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Engine idetification

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chappy444

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hello all,
i usually post in the Triumph area as i have a 75 spitfire 1500,
however, i have been trying to find out some info on my car and i have been told that the engine number is actually from a later model MG midget.

The number that is stamped on the block is FP5759 UF (possibly VF)
i am told that triumph blocks had an FM designation (like on my commision number)

the head is stamped KC1409 which i believe to be the triumph low compression 1500 head. it also has a delco 204 distributor. weber dgv carb and pierce intake.

any info on the block would be greatly appreciated.

my spicific questions are.
what year is the block?
will all the 1500 spitfire parts fit?
in other words...is it basically the same engine with a different "part number/serial number"

thanks in advance for your input.
Bill
 
Bill, yes most parts, and all internal parts can interchange on the 1500s. High and low compression with the 1500 was handled with dish or flat top piston, and if rebuilding you can go either way, we even build some 1500 using TR6 pistons, but thats a bit more tricky, you have to deck the block a good bit, because the TR6 has more stroke so the pistons were shorter. All the 1500s are large journal cranks, so they use the same bearings and thrust washers, the head parts are all the same, oil pumps, timing gear parts, rocker arms, camshafts. Here something I do on 1500 alot of folks don't know about, the 1500 had no cam bearings in the block, but they did this by enlarging the journals on the cam to fit the same ID of the cam bearing bores in the block without the use of the cam bearing, so say you wanted to have cam bearing in your 1500 engine, anmd you are replacing the cam with a performance or replacment cam, just get the cam for a 1300 Spitfire and then the 1300 cam bearings and it all goes right in the 1500 block without any mods. Hopefully that answers some of your questions, feel free to ask more, if I can help with adivce, I'll try my best.

Ok back to the engine room for me, I'm building a TR6 right now, I mostly do MG A and B series engines ,but occasionally I get a Triumph to rebuild.
 
Hi Chappy

I have been looking through some websites for the info you need. While not gospel , this quote I found on MGCARS.ORGs site on Midgets seems to imply that MG used Triumph Engines and Trany's from late 74 on.cut and pasted from the link below.
https://www.mgcars.org.uk/midget.html#MkIV

"In 1974 a new and, as it turned out, final version of the Midget arrived. It was known as the Mk IV although it was officially still the Mark III.This car was equipped with the 1493cc, four-cylinder, pushrod, OHV engine from its rival the Spitfire, which also provided the transmission." :shocked:

As for the year of the motor,its deffinately between 75 and 79 according to this link but all it says is engine number FP for 75 to 79 and no breakdown beyond that.

https://www.mgmidgets.net/carident.htm

Good luck,hope this helps a bit :cheers:

Mark
 
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