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MG MGA - My distributor was from a boat!!

Recently converted to electronic "flame thrower" distributor. So I am looking at the old distributor that came with the MGA before it went on ebay and what did I find...it originally came off a Healey Sportboat Model 55.

The distributor is marked. 40510A
756 BN238 DM2

They only made 40 of these boats.

How to sell it now?

Russell Egge
978 844 2217
rregge5@aol.com



R Egge

Where'd you get that info?
Per Lucas Master Catalogue, 40510A-H was the standard dist for 1500 MGA late 56-59, Magnette 57, and other cars (boats?) that used this engine, eg, Lotus etc.

FRM
FR Millmore

Came across what looks like an Excel (now pdf) on the web.

Now cant find the web site only Copyright 2006 TDC Engineering.

The key number is 40510A according to that information this distributor was made for the Healey Sportboat Model 55. Further research indicates they only built 40

Now why couldnt it be from a rare Jag or Benz.

Russell
R Egge

Russell-
TDC Engineering is Marcel Chichak, originator of the electronic 1-2-3 distributor. His chart has been around for a while, in many forms, always with the notation "Additions or corrections can be sent to chichm@telusplanet.net". He started this many years ago and it changes a lot, as people send him info, good or bad. In the version I just found via Google http://www.sterlingbritishmotoringsociety.org/files/Lucas_Dist_Chart.pdf It shows the 40510 only in the /D version, and lists it for 1956-59 MGA 1500, 1959-62 MGA 1600, Lotus MK IX, 1955-56 MG Magnette ZA. This version does not show the boat app.

This is clearly better than the version you had, but still incorrect, as the distributor came in at least /A, B(C?) D, E, F, H variants, used on MGA 1500 & 1600 from 56-60. It is a little difficult to follow the entire thing, as Lucas only indexes the first appearance of a number in the catalogue, but it is plainly a standard MGA distributor. I found the complete vehicle application listing, which is MGA 1500 & 1600 56-60, Magnette 57, Lotus MKIX 56-59 w/MG engine, Riley 1.5 58. If the boat used this engine, then OK.

The letter suffixes indicate internal changes, which do not affect the application or operating characteristics of the unit, but may alter the internal parts you would need to fix one. For instance, /A,B has a different vacuum unit to the /D,E,F,H versions, possibly but not certainly the difference between the screw-on and push-on line connectors.

As stated, my info is direct from Lucas Master Catalogue, 46-60.

FRM
FR Millmore

Russell, I have a distributor with the number 40510 A on my MGA 1500. This is the original dist for the engine. However, mine has a crack on the bottom of the alloy body. If you are parting with yours, I'll be very interested. Send me an email and let me know what you want for it. (please include shipping to MALTA).
My email address is: fcamill@hotmail.com

Frank
F Camilleri

Russell, Carry the old distributor in the car. Electronics can have a mind of their own at times and when they fail you walk home. I also have a Flame Thrower fitted , it's been trouble free for a few years, maybe because it knows there is have a competator in the trunk ! Sean
S Sherry

If you had a boat distributor, I think you'd notice. Most boat motors turn backwards. Either the advance would be backward or the drive gear would be a mirror image of the standard.

The direction the prop turns makes it easier to turn the "proper" direction when avoiding head-on collisions.

Just finished giving the A a minor makeover- New 185-65 tires on VTO Wheels (look and fit great); one new front shock (other was replaced a few years back); poor man's tube shock conversion (detailed on "MGB Experience" website), resealed motor including a 3-bearing B seal conversion and silicone "wonder gaskets". It's amazing how much better a car feels when the shocks work and the wheels are true and balanced.

Bill


Bill Eastman

>If you had a boat distributor, I think you'd notice.
>Most boat motors turn backwards. Either the advance
>would be backward or the drive gear would be a mirror >image of the standard.
>
>The direction the prop turns makes it easier to turn
>the "proper" direction when avoiding head-on collisions.

Not sure where you got that idea, but it's almost complete bull. The vast majority of gasoline marine engines turn the same way as automotive engines, because they ARE automotive engines that have been only slightly modified for marine use. Every once in a while, you will run into one which has been modified to turn backwards, and these are almost always part of a set (or started as part of a set) of counter-rotating engines intended for use in twin engine boats. You don't really want one of those, because the slight benefit to be had is greatly outweighed by the cost and difficulty of sourcing the parts that allow it to run in reverse. IIRC, those were the camshaft, starter, and possibly the alternator (actually only the fan on the alternator) and water pump. I don't believe the distributor cares which way it goes so long as the plug wires are arranged appropriately.

My dad had a Bayliner with twin Chrysler 360s with one being reverse rotation, which was nothing but a lot of additional hassle. That engine was really an odd duck, and I heard the current owner got rid of the set entirely and went to diesels. I really hated that boat by the time we were done with it.
Del Rawlins

Here is the boat and engine in question.

Steve


Steve Gyles

Thanks a lot Steve! Now I may just have to resurrect my old boating hobby, mixing that with my MG addiction. Gosh I hate oening wooden boats. But......

She sure is pretty!
Chuck Schaefer

Steve, thanks for posting those pictures, that's sweet. Hopefully one of these days, somebody will post pictures of the engine installation of one of the tractors that was equipped with the B series engine.
Del Rawlins

Here's one. BMC Leyland 154 tractor 1969-1979 Model 154 with a 1500cc B-series diesel engine (about 30 HP at 2500 RPM, or 25 HP at the PTO).


Barney Gaylord

Del -
A & B series engines, in both petrol and diesel. Used to be a dealer around here. They were an odd purplish-blue colour.

FRM
FR Millmore

Thanks. When my dad had my 1500's engine sleeved back to standard back during the 1960s, the machine shop used sleeves intended for a Massey Fergusen tractor. They are still in there, +.030" now. It would be neat to get my hands on a diesel b series engine, and build something interesting around it.
Del Rawlins

If you Google Leyland tractors there are places that claim to have lots of parts for 1500/1622/1800 as well as various bigger lumps.
There were also C series diesels, but not used in the tractors apparently. Guy I learned from used to work on the BMC Technical Reps traveling bus, a C diesel.
There's a diesel Z Magnette on Gunter's site.

FRM
FR Millmore

Del,
I have to admit boats are not my thing. However, I've spent a fair amount of time around 50's and early 60's Chris Crafts. Most used Universal or Hercules motors and the ones I saw turned to the "right." The output shaft turned clockwise when viewed from the back of the boat.

If you had twin screws, the second motor turned to the left.

Since these are about the same vintage as our A's and the DM2 distributer, I would expect that it would use similar mounting.

The only newer boat I wrenched was a Luger kit boat. It used a 302 Ford lashed to Volvo Penta stern drive of 70's vintage. I don't remember it being different so it probably turned "backwards" like the older motors.

I've seen some installations that take power from the front of the motor, accomplishing the same thing without reversing the motor.

Bill

Posted 22 September 2010 at 09:27:58 UK time

>Most boat motors turn backwards. Either the advance
>would be backward or the drive gear would be a mirror >image of the standard.
Bill Eastman

>The only newer boat I wrenched was a Luger kit boat. It
>used a 302 Ford lashed to Volvo Penta stern drive of
>70's vintage. I don't remember it being different so it
>probably turned "backwards" like the older motors.

That's extremely unlikely, especially in a single engine application. The primary differences between marine engines and their automotive counterparts (if any in some cases), is that the marine versions are set up to withstand sustained high power output. This may mean heavier duty castings, and almost always means a camshaft that is designed to alter the power curve accordingly.

A friend of mine installed a marine Ford V-8 in his Bronco. It's my understanding that it is illegal to do so, but it worked just fine.

>I've seen some installations that take power from the
>front of the motor, accomplishing the same thing
>without reversing the motor.

They almost certainly turned the engine around so that the "rear" of the engine was facing forward. The 360s in our Bayliner were oriented in this fashion, and drove the shafts through "Vee drive" gearboxes. The "front" of most engines is only set up to drive accessories, and this would be true of a purpose built marine engine as well as an automotive one.
Del Rawlins

This thread was discussed between 20/09/2010 and 24/09/2010

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