When I bought my 71BGT, it came with what was reported to be an Austin
Marina motor. It was still the basic 18V block with a higher number - it
may have been an 807. I know it wasn't referenced anywhere either. Two key
differences that I noted - a much smaller pilot bushing opening in the
crankshaft and the single row timing chain (as opposed to the dual row in
the earliest 18V engines).
I replaced the engine several years ago with a '73 18V MGB engine. The
head, however, is still the same one that came with the block and may also
be an Austin Marina head. (the head for the 73 engine is still in my
garage). A few features that set it apart is a cooling line that comes out
of the rear of the head that I have blocked off.
If you do replace the engine at a later time, you may have to replace the
pilot shaft on the transmission so it will mate with the larger bushing in
the MGB crankshaft.
Whether your car will run on unleaded depends on the valves in the head.
Even if its the softer valves, they will still run on unleaded but will
wear at a faster rate (which will still probably be years). No big deal -
when they wear out, then you can make the modification for unleaded fuel.
If your car is a higher compression engine, you may still need an octane
boost (not necessarily lead) and you will know because your car will pink
or diesel with the lower octane fuels.
David Councill
71 BGT
67 BGT
At 11:49 AM 8/29/2000 +0300, Evangelos G. Makris wrote:
>But my engine, that's another issue. It sure is a B-Series 1798cc but,
>having an "18V 807F" prefix it sure can't be from an MGB, at least
>according to the "Original MGB" book. I'd like to know what car it comes
>from, an 1800cc Marina, a JU truck, or what? It takes less than 4 litres
>of engine oil, including the few cc in the filter!
>
>And the most important question is will it run on unleaded, as the
>Original book says that some of the "latest" B-Series engines were
>designed to use it. We might be experiencing shortage of leaded petrol
>("super 98 octane", as it's called here) in a couple of years.
>
>Don't know if the Heritage archives list engine numbers and their
>original destinations, so could anyone help me on this?
>
>Evangelos
>73 BGT
>
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