I've got one of these spitfire-engined MG Midgets (well, OK, it's really
my wifes, I just tinker with it), and it's got one of those 1500cc Triumph
engines in it. I've got the usual problem with the weak bottom ("your big end's
going" - clunk clunk clunk etc.) which I believe one day is going to leave me
with an engine replace or rebuild job. (Though it has been 'going' for the last
three years since we bought it and auto-testing it hasn't blown it up yet).
Anyway, I've been considering installing an alternative engine application.
Everyone says replace the 1500cc job for an old tuned A series engine. Well,
I used to have a nice MG Metro Turbo (Brit compact saloon) with a 1300 A series
in it which was de-tuned to (only) 93BHP which flew quite nicely, but lagged
badly due to the big turbo, and was tempremental on hot days. I've seen a
couple
of these installed in Midgets in this country - very tasty.
But having a nice meaty (but very civilised) 2 litre twin cam 16 valve fuel
injected engine in my present sporty Rover GTi has made me wish for something
a bit more technological in the Midget. Rover currently have a nice 1400cc twin
cam 16v fuel injected engine called the K Series, which with a bit of
imagination
(and a lot of fabrication, wielding, reprogramming of ECU) would just fit under
the bonnet. 105 bhp with a catalyst in standard tune, very civilised etc. and
still British.
Anyone out there actually replaced the engine in their LBC with something 'non-
standard' and lived to tell the tale? Of course all that power would make the
plastic padding fall out....
--
-----------------------------------------------------------
Richard Olearczyk (ollie) | RCP Ltd.,
| Dales, High Street,
| Didcot, Oxfordshire,
| OX11 8EQ, ENGLAND
|