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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Engine Swaps

I haven't visited this bulletin board for about 8 years (life has gotten in the way). What's the latest news on engine swaps for a 1500 series midget.

When I first got my midget, I was researching everything I could find, soaking up any info etc and came to the conclusion that I would want an engine swap sometime in the future, mainly for reliability and economy. Well, its been 8 years and I'm still driving the stock engine with tranny, albeit maybe 500 miles a year. Still have the same problems as before, like periodic shifting issues, backfiring on deceleration, ebrake not holding, even after adjusting. I still don't like the stock parts, so if an easy swap was out there, with little or no modifications, I would be interested. One of the problems back in 2001 was the availabilty of suitable donors.

So, what's happening in the world of Midget 1500 engine swaps?
W Chernoff

There are a variety of different engines that have been swapped into the Spridget chassis. Of course in GB the main choice is the Rover K series, but in NA that's not commonly available so several other 4 cylinders, rotarys, and V6 engines have been used. Plenty of good information in the British V8 Newsletter photo section on both Midgets and Sprites with different power trains http://www.britishv8.org/Photos-MG-Conversions.htm and a couple of other cars I'm aware off at http://www.ado13.com/dohczuke/dohc.htm and http://www.home.earthlink.net/~roethler/index.html and also at http://ntahc.org/modifiedhealeys/Photos/157Hammond/157Hammond.htm
Bill Young

Just found out that the last link is no longer good. Another modified car here at http://the-mite.com/index.htm
Bill Young

W
you state two conflicting things
engine swap for reliability and economy?!??!?

The best thing to do if you want those is get you 1500 in top shape.
All the problems you mention are fixable and should not occur on a sorted car!
Some of the problems even sound like not using it enough.

Engine swaps can be fun but it is no way to increase reliability.
At least not for the first couple of years.
Just Ask Arie
Onno Könemann

Here's Arie!!

Yep, i sufferd a lot of bedding in problems, and dont be fooled by economics!
Even if you do the conversion yourself it still issnt cheap.
Next problem is trying to drive sensible when you have a powerfull engine in your car: you cant!!!
Is so nice to revv it around = burning fuell!
Especialy if you only drive 500miles a year?

Like Onno says the stuff your car suffers from is easy fixable and the only way to keep a car reliable is to drive it alot!
Not driving is killing for a car.


Arie de Best

Engine swaps can be reliable, and (with modern EFi) can be more economical than the old technology from the 50's found in the standard car. It's a great way to obtain more power, too.

It just depends on how much you want to improve:

- power
- economy
- reliability

... and how much time and $$ you want to spend.

You can get modest improvements in all 3 with well-chosen upgrades to your existing engine (e.g. improved inlet and exhaust; improved CR and better carb/ign tuning; best quality HT components, fuel system upgrades, preventive maintenance - respctively for above list).

But if you want (say) 2X the power, a swap to something more modern is desirable. How much a modern 1.6/1.8/2.0 litre engine will improve economy depends on the right foot; but you will obtain more MPG whilst enjoying corresponding increases in accel and cruising speed.

Reliability depends on the condition of the engine you install, and the quality of the materials and workmanship employed. Unreliability often stems from things that initially seemed peripheral. On Arie's car, the orignial cable clutch installation caused the cable to break regularly (difficult to get a good cable run to the pedal box on LHD). Mine (RHD) too failed after 3 months or so, but I was able to improve the cable fixing and 7 years later (+20K miles) all is still fine. Arie has spent some time finding an internal hydraulic clutch system that fits, works, and is reliable.

If you're doing a swap, choose and engine that's been done many times before, so you can benefit from the experience of others; preferably with local examples so you can easily copy.

A
Anthony Cutler

lets see Canada and examples nearby to coppy......

if you want the economy and reliability of an modern efi system than you can convert your engine to run one
there are enough mapable ecu's out there

i have not read the requiest for mor power so i assume that is not needed

even then my hot 1380 can deliver 32mpg it is all in the right foot
Onno Könemann

With the abundance of transverse-mounted, small, aluminium-block engine/transmission combinations out there (I'm thinking Japanese) why haven't they been adapted for the Midget?

Is there something inherent in the transmission/differential combined unit design that precludes using them on a RWD car?

R

Richard 1500 5 speed

Richard, there's a good reason that FWD engine/transmission packages haven't been used to drive a RWD Spridget. They don't fit! It's that simple to begin with. Just take a look at the underside of the common FWD car and see how wide the package is from the front of the oil pan to the rear of the trans case, that would have to fit down in the Spridget engine bay where the main rails are only about 12" apart. Barely enough room for the oil sump much less the transmission as well. Then try driving the rear wheels off one side of the transaxle, you need to lock the diff to get power transfer back to the rear and then the overall ratio would be something like 8 or 9 to 1. Taking a FWD engine and adapting it to a RWD transmission is common practice these days though, the Rover K series and a Ford type 9 is just one example. Many of the Japanese engines also have RWD versions for the light trucks and SUVs. Those transmissions and bell housings are used to adapt the similar FWD engines from the same manufacturer to RWD use. The Toyota and Suzuki swaps are a couple of examples.
Bill Young

http://www.cool-screens.com/Rotary-MG_Home.html

Most exotic complicated but something special!
Bas Timmermans

This thread was discussed between 07/10/2009 and 08/10/2009

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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