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A40 Devon heart transplant

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SkipperG

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I have a splendid "barn fresh" A40 that has a solid body but has a motor with a broken crank. I am considering whether to go after an original 1200 motor, a later British motor, or the installation of a later Japanese engine trans combo. My first thought was an A-12 or A-14 Datsun but I am open to recommendations. My main criteria is that I want to drive the car on a regular basis, do not want to perform major butchery, and that any changes be reversible if necessary.
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If you want to go the Japanese route, I'd suggest a 1.6 Miata motor from the 90 - 93 cars. They're cheap and plentiful, and extremely reliable even at ridiculously high mileages. You'd need to transplant the ECU, which is easy if you get the harness, and convert the fuel pump to higher pressure. Current issue of Grassroots Motorsport has the final installment of converting an MGBGT to this setup.

About 90 hp to the rear wheels.
 
I think that someone gave fello BCF member Jack Laird a motor for one of these the other day.......worth checking? He usually hangs out on the Spridget forum and in The Pub. He's in Florida.
 
As far as I know, the A40 1200 engine is actually related to the MGB 1800 engine.

I do not know if they are exact in external dimensions and trans bolt pattern, but there is a good chance they are.
There are plenty of rusted MBGs out there that could donate and engine (and, with SU carbs and so forth, it would "look" correct).

I'd research the sizing and relationship of the 1200 vs. the MGB 1800 before doing anything else. It might be an easy swap and nice upgrade at the same time.
 
Thanks for the info on motor swaps. I like the MGB idea, but will pursue whatever shows up first.I am here in Minnesota (the rust belt) and bodies on anything over 15 years old have rusted away long ago-leaving a nice cheap lump of serviceable cast iron.
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