

Your 1972 engine was black
The transmission was unpainted
Someone was set loose with spray paint and a wild hair

LNDRVR4X4.COM
Home of Project "INCARN8'

1957 Series 1 Land Rover electric VEHICLE CONVERSION

FIXITUPCHAP.COM
FIXITUPCHAP INCORPORATED

RD3 Radar/ Electronic Warfare Technician
VIETNAM 1969-1972

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Re: MGB engine/transmission paint #3
Denny B. Denny Brodbeck Ocala, FL, USA Sign in to contact 1971 MG MGB	May 23, 2016 11:01 PM Joined 13 years ago 1,590 Posts

In reply to # 3270747 by ohlord Your 1972 engine was black
The transmission was unpainted
Someone was set loose with spray paint and a wild hair

What color was a '71?

I wish I knew as much today as I did when I was 18........

"I wouldn't want to belong to any club that would have me as a member" (Groucho Marx)

"Life is like a roll of toilet paper.....the more you pull off the faster it goes" (unknown)

“Life is tough, but it's tougher when you're stupid.” -John Wayne

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Re: MGB engine/transmission paint #4
ohlord Rob C A tiny Island off the coast of Washington State, N.W., USA Sign in to contact 1957 Land Rover Series I "EYEYIYI" 1957 Land Rover Series I "OVRLND" 1971 MG MGB 1971 MG MGB "Bedouin 2" & more	May 24, 2016 12:06 AM Top Contributor Joined 12 years ago 28,878 Posts

Mg maroon
One of my high compression engine builds featured in this link.
On a pre 1972 the red maroon color would also be on the head.
I opted black with the polished valve cover.
http://www.mgexp.com/article/tuning-the-1800cc-mgb-engine.html

LNDRVR4X4.COM
Home of Project "INCARN8'

1957 Series 1 Land Rover electric VEHICLE CONVERSION

FIXITUPCHAP.COM
FIXITUPCHAP INCORPORATED

RD3 Radar/ Electronic Warfare Technician
VIETNAM 1969-1972

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Re: MGB engine/transmission paint #5
ErnieY Ernie Y Albatera, Alicante, Spain Sign in to contact 1976 MG MGB GT	May 24, 2016 12:20 AM Top Contributor Joined 12 years ago 19,528 Posts

Hasn't got flowers and peace signs on it as well has it Dan grinning smiley

Personally I hate it when people paint them and because of the roughness of the casting and all the nooks and crannies without a total disassembly and blasting of some sort it's pretty much impossible to reverse.

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Re: MGB engine/transmission paint #6
captray36 Ray Mayo St Augustine, FL, USA Sign in to contact 1969 MG MGB MkII "The B"	May 24, 2016 10:32 AM Joined 8 years ago 88 Posts

My read of the Moss production data shows 18GB engines from 1965-67.

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Re: MGB engine/transmission paint #7
Gerry Gerry Masterman Prairieville, LA, USA Sign in to contact	May 24, 2016 10:44 AM Top Contributor Joined 24 years ago 25,964 Posts

There's no doubt that someone swapped the 18V original engine with the earlier 18GB engine you have. Bet the tranny was swapped at the same time

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Re: MGB engine/transmission paint #8
albeegreen1 bob tresch bordentown, NJ, USA Sign in to contact 1972 MG MGB MkIII "ALBERT"	May 24, 2016 11:16 AM Top Contributor Joined 11 years ago 5,489 Posts

Please also stop painting MGB engines Chevy orange! GaaaaaKKKK !

"Only those who have patience to do simple things perfectly ever acquire the skill to do difficult things easily"
James J. Corbett

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Re: MGB engine/transmission paint #9
markfavale Mark Favale Portland, CT, USA Sign in to contact 1953 MG TD	May 24, 2016 11:21 AM Joined 8 years ago 262 Posts

While I have all of you on the topic-
What color should I paint a 1975 engine? How about the tranny?

Mark
Portland, CT
53 TD with an 18V

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Re: MGB engine/transmission paint #10
dickmoritz Dick Moritz Philly 'burbs, PA, USA Sign in to contact	May 24, 2016 11:30 AM Top Contributor Joined 14 years ago 26,273 Posts

In reply to # 3271070 by markfavale While I have all of you on the topic-
What color should I paint a 1975 engine? How about the tranny?

1975 and all 18V engines were originally black.

Dick

Errabundi Saepe, Semper Certi
(Often wrong, but always certain)

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Re: MGB engine/transmission paint #11
Gerry Gerry Masterman Prairieville, LA, USA Sign in to contact	May 24, 2016 11:41 AM Top Contributor Joined 24 years ago 25,964 Posts

Engines starting with 1972 18V were originally black. 18GK and earlier were maroon/dark red Transmissions were unpainted on all years AFAIK. So, those would be my choice of colors

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Re: MGB engine/transmission paint #12
dipstick Kenny Snyder (RIP) La Center, WA, USA Sign in to contact 1941 Ford N-Series 1958 MG MGA 1500 Coupe "Rosie" 1970 MG MGB GT "Pat's GT" 1971 MG MGB "Gifted To Me" & more	May 24, 2016 11:56 AM Top Contributor Joined 15 years ago 7,564 Posts

Dan said Post #1, "The engine is an 18GB-U-H, appropriate for the car, I think,..."

No, not appropriate for a 1972 which would be a 18V and all black. U.S. engines were maroon thru the 1971 model year, and black 1972 on. Given the 18GB-U-H block you may have a combination of 18GB and 18V parts. The cylinder head casting number, under the valve cover, will be helpful for identification.

Transmissions were not painted, except for overspray on the bellhousing. That said, I too have a blue MGB 4-Sync transmission that was gifted to me painted. confused smiley

Be safe out there.
Kenny

Blue 4-Sync MGB Gearbox.jpg 54.2 KB

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Re: MGB engine/transmission paint #13
JoeReed Joe Reed Cordova, TN, USA Sign in to contact 1978 MG MGB "Kermit"	May 24, 2016 11:56 AM Top Contributor Joined 18 years ago 14,050 Posts

Apparently the factory wasn't too concerned about overspray grinning smiley

Was your car ever painted blue? Maybe a PO was painting the engine bay and hosed the transmission down while painting around the trans tunnel confused smiley

1009.large.jpg 45.9 KB

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Re: MGB engine/transmission paint #14
ohlord Rob C A tiny Island off the coast of Washington State, N.W., USA Sign in to contact 1957 Land Rover Series I "EYEYIYI" 1957 Land Rover Series I "OVRLND" 1971 MG MGB 1971 MG MGB "Bedouin 2" & more	May 24, 2016 12:01 PM Top Contributor Joined 12 years ago 28,878 Posts

Don't paint the transmission. It runs cooler unpainted.
Engine color is what you desire. Proper is black as pointed out for any engine newer than 1971. But people go wild and do what they think looks good.
Just be sure it is scuffed up,cleaned and degreased,and cleaned some more before you mask it off with painters tape and spray or brush the color of your choosing.

In reply to # 3271070 by markfavale While I have all of you on the topic-
What color should I paint a 1975 engine? How about the tranny?

LNDRVR4X4.COM
Home of Project "INCARN8'

1957 Series 1 Land Rover electric VEHICLE CONVERSION

FIXITUPCHAP.COM
FIXITUPCHAP INCORPORATED

RD3 Radar/ Electronic Warfare Technician
VIETNAM 1969-1972

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Re: MGB engine/transmission paint #15
purdysmg John Harrison Gjettum, oslo, Norway Sign in to contact 1971 Morgan 4-4 "Pretend Norton" 1971 Morgan 4/4 1978 MG MGB "Topless Go Go Girl"	May 24, 2016 12:02 PM Joined 14 years ago 2,055 Posts

I believe the later low compression engines were panted orange and a quick coat of black over that. The black always flaked off after a short while. The later High Compression no smog engines for the home (UK) market were painted black only.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016-05-24 12:05 PM by purdysmg.

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