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MG MGA - engine swap ? ?

Hi all , on our way back from Silverstone Int , my very sweet 1600 motor decided to self distruct !!! big time , at 20 mph with no warning at all , 60 lb oil etc , I have been offered a 1622, A60 i think ,i know that it will go in , but will i need to change any parts ,etc etc , one of you good MG persons will have done this , also have the chance of a good 1800 with fast road cam , same questions apply ,looking forward to your honest replys , Colin
colin daly

Colin,
Sorry to hear about your misfortune.
What exactly blew?
mike parker

I suppose the 1622 engine from an A60 does not have the drive gear and housing at the rear end of the camshaft for a tachometer?
Too complicated to modify, you would have to fit a MGB electronic tachometer unit.

Mick
Mick Anderson

The mechanical tach drive can be used, but it requires a bit of mucking about

I used a 1622 block from an A60, it was cast the same as a 1622 MGA block, and had the space at the end of the camshaft tunnel for the tach drive gear. Although the standard A60 camshaft has a boss on the end, this is not machined to the correct diameter for the drive gear, however the camshaft from the 1588 engine will fit.

The mounting face for cable end was also machined, but the hole through to the camshaft was not. I think that the tapped holes are there too, but am not sure. The plug at the end of the tunnel is the same for tach/non tach blocks.

I was able to convert by cutting a hole with a hole saw, it dosn't have to be too accurate, just make it large enough for the spigot to go through with a fair amount of clearance so that the mesh of the gears can be adjusted and bolt into place over a gasket.

Cheers
ian F
Ian Fraser

Colin

The A60 block can be modified to take the rev counter by drilling and as already mentioned the rev-counter stud holes are cast in place. I suspect the pistons will have agreter dish than the MGA as well.

Do you have any more information on the 1800 unit with the fast road cam? In particular which cam! as there is always a trade of with modified camshafts. Often you gain a little extra mid range or top end power but sacrifice low end 'grunt; often accompanied with a lumpy tickover which means you have to set the tickover to run at >1000 rpm. This setup can turn the cat into a bit of a pig to drive when compared with the standard engine.

My car currently runs a 1800 with a fast road cam which will be replaced with a standard cam this winter!

Regards...JB
J Bray

This thread was discussed between 28/07/2005 and 29/07/2005

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