MGB Engine Swap #1

We had replaced the head gasket in the '73 MGB Engine and tuned it up before the 2012 season's first race at NJMP, and it was now so powerful that the internal steel could not withstand it's mighty 68 horsepower. Also, we probably over-revved, starved bearing number 3 of oil and threw the rod. It's an MGB thing.

May, 2012:

So, time to steal the wife's engine out of the 1978 convertible MGB:

"To B or not to be a B, that is the question..."... "Oh shut up and take the damn engine out already!"

 Goldie, on a weight loss program:

"Yes, we know your hood's off, stop winking at us."

Engine swap in progress; we had debated swapping in the wet/dry vac (pictured) for the increased horsepower, but decided the Lucas Alternator would not handle the load, so we ended up swapping in the 1978 engine anyway. Of course, I didn't bother to rebuild the engine or even check the compression on it, 'cause I'm an idiot, but hey it's important to Keep The Mystery in every endeavor!

MGB engine swap without a supply of Guinness on hand? Gormless indeed.

Turns out the engine mounts changed between 1973 and 1978; which meant the front plate had to be swapped as well and the timing cover messed with (or possibly we just messed with that to check the chain tensioner while the engine was out). We installed a new clutch while we were in there.

She runs just fine, after a few hundred re-wirings to get the different alternator & distributor working. There is a little box bolted to the inside fender that goes with the newer distributors. How can you tell if an English car is running? Because it's leaking:

She's not leaking, she'd marking her territory.

The daughter & friends had dressed up The Short Bus To Adventure for their Prom party, and being out of time before the Summit Point race due to the late engine swap we made the executive-non-decision of using it as it. Plus, it was sparkly, like a Lucas electrical system on a foggy day. The lights on ceiling phase in & out between colors, which can get annoying when your damn car blows up again and you retreat to the couch only to have the ceiling look like it's 'on fire' and remind you of your woes... but that's another story.

The Short Bus To Adventure - voted prettiest tow vehicle at the Prom

Alternator

Note: Alternator - MUST HAVE INDICATOR LIGHT wired up for the alternator to charge!

Gormless indeed

This weekends adventures... 1.5 weeks till the race and we are indeed GORMLESS!!!!!!!!!!

The alternator was not charging the battery at all, thereby causing sadness where the joy of ignition should reside.

Took apart the alternator (the only way to see which of the four alts used that year is on the inside cover. Cheeky Brits.) and found a disconnected connection between the first circuit board and the second. Lucas Was Here!

I will do some gymnastic-surgery and repair it, however the question is now: should I scrounge a junkyard alt, order the circut board part, or just buy a new alt for it?? If this connection failed, the others will not be far behind. You can't tell from the pic, but there are several charred and/or melted looking wires, insulation, connections, or terminals.


As for the radiator leak, turns out is was the overflow nipple that was loose. It was a press fit.
Larry & Bob tried to solder it and clean it and solder it and weld it and clean it and solder it and melt it and braze it, all for naught. Condenses on the MGB list is that it should only leak when the radiator cap opens, and that should only be under overheating conditions, so it's not do or die. Choices for this particular mini-disaster are:

1. Use some good epoxy and try to Gerry-rig it
2. Swap the radiator with the '79 (not exact same though)
3. Take out rad, take to radiator repair shop.
4. Leave as is; Keep Calm and Carry On