You can get original factory production info from the British Motor Industry
Heritage Trust (BMIHT) for US$40 (or 20 pounds sterling). Check out the info
at:
<http://www.team.net/sol/bmiht.html>
They cover from 1953-80, including MG TF & ZA and on, but not TC ,TD ,YA ,YT
& YB.
According to my Haynes Manual, The engine number plate (on right side of
engine) can be read as follows:
18- signifies the 1798cc engine
G- signifies MG
_- second letter signifies the type...18GA- 3-main bearing
18GB- 5-main bearing
etc through 18GH
then 18V on later cars
This group of the number has after it a second group giving the type of
gearbox.
U - Standard
RU - Overdrive
We - All Syncro
RWe - All Syncro with overdrive
Rc - Automatic
The engine prefix is followed by one letter,
H - High Compression
L - Low compression
Also Haynes mentions that for the early cars,
High compression was 8.8:1 with a pressure of 160 lbf/sq in
Low compression was 8.0:1 with a pressure of 130 lbf/sq in
Of course, this was when parts were new, and who knows what's been done to
your engine in the past 29 years!
-Andy Zuch 1979 MGB, 1961 MGA
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