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MG MGB Technical - MGC engine power

I have posted this question on the MGC site, but perhaps an MGB owner may know the answer:

I am about to buy a 1969 mgc roadster and am informed that it was re-imported into the UK in 1982 from an unknown country. This probably explains why the car is in such good condition on the underside.
My question; if this is an ex California car (and there is nothing to suggest it is,as even the ride height looks normal for the UK),....were MGC's exported to the US down-rated on engine performance to comply with emission regulations,...or were the engines just the same as if they were being used in the UK. Possibly another bit of kit was fitted to exported cars bolted onto the engine, in order to help comply with US regs. I seem to have read somewhere something about this.Any help rather quickly will be much appreciated.
John Mitchell
JP Mitchell

AFAIK US spec MGCs also suffered from all of the emissions plumbing. I believe that some - if not all - US cars had a much improved inlet manifold to the Uk spec cars.

Another feature of US cars is dual-circuit brakes and twin servos, as well as three windscreen wipers.
Dave O'Neill2

From Clausager's "Original MGB", there were 1405 RHD MGC roadsters for the UK market, 64 RHD for other markets, 2483 LHD for North America and 592 LHD for other countries, Total 4544 roadsters.

As far as the engine goes, he says that all the engines were high compression at 9:1. UK engines should have the prefix 29G, whereas the North American engine will have the prefix 29GA. This engine was fitted with emission control equipment but he doesn't say what this was or what difference it made to the power output.

There was also a third type of engine prefixed 29GB. This was under-bored to 2850cc for France, where it fitted into a lower taxation bracket.

A US car will have the "pillow" dashboard, quite different to what was seen in UK cars, and three wipers from the start of the 1969 model year.

All MGCs had twin carbs, but the North American cars had different model carbs. There was also a small electric fan to cool the carbs on NA cars, controlled by a thermostat.

That's all I can find in that marvellous book!
Mike Howlett

Dave And Mike,....many thanks for responding so quickly and your comments most helpful and ccnstructive. This car has just two wipers, but I will have a look a the numbers supplied by Mike to sdee if I can throw some light on this car and where did it come from. Thanks again.
JP Mitchell

Clausager says the 1968 MGCs with the 18GA engine had the air injection system, and the gulp valve on the inlet manifold. 1969 models dumped the gulp valve and had the crankcase ventilation connected via a Y adapter to the carbs.

The ride height was always basically the same in all markets, and only raised for the 1974 and a half year and rubber bumpers i.e. post MGC.

The chassis number should also differentiate between North America and other LHD. From 67 to 69 a 'U' immediately preceding the serial number denotes North American and an 'L' 'other LHD'. Before 67 all LHD had an 'L'. From 1970 North America got an additional letter denoting model year i.e. A for 1970 and so on.
PaulH Solihull

This thread was discussed between 13/01/2012 and 14/01/2012

MG MGB Technical index

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