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MG MGB Technical - strange MGB engine number

Could someone identify an engine in a 1972 MGB with the number '48G755ET17604 A/A' please?
Mike Wilson

Morris Marina ?
S Best

Mike. You Irish! (My maternal grandmother was Irish from County Cork). You did not give the entire serial number. On page 69 of Clausager's "Original MGB", he notes that there was a replacement engine for the 18GD/GG which was "48G 528; later 48G 702, 48G 755". It would, this appear, that you have an "exchange engine". On page 60, Clausager states that the GD engine was, "As above (referring to the GB engine), with fully syncronssed gear box and alternator; home/export(not USA;Canada to Aug 68), overdrive optional, low compression optional. The GG was similar to the GD, but, "As 18GD type, but with carburettor ventilation insted of closd circuit breathing, home export (not North America)". The 18GG engine was used until "Aug 71".

The concept of "model year" is a US invention, predominantly by one Alfred Slone of General Motors who designated the concept that, by introducing an "new model" every year, more cars could be sold. This was not the practice in the UK or Europe until they had to begin to comply with the US safety and emissions standards which, due to US custom, were designated by "model year".

Thus, if I had to guess, I would suspect that your "72" MGB was manufactured sometime in 1971, sold and registered in 1972 (hence the "72" designation) which had an engine replacement with a factory designated engine of the correct type. In other words, you have something which is slightly special and should enjoy it. Les
Les Bengtson

Thank you, Les - I think you have 'hit the nail on the head'. This information is for a friend, I have a TF1500 and MGA1600Mk2, so do not have the Clausager book.
My friend will be pleased to hear that he has an 'MG' engine and not some oddball!
Mike
Mike Wilson

Mike. My grandmother's maiden name was Ling. A Danish friend tells me that the term "ling" is old Norse for "heather". She told me that her family came from County Cork in the 1800s. (Unfortunately, she is no longer able to answer my questions, nor is my mother, who was not particularly interested in where her familily came from).

Here in the US, there is a system known as "inter-library loan" which allows us to request a book from our local library. If they do not have it, they will send out a computer search request to other libraries in the the US. They can then, "inter-library loan" the book from the library which has it for some specified period of time (normally a two week loan to the person who requested the book, plus shipping time to and from).

The information I have provided you is, to the best of my knowledge, true and accurate. However, if you have such a thing as "inter-library loan" available, your friend might want to get a copy of the Clausager book for his own inspection. I have my own copy, but, have use the library to check out a number of books to see if they were worth adding to my collection. Les
Les Bengtson

Let's see, if a G15... is a 1500 engine, a G16... is a 1600 engine and a G18...is a 1800 engine. this must mean that a G48... is a real screamer ;). Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Both Les & S. Best are correct with their info. My '66 mgb roadster had one of these "Gold Seal" factory rebuilt motors in it. These were done at the MG plant.
Mine was a 48G733.... which signifies a replacement for an 18V engine (not the particular engine that had been in the car originally).

It was also a non-North American, high-compression unit. My motor was also a medium blue color and could have come from a Marina or a Sherpa.

I recently sold it to a friend who transplanted it into a vintage racecar. I removed it to fit a Rover alloy 3.5 V8.

Hope this helps you.
Pk
Pat Kaye

Would anyone be able to identify where the following engine came from.
Engine # 12V -6712-15112
This is presently in my 1970 MGB Roadster
It has everything that the regular 1800 engine has but this number does not jive with anything that I have read or is stated above?
Brian Wright

Mike,

I currently have engine # 48G755 ES77330 A D in my 1969 B GT (171681G) !

It is a Gold Seal engine with the hanging ("pendant" might be the official word) oil filter arrangement (filter p/ GFE148 instead of the earlier GFE102 or 114/121)- which apparently was fitted to some or most B engines from december 1973 on (?).

I have no idea as to when the engine was fitted to the car though.
A clue is that the 48G755 exchange engine is NOT listed in the BL parts book published in 1976 ... and it is the only one of all those quoted in Clausager's book that I have not found trace of !!

Hence a possible conclusion that the 48G755 engine was a post 1976 Gold Seal exchange unit !

Who can confirm this ?

Thank you in advance,

Gerard

G. B. Payen

This thread was discussed between 02/06/2004 and 06/06/2004

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