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MG MGA - MGB head identification

I'm hoping somebody here might be able to help me find more information about the cylinder head installed on my MGA 1500's engine. My dad purchased the head new as a replacement part and installed it in 1970. It does not have the number cast in the usual place (I.E. 15, 16, 18), and the code that is cast in the rocker area does not match any listed on either Barney's site, or this site I found using google: http://www.flowspeed.com/cylinder-ident.htm

The code is "12H1670" and directly underneath that is "AF2". Date code is "3 18 69" which seems to fit in time wise with what my Dad told me years ago. To the best of my recollection, the head was installed without making any relief "eyebrow" cuts to the block, though it has been almost 15 years since I had the engine apart so I could be mistaken. Machine work like that would have been beyond my dad's ability and he never said anything about it so I think my memory is correct.

Anyway, I've recently read where installing a "B" head on an MGA can actually reduce power due to the larger combustion chamber volume, so I am trying to figure out exactly what I have. There is a "15" head on the (currently siezed) spare engine and assuming that head turns out to be serviceable (not cracked, warped, etc) then I may just have it machined for hardened seats and use it instead, since I'm not looking to extract every last bit of power from this engine.

Del Rawlins

It appears to be a Sherpa Van head. See here: http://www.mgcars.de/seiten/headgames.html

Steve
Steve Gyles

See also this link: http://66.249.93.104/search?q=cache:YDxEZULLifsJ:www.mgexperience.net/article/mgenginehistory.rtf+12h1670&hl=en&gl=uk&ct=clnk&cd=3

Could be a 1600/1622 head.

Steve
Steve Gyles

That's just odd. According to the second site you posted, it could have either 39cc or 43cc combustion chambers, and is either a 1500 or 1622 head. I guess I should pull both heads and do some measuring to see exactly what I have, which I was planning to do anyway.
Del Rawlins

We think that 1500's and 1600's had the letter 15 on the heads and that 1600 Mk 2's had 16.
Barry Bahnisch

Yes, but this head doesn't have anything where there is usually a 15, 16, or 18.
Del Rawlins

This thread was discussed between 22/08/2006 and 23/08/2006

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