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MG MGB Technical - Jubilee - Engine/Transmission Removal... any tips?

Okay then, armed with the obligatory Haynes manual and the fact that I have taken the engines out of my race midget and road midgets on numerous occasions, tomorrow is the big day when I take out my first B engine. Anything that I really ought to know that is not in the book?

Looking forward to all your handy hints and tips.

regards

Andrew.
A I McGee


No need to undo the bonnet - just undo the stay and tie the bonnet up with some rope to the boot catch.

No need to take gearbox out with engine unless you are changing the box.

Take carbs & inlet manifold off first, no need to undo the throttle & choke cables - leave them attached to the links - these fall free of the carbs and the heatshield can be hooked up out of the way. No need to take off the servo hose - the manifold can be hooked up out of the way too.

No need to take original style exhaust manifold off the down pipes, just release from head and hook the studs onto the chassis rail (doesn't apply to tubular type) - the manifold is sufficiently out of the way to get the engine out (you have to remove the strap by the bellhousing first if it is fitted).

Take out all the bellhousing bolts except for one either side - lift the engine up till the gearbox bellhousing hits the top of the tunnel (levering the engine mopunt plates over the edge of the sump flange), then put a jack under the bellhousing, remove the last two bolts and pull the engine forward and up at the same angle.

Chris at Octarine Services

Chris

Thanks for your comments, the transmission is coming out also as I need to sort the Overdrive out (as per a previous thread). So crossed fingers that it all goes smoothly.

I'm taking the engine and transmission out of the BGT parts car (that is too far gone for restoration) and will be using the transmission unit from that one whilst I have the original one refurbished.

Will keep everyone posted as it goes along.

Andrew.
A I McGee

Update:

The engine and box are out, but compared with the 2 hours its takes for the Midget, what a mammoth job. Okay so it was my first time (and first times are always difficult!) and everything was stuck or very oily, but it is out.

So intead of pulling the engine and box out of the spares car, I think that I will get straight on with trying to sort the OD out and then re-install the original unit. I don't think I can face another 6 hours of muck, grime and stubborn nuts.

The only casualties of the removal were the oil filter pipes as I had to cut them as the unions would not unscrew where they should have and would have only ended up really twisted (a good excuse for braided ones anyway) and the gearbox mount rubbers which were also cut out. How are you supposed to undo these bolts anyway when you can't get to them with ring spanners or sockets and rachets?

Will carry on with the update as and when.

Andrew.
A I McGee

This thread was discussed between 10/12/2005 and 11/12/2005

MG MGB Technical index

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