MGB Help with engine code question.

[mathrin]

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

 

[Mickey Richaud]

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

 

[bob67bgt]

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

 

[Deleted member 8987]

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.

 

[mike99]

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.

 

[Joe Reed]

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!