• 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

What do I have?

Share this page

S

ScotStern

Member
Offline
I have a 1975 MGB that I think has the original engine / transmission in it. I have owned it form many years and have had it restored to almost perfect condition. It has actually won a couple of awards so it really does look good.

I am confused, as the car was made in 8/75 and the serial number is GHN5UF385757G which seems to indicate that it is a 1975 model. The registration confirms this and the original dash had the Anniversary Plaque installed. I really believe that it is a 1975.

The engine, which I still think is original, has the number 18V673Z - L2649 which seems to indicate that it is a 1974 engine. It does have overdrive and it has a Zenith Carb setup.

What is the story? Any explanations?

Thanks,

Scot Stern
1975 & 1979 MGBs
 
Somebody changed the engine, possibly when they installed the overdrive.....Actually, your engine is a late '73 overdrive engine - that run was made made between October '72 & October '73, closer to the end of the run.
 
The build date and engine dates don't necessarily jibe, but weird things happen at an auto plant during model changeover (1974 to 1975 brought alot of changes). But, PO's do wierd things too. I'd say your engine and car came together attached at the motormounts though.
 
Just when the motormounts were attached is the question...only way to find out what left the factory is British Motor Heritage Certificate.

...what are the little numbers on the bottom of your speedometer?
 
Tony the s/n on the speedo is 5230/13. I think that the car had overdrive in it from the begining. There was only one owner before me and he clearly did not install an overdrive or even change the engine.

What do you mean about the "motor mounts"? I don't understand.

The whole thing does not make sense.

Thanks,

Scot
 
Like Tony said, the only "real" way to know for sure is to ante up the $50 (Is it still only that much?) for the British Motor Heritage Certificate.


It'll also tell you what color you car was originally and what color the interior was and a few other little tidbits.
 
That speedo was used in MGB's from Sep '74 until 'Sep '76

...engine wasn't though.
 
Sorry. I was just trying to add some humor to the posting.
 
Say, I just had a thought - what color is your engine?
 
Tony,

The engine is black. BTW I just found out how to get the British Motor Heritage Certificate so thank you.

If you have any other thoughts I am more than interested.

Scot
 
Go out to the garage & in some inconspicouous place scrape the black paint & see if there's gold underneath.
 
Tony,

Now you have me really curious. I scraped it in several places and there is not a gold color under the black. If anything, it must be a primer but it is almost a rust color. It definitely does not look like gold paint.

What next?
 
They didn't prime engines...I'm wondering if you have a Gold Seal engine...when a car didn't check out at factory or dealer either before it was sold or under warranty, they stuffed a factory rebuild into it.
 
Thanks for all of the information. It really helps to know more about the car. It just seemed odd to me to have a 1973 / 1974 engine in a 1975 car. Everything else seemed normal as it was a California car and the smog and carb was right for the year.

Tony you are really an oasis in the desert of information and I appreciate your fast responces. I hope my 1979 is easier to understand....

BTW, I also own a Delorean with only 12,200 miles and it too has a strange past with some really interesting electrical mods. (owned by the late JZD's wife)

Thanks again,
 
I guess if Tony is the Oasis... Then I don't mind being the Mirage of disinformation (and humor) along the desert road of MGB-dom. hehehehehe - /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Kenny,

That would actually make you th Good Humor Man. I hope that you have white suite and a little truck!

Thanks for your help...

Scot
 
MGB + Alfa = Tiny truck.....Morris Minor......hehehehe
 
hehehehehe - y'all ain't right.
pics-1.jpg


Or maybe it's just me.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif
 
Back
Top