• Hi Guest!
    You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

B-series Engine ID

Share this page

78Z

78Z

Darth Vader
Country flag
Offline
Ok so I've come into ownership of the MG B-series engine. My uneducated guess is that it is late 60s to early 70s vintage from a MG B. With some sort of SU carbs. I'll look for serial numbers on it tomorrow (too dark now) but any insight? I might use it in my Lotus Seven clone if it runs well.

3380637805_8e4c6e7072.jpg
 
If I had to guess, I'd say a '63 or '64 3-main 1800cc B-Series with HS4 SU carbs, from an MGB. It certainly isn't in an MGB any longer though!
 
What is it sitting in?

Steve - why 3 main (I can't see a tach cable).
 
I'm guessing 3-main because of the valve cover and 3-blade fan. The fan was used on 5-mains also but if original then it does show this to be an early engine. The valve cover is on backwards but notice the curved vent tube which unless I'm mistaken would imply a 3-main, again assuming it's original to this lump.
 
78Z said:
Ok so I've come into ownership of the MG B-series engine. My uneducated guess is that it is late 60s to early 70s vintage from a MG B. With some sort of SU carbs. I'll look for serial numbers on it tomorrow (too dark now) but any insight? I might use it in my Lotus Seven clone if it runs well.

3380637805_8e4c6e7072.jpg
Click to expand...
Unless you built your Lotus clone about 6" taller than any other, the engine won't fit - too tall.
 
Tony, there is a guy local to me with a 7 kit, Westfield I believe but I could be mistaken, with a 5-main MGB engine installed. It's possible of course that the different kits vary in the amount of bonnet clearance they offer. This is the car...

martin-keller.jpg
 
Could be, but I'd bet it has a Midget engine.

I know for a fact the B engine wonit fit in the chassis of a LOCOST & I didn't think the Westfield was any bigger.
 
No, it's a B engine. I've seen it myself. The Lotus 11 won't it a B engine because of the lower bonnet. These typically have Midget engines.
 
Here's my '64 for comparison(obviously with alternator and radiator overflow tube and tank).
 

Attachments

  • 16141.jpg
    16141.jpg
    81.4 KB · Views: 209
And another:
 

Attachments

  • 16142.jpg
    16142.jpg
    56 KB · Views: 209
With the breather pipe. Makes more sense as an early mill, too. The one I posted is an 18GB (5-main) in an earlier chassis.
 
Thanks all for the input.

I found some sort for id at the front right in front of the valve cover.

PAIH0
665394

(I think - a little dark out and a little greasy)

The three bearing motor is considered less durable (desirable?) than a later motor?

My very rough measurement put the engine at around 23" tall - maybe another half inch taller with that tall oil cap. Should be tight on height in a Locost but right on do-able.

This is what its current home is - a very ratty kit thing.

3380637841_96a34c6388.jpg
 
I do not think its a 3 main by the valve cover. The vent would be next to the oil cap and there should be rivit holes for the MG and patent plates. More info and pics needed. Bob
 
I'm assuming the I.D. plate on the right side of the block is missing then?



78Z said:
I found some sort for id at the front right in front of the valve cover.

PAIH0
665394
Click to expand...

If that is: "PAT NO 565394" cast into the iron it would make it an early B 5-main head... Block could be different, tho. Tag is on the right side, aluminum, held on with two rivets. There is also a "Date Clock" cast into the block (WELL) hidden below the oil filter at the bottom edge of the casting, just above where the pan flare starts.
 
Did anyone mention about looking at the engine clock? Will tell you when the block was cast.
 
:lol:

ummm.... CATCH UP HERE, Paul!!! :jester: :smirk:
 
Without disassembly, the engine number would be the only sure-fire way to tell since external bits can be changed so easily. The head being an early 5-main probably means the entire engine is early 5-main, 65-66 vintage. The valve cover vent could be someone's crazy idea of a breathing "improvement".
 
DrEntropy said:
:lol:

ummm.... CATCH UP HERE, Paul!!! :jester: :smirk:
Click to expand...

What can I say?
indifferent0023.gif
remoteImage-3.gif
 
Where did the Marina engines have their crankcase breather pipe? This thing could be an amalgam of various bits, assembled "on the fly" for that thing.

(Just tossin' a bit o' Castrol-R onna fire here).
 
Back
Top