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MG Midget and Sprite Technical Engine identification BBS discussion at MG-Cars.net
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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Engine identification
| Hi there, I have just recently bought a '67 sprite which at some point in the past has had an engine change. I have searched the net for information relating to the engine number but can't find any. I think it is probably from an Ital or something. Does anyone know where I can find a full list of a-series codes and descriptions? Cheers, Barry. |
| B Slater |
| Where is the oil filter located? |
| Dave O'Neill 2 |
| From memory? spark plug side of the engine to the right of the dipstick. |
| B Slater |
| Try a moss catolage,,,I want to say they break down the engine code numbers prop |
| Prop |
| Whats the engine code # I got a vic. brit. cat. that can break down the Numbers prop |
| Prop |
| This may help http://www.mgcars.org.uk/midgetspriteclub/MascNew/CarData/IDNumbers.html |
| G Lazarus |
| Or there is http://www.mgcars.org.uk/mgccz/technic/codeseng.pdf which gives bmc/mg & morris engine codes |
| Shaun |
| Thanks for the replies guys but still not got to the bottom of it. Don't have any engine number breakdowns in my Moss catalogue and all the spridget pages and books only give spridget number breakdowns. The number is 12-V-923-EHZ-******. I know what the 12-V means but it is the 923-EHZ that I can't find any information on. Any more help appreciated. Cheers. |
| B Slater |
| No ideas anyone? |
| B Slater |
| sounds Marina/Ital-ish, can you post a pic of the spark plug side? |
| David Smith |
| that is strange...id say get ahold of terry hollars book, (The Spritely years...IIRC) he really details out everything...granted I have never seen the book, but it is popular among the purisst in the group. prop |
| Prop |
| No, Prop, Terry Horler's book is "Original Sprite & Midget" "Spritely Years" was by John Sprinzel and Tom Coulthard. David Vizard wrote "Tuning the A-Series Engine". David "there will be a short quiz in the morning" Lieb |
| David Lieb |
| LOL. Is the quiz a written exam???....LOL. Im currently writing my own book..."how to pull an A-series 1275 in 90 minutes"....long day, I got the engine almost ready to come out....another 45 minuts to an hour and she is out...spent about 45 minutes tonight getting everything unhooked and ready to go. thanks for the correction...at leaste I left myself with an out by saying "IRCC" but at least I got the correct author. prop |
| Prop |
| Cheers Prop, but part of the problem is that I don't think it was ever a spridget engine. The sprite books I have (a few including Vizards A-series book) don't list the numbers. I'm pretty sure it is a very late inline a-series. I have taken a couple of photos David. Hope you can get something from them. [IMG]http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll19/swiftshine/spriteeng1.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll19/swiftshine/spriteengser.jpg[/IMG] |
| B Slater |
Those links don't seem to work. Try again.
 |
| B Slater |
And another
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| B Slater |
| Thats the same as mine, I believe it is a 1275 from a Marina. At least you have an engine No!! mines AWOL! |
| Graham P 1330 Frogeye |
| position of oil filter confirms this as either Marina or Ital block. Internals is another question! If it has Marina/Ital crank then the Midget flywheel will have needed machining to fit. |
| David Smith |
| Do you know what the differences were between Marina/Ital engines and Spridget ones? Is there any resource on the web? Cheers for all the help so far. |
| B Slater |
| Just for starters, Marina/Ital crank has 1 3/4" b/ends instead of 1 5/8" so can be offset ground to give capacities bigger than 1380cc. Conrod material is EN15 whereas Midget is EN21. Flange on end of crank is bigger. Ital might have had a timing chain damper, not sure. Ital block has more external ribs so is thought to be stronger. (Marina is smooth like Midget). |
| David Smith |
| It's a Marina and the position of the dynamo bracket confirms this as oppose an Ital. |
| Daniel Thirteen-Twelve |
| Is this what is known as an A+ engine??? ....if not does that mean there are 5 types of 1275 enngine... A-series A plus-series metro marina ital Im vary confused now...I always thought there where only 2 types of 1275's the A-series and the A+ prop |
| Prop |
| Tell me about it Prop!! I've been trying to get a definitive description of the various later engines with very little luck. I thought the Ital engine was A+ and the Marina not, however they seem to have the same oil filter position and mine which I believe is a Marina engine has the A+ type dizzie clamp, so I am even more confused than originally ?( |
| Graham P 1330 Frogeye |
| Marina was a particular variant of the inline engine. The original engine mounts go into the sides of the block so the oil filter moved as in the pics above. Ital was the A+ version of the marina. It has extra ribs on the block and the alternator bracket moved aswell. I've got both in the garage at the moment - I'll try and take some pics. |
| Dean Smith ('73 RWA) |
| Considering just the 1275cc in-line blocks the basic types are: Spridget Marina and the Ital which is A+. Both Marina and Ital blocks have the oil filter in the same place. The Maestro in-line engine appears to be an Ital block. It'll be covered in this book with colour photos!  |
| Daniel Thirteen-Twelve |
| Would that be your book Daniel? Tell me more. |
| B Slater |
This thread was discussed between 26/09/2008 and 30/09/2008
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