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Midget engine install

Posted by gs69co

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Midget engine install #1
gs69co Brian Hayes Ocala,Fl, USA	Posted: September 13, 2012 03:41AM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 15

I am insalling a right hand drive engine into a left hand drive both out of 70 Midgets what will I have to change or re-route? I am thinking the Choke and throttle cables for sure anything else I need to do any help would be appreciatted Thanks PS where is a good place to find used parts in central Florida? Are there any good MG mechanics in the Ocala,Fl area?

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Re: Midget engine install #2
AmishIndy Seth Jones Wheaton, IL, USA 1971 MG Midget MkIII "Guenevire" 2007 Mazda 3 "Porco Rosso"	Posted: September 13, 2012 04:19AM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 3,139

No such thing as a left hand drive or right hand drive engine really. There was a special specification to meet US Emissions standards, but that aside, european spec engines were fitted to both left and right hand drive cars. US spec engines differd from european ones only in the addition of smog equipment (special cylinder head, an air injection manifold, air pump, special intake manifold, gulp valve, water pump pulley, and a different SU Carb specification). All the important things like where the clutch slave cylinder mounts to the transmission, and the location of the carburettors, and exhaust manifold, are universal across all engine specifications. You shouldn't have to re-route anything.

Dont know about used parts or a better MG mechanic than you (These are great DIY cars) in Florida anyway. Others can help out with those.

Seth Jones

1971 MG Midget

www.SpridgetGuru.com

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Re: Midget engine install #3
mjamgb michael anderson NORTHERN NEVADA, USA 1954 MG Magnette ZA 1967 MG MGB 1973 MG MGB 1974 MG Midget	Posted: September 13, 2012 03:22PM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 6,403

To expand/clarify a tiny bit on Seth's advice...

The equipment already on your NA-spec car will "bolt up" to the UK-spec engine without hassle. Just don't toss anything until the job is done and it is running. Then the extra stuff ("there's always extra bits when we work on 'em" winking smiley

can be disposed of.

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Re: Midget engine install #4
gs69co Brian Hayes Ocala,Fl, USA	Posted: September 13, 2012 05:01PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 15

The intake and exhaust are on the opposite side of the engine as compared to the one that is in it

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Re: Midget engine install #5
refisk Rick Fisk Frankenmuth, Michigan, USA 1959 Austin-Healey Sprite 1961 Austin-Healey Sprite 1979 MG Midget 1500 "Party Midget"	Posted: September 13, 2012 05:16PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 2,366

In reply to # 2169334 by gs69co The intake and exhaust are on the opposite side of the engine as compared to the one that is in it

The intake and exhaust should be on the steering wheel side of a left hand drive 1970 Midget. One of your engines is not a 1970 Midget engine.

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Re: Midget engine install #6
ianjoub ian joubert Homosassa, FL, USA 1970 MG Midget	Posted: September 13, 2012 05:25PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 678

In reply to # 2169340 by refisk

In reply to # 2169334 by gs69co The intake and exhaust are on the opposite side of the engine as compared to the one that is in it

The intake and exhaust should be on the steering wheel side of a left hand drive 1970 Midget. One of your engines is not a 1970 Midget engine.

Aren't the 1500's opposite?

Ian:
Mo's Auto Repair / JTI Suspensions
352-382-7433

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Re: Midget engine install #7
refisk Rick Fisk Frankenmuth, Michigan, USA 1959 Austin-Healey Sprite 1961 Austin-Healey Sprite 1979 MG Midget 1500 "Party Midget"	Posted: September 13, 2012 05:28PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 2,366

In reply to # 2169348 by ianjoub

In reply to # 2169340 by refisk

In reply to # 2169334 by gs69co The intake and exhaust are on the opposite side of the engine as compared to the one that is in it

The intake and exhaust should be on the steering wheel side of a left hand drive 1970 Midget. One of your engines is not a 1970 Midget engine.

Aren't the 1500's opposite?

Yep.

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Re: Midget engine install #8
Jpitchford Joseph Pitchford Girard, Illinois, USA 1972 MG Midget ~ For Sale ! ~ 2002 Mini Cooper	Posted: September 13, 2012 05:48PM Registered: 11 months ago Posts: 116

If your looking for a Britich shop in Florida. Call Strictly British(407-523-2277) in Apopka. Talk to Chuck. I worked across from them and have seen the work done first hand. It's top notch. They are the reason I got into the MG world.

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Re: Midget engine install #9
ianjoub ian joubert Homosassa, FL, USA 1970 MG Midget	Posted: September 13, 2012 05:50PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 678

.... just don't bring it to my shop. :p

Ian:
Mo's Auto Repair / JTI Suspensions
352-382-7433

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Re: Midget engine install #10
littlecars David Bassett Nashville, Tennessee, USA 1970 Triumph Spitfire MkIII "Tamara's Turd" 1974 MG Midget MkIII "Lizzy"	Posted: September 13, 2012 06:01PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 913

I think someone hurt Ian's feelings.....and he's always on this forum offering good advice! Jes sayin'

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/13/2012 06:01PM by littlecars.

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Re: Midget engine install #11
ianjoub ian joubert Homosassa, FL, USA 1970 MG Midget	Posted: September 13, 2012 06:15PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 678

In reply to # 2169372 by littlecars I think someone hurt Ian's feelings.....and he's always on this forum offering good advice! Jes sayin'

lol ... no. And I have no sand in my vag either...

I really don't want to work on old cars. I work on mine, but customers will pay dearly for the trouble they (old cars) inevitably cause. There are certainly better options than my shop is all I was trying to say. :cheers:

Ian:
Mo's Auto Repair / JTI Suspensions
352-382-7433

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Re: Midget engine install #12
taskadog Phil Burke Tequesta/Orlando Florida, USA 1972 MG Midget	Posted: September 13, 2012 08:39PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 1,381

X2 on Strictly British

If your car ha a motor in it with the exhaust on the drivers right, it is a 1500cc.
If the exhaust is on the drivers left, you have an A series, probably a 1275.
These motors are not easily interchanged, The A series came with a different transmission from MG. The 1500 came from Triumph.
They can't both be '70, the change in all markets was 1974.

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Re: Midget engine install #13
gs69co Brian Hayes Ocala,Fl, USA	Posted: September 13, 2012 08:55PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 15

well from what I am reading the engine in my 70 Midget is correct for it sa the exhaust is on drivers side the guy I bought it from had a extra engine that I got in the deal and I was going by what he told me. So he spare must be the 1500 from a newer Midget. Is there much more power from these??So it is a pain to install a 1500 in a older Midget what needs modified????? the drive shaft and mounts???

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Re: Midget engine install #14
gs69co Brian Hayes Ocala,Fl, USA	Posted: September 13, 2012 08:58PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 15

can the tranny from the 1275 be mated to the 1500 ?????

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Re: Midget engine install #15
refisk Rick Fisk Frankenmuth, Michigan, USA 1959 Austin-Healey Sprite 1961 Austin-Healey Sprite 1979 MG Midget 1500 "Party Midget"	Posted: September 13, 2012 09:16PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 2,366

A 1500 can be installed in an older car. It requires using the Triumph transmission, changing mounts for both the engine and trans, changing the driveshaft (easy), as well as changing around all of the ancillaries - wiring, fuel lines, exhaust system, accelerator and choke cables, radiator, etc., etc. Not worth it in my opinion.

Rick

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Re: Midget engine install #16
AmishIndy Seth Jones Wheaton, IL, USA 1971 MG Midget MkIII "Guenevire" 2007 Mazda 3 "Porco Rosso"	Posted: September 13, 2012 10:25PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 3,139

The engine that came with your '70 had more horspower than the USA spec 1500 did when it was new. Emissions killed that engine, along with the rampant cost cutting at BL headquarters. 1500 engines are famous for all sorts of problems, all of which are fixable if you get to them in time. The 1275 engine was in production up untill the 1990s and its much better supported with technical knowledge and parts. Its also a bit more rev happy and closer to a squae bore stroke ratio. the 1500 is a stroker motor that is very torquy at the low end and while it probibly wont win too many races, properly sorted it is a nice motor for daily driving.

Seth Jones

1971 MG Midget

www.SpridgetGuru.com

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