MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Engine suppliers/shippers

Hi all,

This is for a friend with a 1600 MKII here in Tokyo. His engine is tired and he would like to have it rebuilt. He had budgeted about $3500 for the job (Yen equivalent) and to his shagrin was quoted $7-10,000 for the job. The shop in question is reputable and is known for being fair.

I dropped off my car for inspection yesterday and met with the above shop owner and we discussed the friends engine. He stated that there are not that many machine shops (locally) anymore that do machine work for old cars. They just want nothing to do with them. Add to it the cost of parts, up to 4x's what we are used to paying and then a labor fee of almost $100/hr and you get the picture. Of course, they are plannning on replacing the head as well as it is probably cracked. This is just the wasy things work around here.

So my suggestion was to try and find someplace in the US that can build a good 1600 (no core) and pay the outrageous shipping cost to Japan. Even an expensive engine with shipping could run about half that of the rebuild here.

Any suggestions from across the pond?

Thank you!
Tom Baker

Maybe ship this in pieces to Tokyo and assemble there? Or have the engine assembled here and ship in one lump. If he can do the work himself it would be a cheap option. I believe the seller's engine is actually a 1622 block since he has a '62 MGA.

http://www.socalbritishmotoring.com/viewtopic.php?t=324
Steve Simmons

Tom, Why not give Cameron Gilmour (www.britishclassiccarspares.com/) a call or e-mail in Scotland. I've just bought an unleaded head from him and he seems a reasonable guy. mike
m.j. moore

This thread was discussed on 23/12/2007

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.