MGA MGA twin cam head on non twin cam motor ?

[beaulieu]

My friend in Texas called me today ,

says he found a MGA twincam car ,
it has the head but the motor block / crank/pistons etc are lost,

so will this twin cam head fit on a normal MGA motor or does he need to find an original block?

thanks for the info

 

[PaulHanley]

It has been done but with very expert and extensive machine work. Not recommended. I'd drop an 18G MGB engine in it and go for a drive and ebay the twin cam head. Proceeds will pay for a good bit of the car's restoration!

Paul
'59 Twin Cam
'64 MGB

 

[beaulieu]

Ok....so the basic answer is NO....umm

how hard is it to find a twin cam motor needing a head ?

thanks Beaulieu

 

[SilentUnicorn]

pretty hard.

mark

 

[PAUL161]

Maybe Tony will chime in on this one. He could probably give you an answer on availability of one. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif PJ

 

[jlaird]

Think Tony is out of pocket for the next week. He and wife are on walk about.

 

[ccougill]

The last twin cam Tony got his hands on was sold before he got it home. A lot of twin cam parts are NLA and those that are are worth their weight in gold

 

[jackq]

Drop me an E-mail...have a pal in NY who is an avid MG collector...and has been a professional mechanic (british only) his entire adult life...has alot of twin cam stuff.

 

[Howard_The_Duck]

I know my mother would love to have a TC to put back into her TC car, but she wants the whole motor, and i dont think we can swing the cost of one right now. Bummer.

 

[PaulHanley]

I've been thinking on this with no actual sales figures--just some gut feelings from what I've seen on ebay, etc.

The head is likely worth a couple of grand--if its in good shape. It could be overskimmed, cracked or otherwise ham fisted over the years. Perhaps the required modifications have been performed, maybe not.

A block went on ebay in unknown condition for 5 grand earlier this year.

Cam$ are about $1200 each, you'll need 2 along with $ome $800 cam cover$. Jack shaft$, 2 required plu$ dozen$ and dozen$ of other internal engine part$.

The remote header tank is about $800 iirc. Radiator, about a grand--although 2 early mgb tanks can be used to make one Twin Cam radiator--and then you need find only the unique top to the radiator.

A total, professional rebuild from the man in LaJolla is about 10K--you supply the core.

The machining of an MGB block might be possible is you had a Twin Cam block to bring to the machinist for a template--otherwise, trying to piece a Twin Cam engine together because you have a head is like rationalizing to restore a car because you found a really good ignition switch! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Again, I'd pop an early B engine in it--maybe supercharge it,drive and have a blast.

Cheers,

Paul