MGB motor in a Nash Metropolitan? : MGB & GT Forum : The MG Experience

MGB motor in a Nash Metropolitan? #1
kylek350 Kyle Kruszewski Kildeer, Il, USA Sign in to contact 1970 Pontiac Lemans 1973 MG MGB	Topic Creator (OP) Sep 2, 2007 05:09 PM Joined 20 years ago 216 Posts

One of my friend's car club buddies has a Nash Metropolitan. He was asking me if I thought the motor from my '74 MGB parts car could be made to work in it. I did not realize until today at a car show that the Met has a BMC motor in it! In fact, by 1956 they were using (I believe) the same 1500 that came in the MGA.

Does anybody happen to know what would be involved in putting an 1800 into a car that shipped with the 1500? Are the motor mounts/position the same or might modification be required?

Thanks,
Kyle

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Re: MGB motor in a Nash Metropolitan? #2
Gerry Gerry Masterman Prairieville, LA, USA Sign in to contact	Sep 2, 2007 05:16 PM Top Contributor Joined 24 years ago 25,964 Posts

I know it has been done. I have seen pictures of Mets with both the B series engine and a B tranny. Just don't know the details

Lord, please give me patience because if you give me strength I will have to ask for bail money, too

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Re: MGB motor in a Nash Metropolitan? #3
Basil Adams About 12 miles from Sears Point, CA, USA Sign in to contact	Sep 2, 2007 05:44 PM Top Contributor Joined 17 years ago 12,290 Posts

Use the 3 main backplate and pop it in. Same process ar putting an MGB motor in an MGA. Best of luck. Basil

Basil C. Adams
1956 MGA Coupe (Show Car)
1957 MGA Roadster (Driver)
1958 MGA Coupe (Racecar)
1959 MGA Coupe (unrestored)
1960 MGA Coupe (unrestored)
1960 MGA Roadster (Driver)
MKIII Elva Courier (E1056)
1967 427 Cobra
1972 Alfa Romeo Montreal
A coupla late MGBs
1960 Austin Healy BN7
More Cars than Brains

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Re: MGB motor in a Nash Metropolitan? #4
Rod H. Amity, OR, USA Sign in to contact 1964 MG MGB 1968 MG MGB GT	Sep 2, 2007 05:50 PM Top Contributor Joined 20 years ago 32,241 Posts

I ran into a guy at a car show a couple years ago who had a Nash Metro with an MGB engine in it. It had previously been his father's car, and his father was the one who pulled the 1500 and installed the 1800. It was a 5 main engine, and IIRC he had also put the later full synchro tranny in it. It also had 70s vintage MGB seats and some other stuff from a B.

Friends talking around a fire is the history of mankind.

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Re: MGB motor in a Nash Metropolitan? #5
Rich in Vancouver Rich McKie White Rock, BC, Canada Sign in to contact 2002 MG ZT "Andy (Capp)" 2003 MG ZT "Gromit"	Sep 2, 2007 05:53 PM Joined 17 years ago 7,216 Posts

On the other hand...How fast would you want to go in a Met???

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Re: MGB motor in a Nash Metropolitan? #6
Soyokaze 72MGB Ryan Foster Waco, TX, USA Sign in to contact 1972 MG MGB "Bitty"	Sep 2, 2007 06:04 PM Joined 17 years ago 3,623 Posts

Hello,

I was wondering that the other day and was trying to find out as well. I seem to remember the Nash has the shifter on the steering collum so that would have to be engineered. Also, and OD transmission would be a real plus, especially if the later 4 syncro unit would work. If the set up were painted the proper Austin Green and a nice set of duel SU carbs and original air filter cans with Cooper decals it would look stock, but would add 45 hp to the car making it into a great runner.
I Googled the subject and several forums came up that agreed it is possible with some modifications, but no details. You might try asking on a Nash BBS.

http://www.allpar.com/cars/adopted/nash-metropolitan.html

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f1480dc

I wonder if a Rover V8 would work...

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Re: MGB motor in a Nash Metropolitan? #7
bobmunch Bob M Ontario, OR, USA Sign in to contact	Sep 2, 2007 06:10 PM Joined 24 years ago 12,897 Posts

Without some suspension work, not very fast.

Quite a number of cars in the days of BMC used the B-series engine. The B does not refer to our cars, but to the engine series itself.

A few vehicles this engine design has been placed in:

Austin (including Austin America)
MGs ~ MGA, MGB, MG Magnette,
Morris ~ Marina
Wolesley
Riley
Nash Metro
Princess
and several Commercial vehicles.

Lindsay Porter has written an Osprey Press book on the engine, History and tech specs, called BMC and Leyland B-series Engine Data.

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Re: MGB motor in a Nash Metropolitan? #8
George Herschell Webster, NY, USA Sign in to contact 1966 MG MGB	Sep 2, 2007 06:13 PM Joined 19 years ago 6,551 Posts

If for any reason anyone wants to put an automatic transmission in a B the Marina gearbox fits very nicely. A friend did one for his wife in a B and it worked out quite well.
No I 'm not advocating it just making the comment that if for any reason . . . . . . . . . it can be done.

George Herschell

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Re: MGB motor in a Nash Metropolitan? #9
mowog1 Rick Ingram Saint Joseph, IL, USA Sign in to contact 1952 MG TD "Nigel" 1969 MG MGC "Vicky" 1972 MG MGB "Mallard" 1974 MG MGB GT V8 Conversion "The V8" & more	Sep 2, 2007 06:22 PM Top Contributor Joined 19 years ago 28,203 Posts

Rich in Vancouver Wrote:

Quote: On the other hand...How fast would you want to go in a Met???

At least to the "spin cycle".....ala Maytag!

smiling smiley

1952 MGTD - 1969 MGC - 1972 MGB - 1974&1/2 MGB/GT V8 conversion - 1978 MGB

mowog1@aol.com

Pieces Of Eight: Struts For Your MG www.mgstruts.com

Pieces of Eight! has provided gas-charged bonnet & bootlid strut kits for the MGB/MGC and hatch kits for the MGB/GT-MGC/GT since 1996. We have recently added MG Midget bonnet and bootlid kits to inventory. Contact Rick at: mowog1@aol.com

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Re: MGB motor in a Nash Metropolitan? #10
mowog1 Rick Ingram Saint Joseph, IL, USA Sign in to contact 1952 MG TD "Nigel" 1969 MG MGC "Vicky" 1972 MG MGB "Mallard" 1974 MG MGB GT V8 Conversion "The V8" & more	Sep 2, 2007 06:24 PM Top Contributor Joined 19 years ago 28,203 Posts

George Herschell Wrote:

Quote: If for any reason anyone wants to put an automatic transmission in a B the Marina gearbox fits very nicely. A friend did one for his wife in a B and it worked out quite well.
No I 'm not advocating it just making the comment that if for any reason . . . . . . . . . it can be done.
George Herschell

The Marina most likely used the BW35...the optional transmission available in both the MGB and the MGC. (My '69 MGC has this transmission). I had a roomate at college in Michigan in 1973 who had an MGB/GT with an automatic transmission.

The BW35 makes these cars somewhat of a pig.....but GREAT out on the road!

1952 MGTD - 1969 MGC - 1972 MGB - 1974&1/2 MGB/GT V8 conversion - 1978 MGB

mowog1@aol.com

Pieces Of Eight: Struts For Your MG www.mgstruts.com

Pieces of Eight! has provided gas-charged bonnet & bootlid strut kits for the MGB/MGC and hatch kits for the MGB/GT-MGC/GT since 1996. We have recently added MG Midget bonnet and bootlid kits to inventory. Contact Rick at: mowog1@aol.com

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Re: MGB motor in a Nash Metropolitan? #11
Gary E Gary Edwards Kernersville, NC, USA Sign in to contact 1962 MG MGA MkII	Sep 2, 2007 09:35 PM Top Contributor Joined 17 years ago 16,308 Posts

Did the early Volvo's have this engine also.. I had a 444 in the early 60's that I think had a B18. It was a great little car except for the single 6v battery..
Gary

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Re: MGB motor in a Nash Metropolitan? #12
B-racer Jeff Schlemmer Shakopee, MN, USA Sign in to contact 1950 Willys Jeep Pickup "Ratrod" 1964 Land Rover Series IIA 1971 MG MGB	Sep 3, 2007 07:31 AM Top Contributor Joined 17 years ago 20,038 Posts

Gary, different engine!

Yes, the A-series in the Nash Metro is a relatively easy swap! You can make pretty good power with the original engine though! Its not much different than building a faster B series!

jeff@advanceddistributors.com

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Re: MGB motor in a Nash Metropolitan? #13
Simon Simon Clowes Vancouver, WA, USA Sign in to contact 2007 Saturn Vue "Vue With The Room"	Sep 3, 2007 10:00 AM Joined 25 years ago 8,848 Posts

Wasnt the MGB named a B after the engine series?? Sameway the A was named for teh engine it had??

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Re: MGB motor in a Nash Metropolitan? #14
lbcnut James Woolf Nevada City, CA, USA Sign in to contact 1964 MG MGB	Sep 3, 2007 10:29 AM Top Contributor Joined 19 years ago 6,139 Posts

Simon Wrote:

Quote: Wasnt the MGB named a B after the engine series?? Sameway the A was named for teh engine it had??

Yup, exactly! Except the MGA uses the B series too. grinning smiley

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Re: MGB motor in a Nash Metropolitan? #15
1979LBC Bob Stonestreet Mid-Michigan, USA Sign in to contact 1979 MG MGB "Baby"	Sep 3, 2007 10:31 AM Joined 20 years ago 1,172 Posts

Didn't the Crosley have an MGA engine in it?

Bob

The grass is greener on the other side, but the grass on the other side still has to be cut.
-Scott M. Flones

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