Journal Entry

Well the last three weekends have seen dramatic progress for my engine swap project. The original engine in the car was making a rod knock so loud it was actually frightening. After pulling the motor all the signs were there that this engine has had many miles put on it in its lifetime. The throw out bearing was worn down below the outer collar, the ring gear was worn farther than I have ever seen, and the inside of the engine has the type of smell that makes me think the DPO ran the car on the same 4 quarts of oil for the entire time he owned it. Way past time for a new engine. Fortunately for me a member of “the experience” was kind enough to sell me his lightly used 1950cc motor which was professionally rebuilt and blueprinted in England.

The weekend of 7/21 began with the removal of the old engine and all of the associated labeling of parts etc. After pulling the old motor from the car, I began to prep the “new to me” motor for installation. The motor swap, from a ’74 to a ’76 required removing the timing gear and switching the front engine plate, to accommodate the RB engine mounting points. Once the plate was on and the engine buttoned up it was back on the hoist and into the car. While getting the engine back in and aligned with the transmission main shaft went relatively quickly, there were a few stubborn bolts that refused to line up, ruining my plan to have the whole thing swapped out in one weekend.
Despite the setbacks it still amazes me after all these years how simple these engines are to remove (simple not easy). So few parts have to come off, and if you label all the wires and connections with little white paper tags, you can do nearly all of the process without even using your shop manual. The catch is of course that some of the relatively few things you need to do can take an extraordinarily long time. Especially if you have forgotten how you did it the last time. Fortunately for me, even after a 7 year absence from the world of MGs some part of my brain retained the information I had accumulated by owning and driving dozens of MGs from high school through college. Turns out you just have to re-awaken that dormant MGneering part of your brain and you will be surprised what you remember. Unfortunately for me, I have been remembering the easy way to do everything just as I finish doing it the hard way.

The weekend of 7/28 Involved reconnecting all of the ancillaries. More of a half weekend really, but still time enough to get the manifold and carb on, starter motor in and all of the wiring and plumbing hooked up. So tempting to try to start her on Sunday night, but that’s where wisdom says wait. I could just see how it would go, getting late, I’m tired, it’s dark outside and not much better in the garage…Feels like the type of situation where you try to start the car with no oil in it, or lean over and knock something down into the Weber. No sir, it has taken me years of making those stupid mistakes to be wise enough to pull myself away and come back fresh next weekend.

Finally this past weekend 8/4 saw the engine back in the car, all hooked up, and ready to go. Day one was spent flushing and changing fluids, and a few hours spent switching the chrome bumper distributor on the engine for the electronic ignition unit that went with the car. Leaving day two for the fun part. After building up about 50lbs of oil pressure with the starter, and installing the new plugs, “Ruby” gave one quick cough and began to hum steadily with a new 1950cc motor under her bonnet. Hearing that wonderful little MG rumble again after so many years is still a potent drug, making me immediately forget about the my sore back and all of my busted knuckles, and want to throw the top down and take her out for a drive.
While a full timing adjustment and carb tune is scheduled for next weekend, the memory of that wonderful sound will easily keep me going through the week until I can get back out in the garage and get a little dirty again.