1959 MGA with an Engine from a Nash Metropolitan : MGA Forum : The MG Experience

1959 MGA with an Engine from a Nash Metropolitan #1
Bearcaaat Bob C Katy, TX, USA Sign in to contact 1959 MG MGA 1500 1972 MG MGB "Miss Tiffany"	Topic Creator (OP) May 5, 2017 03:24 PM Joined 11 years ago 216 Posts

I am considering buying a 1959 MGA that at some point in the past the engine was replaced with one from a Nash Metropolitan. My understanding is that Nash bought these engines from BMC and it is fundamentally the same engine that was in the A other than it did not have a mechanical tach. Is there anything else I should know or should be weary of?

By the way, I currently own a 72B and have caught the MG bug. Looking forward to my second. When I bought the B, I was warned they were like potato chips, you can't own just one. smiling smiley

Looking forward to interacting with this forum

Bob

Bob

1972 MGB Roadster, Aqua w/ Cream Soft Top, White Hard Top and Classic Cream & Tan Interior
2005 Mini Cooper Convertable, Hot Orange Metallic, Dark Blue Soft Top and Black Interior
2015 Mini Cooper Roadster, Red Metallic, Black Soft Top, Toffee Interior

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Re: 1959 MGA with an Engine from a Nash Metropolitan #2
ghnl Eric Russell Mebane, NC, USA Sign in to contact 1961 MG MGA "Calvin"	May 5, 2017 03:31 PM Top Contributor Joined 14 years ago 15,283 Posts

Unless it has been rebuilt to MGA spec's it may have lower compression & a different camshaft than the MGA resulting in less horsepower.

http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/variants/vt103m.htm

Eric Russell ~ Mebane, NC
1961 MGA #61, 1̶9̶8̶1̶ ̶A̶l̶f̶a̶ ̶R̶o̶m̶e̶o̶ ̶G̶T̶V̶6̶, 1984 Alfa Romeo Spider, 1991 Honda ST1100

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Re: 1959 MGA with an Engine from a Nash Metropolitan #3
barneymg Barney Gaylord Somewhere in North America, Throw a dart., USA Sign in to contact 1958 MG MGA "MGA With An Attitude"	May 6, 2017 10:28 AM Top Contributor Joined 20 years ago 7,455 Posts

The Met engine had single carburetor and smaller valves in the cylinder head, significantly lower lower power output, and no mechanical tachometer drive. The power issue can be fixed by installing the MGA cylinder head and carburetors.
http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/engine/ch100.htm
You can use the electric tachometer from 1965-1967 MGB. It would be good to upgrade the oil pump to 1958 and later MGA specification.
http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/engine/of107a.htm

Barney Gaylord - 1958 MGA with an attitude - https://MGAguru.com - barneymg@mgaguru.com - Ph: 630-946-3841
(Please email me direct, do not leave a PM on the public server).

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Re: 1959 MGA with an Engine from a Nash Metropolitan #4
MG Cobbler Fred Horner Westford, MA, USA Sign in to contact 1948 MG TC 1955 MG TF 1500 1959 MG MGA 1600 1960 MG MGA 1600 Coupe & more	May 20, 2017 06:44 PM Top Contributor Joined 10 years ago 3,369 Posts

Engine swaps are a relatively easy project. If the price and quality of the rest of the car is good, then don't worry too much about the wrong engine.

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Re: 1959 MGA with an Engine from a Nash Metropolitan #5
oleanderjoe Joseph Baba Fresno, CA, USA Sign in to contact 1962 Triumph Spitfire 4 (MkI) "SPITTY"	May 20, 2017 06:54 PM Top Contributor Joined 12 years ago 29,281 Posts

I BELIEVE: The Real Early Metropolitan did not have an oil filter.. There was a blanking plate were a normal MGA oil filter head was fitted to the block. Also at the rear of the block there was no provision for the pipe that would normally go to the filter head. I have only seen one of these motors in the past. The "PIT STOP" in Southern Ca is a parts supplier, although most of the stuff for the motor is available from Moss Motors.

IN ALL SUBJECTS.: For those who believe, no proof is needed. For those who don’t believe, no proof is possible.

"Strive for perfection in everything. Take the best that exists and make it better. If it doesn't exist, create it. Accept nothing nearly right or good enough"
Sir Henry Royce
co-founder of Rolls-Royce .

"I take no credit for my own, of another man's fame".
Joe Baba 2021

Original Duplicates www.britishcarservicetools.com

British Car Service Tools

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Re: 1959 MGA with an Engine from a Nash Metropolitan #6
bobs77vet bob K. northern Va, VA, USA Sign in to contact	May 20, 2017 10:38 PM Top Contributor Joined 13 years ago 9,685 Posts

welcome.....if the rest of the car is nice and it runs well, there is no reason not to buy it. as was said engine swaps are not hard to do

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Re: 1959 MGA with an Engine from a Nash Metropolitan #7
mgbgt111 c erskine c pelham, shelby county, USA Sign in to contact	May 22, 2017 02:44 PM Joined 13 years ago 1,888 Posts

Bob,
I ran a Nash Metropolitan 1500 in my MGA for a few years in the early 70s. In 1973 I visited some local junk yards looking for an MGA engine. I found an MGA 1600 engine for $200. The guy had several Nash 1500 engines for $50. I bought the Nash engine and took off the downdraft single carb and transplanted the SUs from my blown 1600 engine.
The car ran, but was underpowered, which could have been due to many things that were not set up right. I just did a plug and play. smiling smiley

Deo Volente

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Re: 1959 MGA with an Engine from a Nash Metropolitan #8
barneymg Barney Gaylord Somewhere in North America, Throw a dart., USA Sign in to contact 1958 MG MGA "MGA With An Attitude"	May 22, 2017 11:32 PM Top Contributor Joined 20 years ago 7,455 Posts

It would be under-powered due to much smaller valves in the Met cylinder head.

Barney Gaylord - 1958 MGA with an attitude - https://MGAguru.com - barneymg@mgaguru.com - Ph: 630-946-3841
(Please email me direct, do not leave a PM on the public server).

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Re: 1959 MGA with an Engine from a Nash Metropolitan #9
mgbgt111 c erskine c pelham, shelby county, USA Sign in to contact	May 23, 2017 09:42 AM Joined 13 years ago 1,888 Posts

Barney,
Not only that, but I didn't check/adjust the carbs or distributor. I used everything that came with the engine, which looked very old and worn, but ran.
I was a young, inexperienced man.

In reply to # 3517007 by barneymg It would be under-powered due to much smaller valves in the Met cylinder head.

Deo Volente

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Re: 1959 MGA with an Engine from a Nash Metropolitan #10
mjoeb joe doornenbal scio, OR, USA Sign in to contact 1967 MG MGB "Magdalene"	May 23, 2017 09:48 AM Joined 12 years ago 648 Posts

If the rest of the car is good you can offer a price for the car that reflects the problem of having the wrong engine. I look for those kind of deals myself. joe

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Re: 1959 MGA with an Engine from a Nash Metropolitan #11
Bearcaaat Bob C Katy, TX, USA Sign in to contact 1959 MG MGA 1500 1972 MG MGB "Miss Tiffany"	Topic Creator (OP) May 23, 2017 10:22 AM Joined 11 years ago 216 Posts

Thanks everyone for your input and advice. Looks like I may be the proud owner of an A soon.

Bob

1972 MGB Roadster, Aqua w/ Cream Soft Top, White Hard Top and Classic Cream & Tan Interior
2005 Mini Cooper Convertable, Hot Orange Metallic, Dark Blue Soft Top and Black Interior
2015 Mini Cooper Roadster, Red Metallic, Black Soft Top, Toffee Interior

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1959 MGA with an Engine from a Nash Metropolitan

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