MGA

[toad_oftoadhall]

I saw an MGA at a car show on Sat.

It had a single cam engine.

I thought the MGA had a twin cam and the later MGB had a single cam.

Can anyone end my confusion?

[MR2Mike]

The MGa was originaly fitted with a 1489cc version of the B series engine. The twin cam was fitted from around 1958. However, it had some significant reliability issues and many cars were retro-fitted with the OHV engine (by dealers).

[RichB]

Ummm... Well the MGA of which 100,000 were sold used a 1489 and 1590 cc engine in three series of car known as the MGA, MGA1600 and MGA1600MKII - there was also a MGA TWIN CAM of which around 2100 were made and 75% were exported so only 500 remained in the UK. The MGA Twin Cam engine was not unreliable but like all high pefrformance engines needed to be well maintained, it also had a tendebcy to drip oil. Towards the end of the MGA production run - when the MGB was close to release in the 1961/1962 MG's fitted pushrod engines to the remaining MGA TWIN CAM chassis to use up stock, there were known as MGA 1600 Delux and had discs al round.

The MGA Twin Cam engine was used to power EX181 to 256 mph. driven by racing driver Phil Hill to take the 1600cc world land-speed record, a record it still holds!

Regards Rich...

[MR2Mike]

RichB said:

The MGA Twin Cam engine was not unreliable but like all high pefrformance engines needed to be well maintained, it also had a tendebcy to drip oil

It *was* unreliable at the time, hence the dealers were instructed to pacify the unhappy customers by fitting brand new 1600 OHV's. I went to an MGOC meeting where one of the guys involved with the project gave it's full history. The engines were very fussy to set up properly and had a tendency to burn pistons (caused by a weak mixture through fuel foaming). They can be made reliable, but they certainly weren't back then.