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MG MGA - What engine do I have?

It's been several years since I last posted to this BBS. I have always read the posts, but I sold my 58 MGA in 2005, and have had midgets in the garage since.
I purchased a 1960 MGA 1600 from Ebay in April, and I have been trying to get it back on the road. To my surprise, when I finally received the car from Texas to my home in North Carolina, it came with a 1500 engine.
Can anyone tell me what type of car my engine came from? The engine number is 15 ANH 173809. It runs with 75lbs oil pressure, and the compression check was around 172 lbs. on all 4 cylinders. I am very happy to own a MGA again,but I am puzzled why a 1500 in a 1600?
Thanks,
Joe


l Joe4

15 = 1489cc
A = Austin
N = Column change
H = High compression
A Bowie

Presumably it doesn't have a mechanical rev counter drive?

Paul
Paul Dean

Metropolitan?
Dave O'Neill 2

Nice car. Someone blew the first engine. Mine too had an Austin, but a 1622 cc from an A60.
Change the camshaft to MGA and there you go, apart from the lack of mechanical tachometer.
Art Pearse

Thanks for the information. Yes the tachometer is electric, but the block is drilled for a mechanical one. The mounting holes are tapped, and an expansion plug fills the hole. The car did come with a mechanical tach, cable and drive gear. The previous owner had owned the car for 35 years, and said the engine was in it when he purchased it. I'll see how it drives and decide from there. Just happy to be back in an A.
Joe
l Joe4

"Mine too had an Austin, but a 1622 cc from an A60.
Change the camshaft to MGA and there you go, apart from the lack of mechanical tachometer."

And the low compression pistons, which are needed to get the normal output from the 1622.

BTW, it isn't a hard job to bore the tach drive hole and stud holes in a block that didn't come with them (as long as it has a flat at that location, which I believe all 3 main engines do).
Bill Spohn

Bill, I had it bored +40 and used the MGA pistons. It has an early B head on it. I have no idea what Hp it puts out, but its sure enough for me!
Art Pearse

This thread was discussed between 27/07/2015 and 28/07/2015

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