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MG MGA - ih engine prefex


I have an MGA that has been ignored in the back of my garage for too long. Was going to sell it but after digging it out I have visions of driving the beast one day. I was looking over the car numbers and the engine prefix does not seem to match the scheme as I understand it. The engine has an IH prefix. I asume the H stands for high compression. I thought the correct engine should have an 16gah prefix.
The car is a 1960 1600 with a 8070## serial number

Mark
m Jones

You are correct my 60 1600 #80156 engine # is 16GA-U 11502. Where in Colo. are you ? I have 4 MGAs and you are welcome to any help I can offer. I wish you good luck and a lot of fun getting it running again.
R J Brown

If I understand your situation, your engine begins with "IH" followed by some numbers.

Is it possible that it might begin with "1H"? Look at the block under the manifolds and look for 1500 or 1600 in large numbers cast into the block. If it is 1500 and the s/n begins with "1H", then you have an engine from an Austin A50 Cambridge.
Chuck Schaefer

Nash Metropolitan used a 1500 with an IH prefix, and like Chuck said Austin Cambridge used a 1500 with a 1H prefix. Don't know how you tell if it is a "1" or an "I". Since there were a lot of Mets sold here and not that many Cambridges, it is probably a Met. Either way, the block is basically the same as the MGA 1500 but won't have a tach drive.
Jeff Schultz

Thanks for the info. It's most likely a Nash. I traced the tach line down, It was not connected or connectible.
I have a spare mgb 1800 and transmission out of a 73 mgb coupe. I may put the 1800 in, since mine is not original anyway.
RJ, I am in Westminster. We are relocating after 21 years here in Denver to Little Rock in 6 weeks. I need to get the A ready for a trailer ride.
Many thanks for the information!

Mark
m Jones

I own an auto repair shop in the Englewood area. 3 of my cars are at work 4200 s Federal. call if you want 303*781*4313


R J Brown

OK maybe the Nash Met was a "IH". My reference says the Nash Met delivered to the USA was a "15F" prefix while the Austin/Nash Met was BP12A and BP15A. I could not find the "IH" prefix. There was an IHLC prefix for a Massey Harris Harvester engine (yeah the tractor people). My source is the guy who literally wrote the book "ENGINES for M.G's" by Neil Cairns. Virtually anything you wanted to know about engine codes and the history of BMC's engines. You can find his tome here:

http://www.mgexperience.net/article/mgenginehistory.html

As for the 1800 cc conversion, if it were me and I already had the 1800 engine, I'd go for it, but probably want the MGA intake and carbs just for looks.

Any way, it is your car and only you can decide what makes you happy.

Chuck
Chuck Schaefer

Just for your info, I could never find the IH prefix on any of the sites listing BMC "B" series engines. I have seen several Met sites that said they had an IH prefix before they went to the 15F. The only one I can find now is this form for concours judging.
http://www.nashmet.com/docs/METROPOLITAN_JUDGING_FORM.pdf
I have found several sites that say they used the same engine as the Austin Cambridge. This site with a very detailed chronology says Mets used a 1H prefix starting with 1H140004 in 1955 and ending with 1H220083 in 1957 when they went to the 15C. Maybe the sites showing an IH prefix were just confusing it with the 1H. All the 1's I have seen on MG engine plates were just a single vertical bar which could be confused with an I.
http://www.mocna.us/Chronology.html






Jeff Schultz

All good info Jeff. I grew up in the late 50's with a Met next door. I loved it. Whoda thunk that years later I'd be involved with cars that are so closely related?

I have to believe that your second reference is spot-on in the engine numbers. I'll have to keep that as a reference. I always remember Neil Cairns' info so just google it as it is everywhere.

The number fonts on MG engines seem to vary. I have seen very distinct "1"s and some nondistinct "I"s depending. I don't know if the 1 vs I will ever be resolved completely. Even if it did, with the internet being what it is, there would always be conflicting info.

Thanks,
Chuck

Chuck Schaefer


The mocna site had all the information including the numbers in the other current engine prefix thread. I guess the I is a 1. It is indeed just a slash that could go either way. The judging form has it as a 1.
Chuck, I would rather have a matching motor. I have seen plenty MGA's with B motors that don't hurt the value too much. What the hell, could always use the extra power and full synchronized transmission. I will look into the intake and carb setup.
RJ, Thank you I will get in touch. If you have had your cars in Arvada in the park I have probably seen you there. Though I seem to gravitate towards the series land rover section.
Mark
m Jones

This thread was discussed between 26/05/2010 and 27/05/2010

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