MG Midget/ Metro engine?

I have a 1973 MG Midget with a 1275 cc engine. After reading David Visards Book it appears that the parts for the A series and A + Series engines are interchangeable. I would like to put the A+ series engine in, will it go straight in or will the crankshaft have to be swapped? The reason I am unsure is having stripped the cluth from the A+ (metro) engine the crankshaft has a clutch retainer bolt screwed into the crank. Also I am unsure if the cranks are interchangeable as they may have different bearing and journal size.. Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

Reply to
Jeff Willcott
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change the clutch ??

Reply to
ROBIN

Cranks are completey different between in line and box in sump A series engines. Heads etc are interchangeable though.

I don't know for sure, but the fwd Monty and Maestro 1275 units might fit, I don't think they have the same crank as the box in sump units :)

Reply to
Stuffed

Later Itals had the A+, IIRC. If you could find one of them then you'd have an engine which should go in without too much trouble.

Reply to
ANDREW ROBERT BREEN

There is a very rough looking Ital A+ on ebay just now . Itals (& very late Marina) units were't to the full A+ spec and are in anycase are getting quite rare. With Marina it can actually be cheaper to find a complete low mileage good car Ital stip out the power unit (and gearbox) sell the shell on or stick a

1800 or 1700 engine in (having put an 1800 in a 1.3 using the 1.3 gearbox years ago I can say it is very easy to do it just bolts in place of the A series). Beware head gasket problems on all A series due a core plug in the head on the gasket face between 2&3 cylinders, but if you want full A+ MG Metro spec in any case it would be best to buy a complete MG metro engine and use the head & cam The MG Metro head is much the same as the ordinary Metro but MG Metro cam is quite wild good for a fast for a road engine.

The Maestro/Montego A+ units are canted over and have a different oil pickup, sump and back plate, and I am pretty sure flywheel and starter ring would require swapping -- not sure that the the crank has a recess in the end for a spigot bush

Reply to
dilbert

The MG head is slightly better - And if possible, get an MG Metro Turbo head... Sodium filled exhaust valves :)

The 1.3 Metro Vanden Plas also has quite a warm engine compared to the standard 1.3, not sure if it's up to MG specs, but might be an easier find in the breakers now the Mini lot have pillaged the MG Metro supplies...

So long as the end of the crank can take the spigot bush(can't see why not, it's a more conventional layout than the Metro/ Mini arrangement), it shouldn't be hard to swap sump, backplate and suchlike to suit. And the Monty 1275 has all the nice bits of the MG Metro, hall affect dizzy, 75hp, etc. Plus every 1300 Monty I've seen in the breakers has suffered terminal rot, so cahnces are the (untouched usually) engines are fine :)

Reply to
Stuffed

Reply to
Jeff Willcott

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