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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Help with engine ID

I have a 12G 1805 cylinder head fitted to my car - which I believe is originally from a Mk 3 Cooper S(larger valves?), but I cant find any reference to the engine number 12-GE-DA-H2283. Can anyone help?
S G Macfarlane

Are you sure its 12-GE and not 12-CE as this would be a midget 1275 between 1967 and 1971?

Trev
T Mason

The Mk3 'S', MG1300, 1300GT and Riley Kestrel 1300 all had an 11-stud version of the 12G940 which had 12G1805 stamped on the flat area near the thermostat.

As Trev suggests, probably 12CE engine.
Dave O'Neill 2

It says 12GE, I was expecting 12CE as you say. Am I correct that theres no such thing as a 12GE. CE does sound more likely.
S G Macfarlane

Does it say 12GE on the logbook, engine, or both?
Dave O'Neill 2

GR was the prefix for Riley 1300, and 12g1805 (an excellent head BTW ;) also Riley. Coincidence? Is it an E or a R?
Alex G Matla

The log book only gives the last 4 digits, they don't match the engine. The engine is definitely stamped 12GE, its quite clear.
S G Macfarlane

Pages 5 & 6 of this PDF doc list A-series engine numbers...

http://www.mgcars.org.uk/mgccz/technic/codeseng.pdf
Dave O'Neill 2

thanks - i had referred to that list before - i guess its some sort of MG1300 or Riley engine which would correspond with the head - cheers
S G Macfarlane

I doubt it.

MG or Riley would be transverse, meaning a huge job to convert to in-line configuration, and the 12GE prefix still doesn't match.

Last question: Is the engine number plate reverse-stamped? - i.e. raised digits.
Dave O'Neill 2


Sorry - your right, i think i actually knew that!

Heres the picture


S G Macfarlane

As the plate has been removed and the number stamped into the block I would imagine that whoever did it misread the original plate and that it should read CE.

Trev
T Mason

What Trev says!
Dave O'Neill 2

I'd estimate 12CE-Da-H2nnn as 1968 build - what year is your car?
David Smith

I'm not trying to be awkward now just saying

what ever is stamped on the engine may not relate to that particular engine it might be the number of the previous engine

or the number relates to that engine but the engine is not original to that car

I'd guess a very large number of Spridgets may not be running on their original engine

I'm almost certain mine isn't but as there's no plate or stamp the V5 can remain as is
Nigel Atkins

Its a 68 so i guess the guy made a mistake
S G Macfarlane

This thread was discussed between 05/05/2011 and 07/05/2011

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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