Engine Identification 1964 Midget

I just bought a 1964 MG Midget, had one back in '75. I got this one cheap and expect to be doing a lot of restoration, but the parts I ordered for the 1098 cc motor do not fit. This motor has no ID numbers - the plate on the block is missing (by #1 plug) My old car had a 4 speed - this is a 5, and the shifter seems long. Valve cover says Morris, has a spin on oil filter, Generator was shimmed to fit, coolant connections are Rube Goldberg. The linkage for the SU's isn't working right. I think what I got is a motor swap. How can I identify this motor for starters?

Welcome.. I'm to new to be of any help:S, but some pic's may be helpful.(:D

Or just keep buying parts until you find the ones that fit, LOL (that's not funny)

We all love pic's

Paul

A Datsun 210 5 speed is an easy and popular adaption on a Spridget. So is adapting a spin on oil filter. The most obvious difference between a 1098 and a later 1275 engine would be the tappet covers on the side of the block. Look under the carbs on the left side. If there are two acces plates bolted to the engine, it could be a 948 or 1098. If not it is possibly a 1275 or something else such as a Datsun engine. Posting pictures would really help.

I love that picture of the blond!
Anyway, closer examination reveals that the opening in the transmission hump had to be enlarged to fit the shifter location, and then I discovered the adaptor plate matching the trans to the engine, including cut outs for the starter in the bell housing, etc. Couldn't find any identifying marks on the trans, but I need to get it jacked up off the ground for that.
I looked under the carbs and saw a cover bolted to the side of the engine, and the spin-on oil filter housing does not look like original equipment.
This is a 1964, so it should be a 1098cc motor - but the cap and rotor don't match. I don't remember my other '64 having "Morris" on the valve cover.

If the cap & rotor don't match, someone may have replaced the original distributor with a different one.

My 1500 had a points style distributor instead of the original electronic unit when I bought it last year & being a Lucas novice at the time, I had problems too, until I was able to identify the distributor.

Just a thought...

Without an engine number it's impossible to tell which earlier "A" series you have, but with a "Morris" valve cover it's possible the engine came out of a Morris Minor 1000. So it could be a 948, or a 1098 as they both have bolt on tappet covers on the left side of the engine, and non spin on oil filters which are easily converted to spin on. . It is NOT a 1275. Dizzy's are easily changed out, and 25D or 45D are interchangeable though they look different. That said, it could have just inherited the valve cover from a Morris Minor and everything else is more or less standard.
The gearbox is almost certainly NOT the popular Datsun transplant, as the shifter on it comes up through the stock hole. If the tunnel has been modified for it to fit, it is likely a Ford unit or possibly a Toyota. I'm guessing probably Toyota.

It looks like it has been fiddled with, may be a Morris transplant, or has a morris valve cover on it. They both used A series engines and looked the same - with the exception of tags, and in many cases-Carbs and manifolds. The distributor looks right. It looks like a standard 1098 side entry cap. The Datsun tranny transplant requires an adapter kit, and alterations to the bell housing for the starter, but there shouldnt be any reason to cut the tunnel. That sounds iffy... There is a lot of strange plumbing there too. It looks like a typical 46 year old with a lot of previous owner "modifications"......
Mine is pretty correct and there are some on here that are perfectly correct - here's a pic for comparison.

There should be another metal tag on the left side of the block, just in front of the mechanical fuel pump opening, giving the engine capacity.
"1100" with the fuelpump mounting point opened up (two mounting studs for the pump) is a 10CG engine.
"1100" with a closed fuelpump mounting and one stud is a later wide bearing 10CC block.
Hope this helps...

Nick.

Well, I guess I'll learn as I go.
Took apart the rear brakes to get started. Need shoes, cylinders, some wheel studs and lug nuts, and the O-rings and seals - probably do the bearings too.
Looks like the bushings in the trailing arms for the rear are bad too.
I'm using Victoria for parts so far - tried Englishparts too - any suggestions for good sources of parts?

Thanks - that picture is priceless. Hope my engine compartment looks half that good one day.
I thought the intake manifold looked different on mine - yours is what I remembered.
Here's a question for you - the linkage that connects the carb throttle plates, should that be loose allowing the carbs to open differently - I think no, and that means I have a lot of work to do on the carbs and linkage. I see the shut-off valve for the heat - I'll call a plumber the solder one into mine.

So, that kind of a retro-fit would entail modifying the driveshaft too right?
After I get the brakes done, I think I'll remove the driveshaft, open the rear to check it out and take a close look at the shaft.
Working my way towards the front of the car.

"Here's a question for you - the linkage that connects the carb throttle plates, should that be loose allowing the carbs to open differently - I think no, and that means I have a lot of work to do on the carbs and linkage. I see the shut-off valve for the heat - I'll call a plumber the solder one into mine."


The throttle shafts should be opening together. Once everything is adjusted to where the carbs are in sync, the bolts should be thghtened to where the shaft acts as one unit.

depending on the transmission used, the length may have been altered, or at least the front yoke changed to fit the output shaft of the transplanted tranny.

A 1098 equipped car should have the intake manifold without any vacuum ports in it. Yours does look like it came from a later one, probably a 1275.

Hey thanks again. Looks like I have a real Mutt here. That's OK though, I'll make her run and look good, no rush.

MOWOG /077 12A
3 497

These are the numbers cast into the block under the carbs.
So far, the motor, the transmission, the oil filter mounting, the distributer, the exhaust manifold, the fuel pump - all are patched together into this car.
Oh yeah, - the radio says Triumph.
One more close look from underneath for identifiers on the motor and trans, then I start posting photos of parts.