MGB Help with engine code question.

I have a 1971 MGB (VIN: GHN5UB241621).


I picked it up because the body looked in pretty good shape, it was a runner and it was at a good price.


I've been replacing and upgrading things as I go, but now I'm replacing the cooling system. New water pump, thermostat, alternator, belt, hoses and aluminum radiator. My car only has one carb, which I thought was odd since everything on Moss shows two, but I figured I had a single carb model. I don't really know much, so learning as I go.


Now that I have the new water pump in the car, I am noticing that the radiator hoses to match up with the kit I bought. I looked again, and noticed that the hose looks similar to the ones for the 1977-1980. So now I'm wondering if I even have the original engine and what I can do about it.


I'm attaching a picture of a metal plate that I found on the block just below the cylinder head. I'm hoping that this will help me figure out what engine I have in the car and go from there.


Looks like 18V884A11 00492

Looks like it might have come out of a Morris (Austin?) Marina - scroll down the page to "BMC 'B" Series Engines Use (1953-1981)" here and take a look: https://mgaguru.com/mgtech/engine/be100.htm

1980 engines had a steel engine number plate. That may be what you have. If you radiator hoses look to be from 77-80 then I would suspect a serial number swap on the car??? Not many people move the radiator forward since the lower duct panel would have to be cut. Pics would help!
Bob

Not sure what "88" means after 18V, but according to the Guru, copied selectively herewith, looks like it might be right.
" 18V as in both the later Sherpa and MGB, and Morris Marina 1800. "

The MGB used the 1800 for a long time, so there were codes to denote the differences between the engines, peculiar to MG;-
prefix bearings model market dates if known

18V** 5 Mk3 GHN5/D5 see below Oct 1971 onwards

** 18V was followed with a code for the market, such as if a 'Y' appears in the prefix, it is a Europe spec car; if a 'F' a UK spec car; if a 'Z' a north America spec car. An 'AE' after 1975 is a car with a cataylist fitted for California. The emission controls, timing changes, etc, require a workshop manual to identify the huge numbers of changes.

Looked up VIN and engine numbers in Original MGB- Anders Ditlev Clausager which is considered an authority on these things.

the Serial Number or VIN GHN5UB241621 translates as :-
GHN = mg roadster
5= all cars from 1969-79
U = North American Spec
B= 1972 model year
241621 = car number. Jan 71 started 232725, Aug 71 started 258001 so yours would be around Mar 71 which agrees with 3/71 on plate

Engine code 18V884 A11 00492 is probably 18V884 AEL 00492 and is from a later MG Jun76-Oct 80

18V884 = USA ( not California), catalyst, with overdrive
AE = North America only, single carburettor and emission control
L = low compression 8:1
00492 = engine number from range of 101-10425

Until then I didn't know MG could have a single carb.- None were for UK Market. Hope that helps Mike.

Your engine is from a 1977 49-state car. As for the single carb...that engine would originally be equipped with a Zenith-Stromberg, but could have easily been swapped for some other single carb/manifold over the years. A pic will tell the tale....since it'll be obvious if you have the original combo intake/exhaust with the ZS carb, or a Weber downdraft (either 32/36 DGV or 38/38 DGAS), or a Weber sidedraft (45DCOE), or a Weber MCHH fitted to the original manifold in place of the ZS, or an SU HIF44 on either the original manifold - or on an Austin Marina manifold. As you can see, there are a lot of possible single carb options!