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MG MGA - Help - MGA Engine/Plate Needed - UK

Hi,

I'm mid-way through my A restoration, and I'm in a spot of bother. I'm fitting a B engine into my A and I need an A front engine plate (part number 12H1387).

I know someone will say "take it off your old engine", but that's not around any more. I sent it to a garage to check it out and give me a price to repair, as it was totally rotten. That was 5 years ago, and they've since gone out of business, so the engine is lost forever.

If anyone has a wrecked A engine or an A front engine plate going spare, please let me know.

Cheers in all hopefulness,

Grant :-)
G Hudson

i may have that frt eng plate i'll check & see
brian d

I have one spare.

You only need it if you are fitting a five bearing engine, the three bearing B engines have an identical front plate to the A.

In all cases you need an appropriate back plate to match your gearbox. A high starter A gearbox is the same as a B gearbox casing, so if you have a late 1500 or a 1600/1622, then you will be fine with a standard B backplate, if you have a low starter bell housing, you need a custom backplate modified for the B crank seal.
dominic clancy

Hmmmm OK I'll bite,why do you need an A front plate if you are fitting a 5 main B engine. As long as its not the one with later round motor mounts. I have done 3 A/B combos,have I done something wrong? Two were with 4syncro B trans with O/D.
wc wolcott

only if you have the round mount front plate do you need the A plate. I thought all 5 Mains had round mounts.....
dominic clancy

6 years ago I had already fitted the front engine plate on my late 5-bearing engine when I came across the problem Dominic describes. Fortunately, I had picked up a few MGA and B engine plates and front covers with the engine at an MG garage closing down auction.

If I remember correctly the engine plate cannot be adapted unless you weld on some extra plate to cover the area one of the mounting bracket holes. Obviously, the plate would have to be drilled and some/all of the existing holes filled.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Just looking at my parts catalogue, the changeover to the round mounting bracket was 1974 with the introduction of the Rubber Bumper MGB.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Guys,

thanks for the responses.

Dominic - I've got the back plate covered - a Bob West special. How much would you be looking for for the front plate? Please contact me offline to discus :-) - grant.hudson@mbda.co.uk

Mich and all 5 bearing bods - Yes, it's one of the later 5 beariNg engines with the round engine mounts, so that's why I'm after the front plate. But thanks for your input, I didn't realise that the early B front plates were the same as the for the A.

Anyone know of any wrecked early B engines going spare? (UK preferably)

Many thanks again,

Grant :-)
G Hudson

This thread was discussed between 27/01/2007 and 28/01/2007

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