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MG MGA - MGA / MGB (3 brg) crankshaft differences

What are all the differences between the various 3 brg MGA/MGB crankshafts (1500, 1600, 1622, Twin Cam and 18G, 18GA engines)?
What is interchangeable or needs modification to use?
What about other users of the B series engine like Wolseley, etc?
Does http://www.mgaguru.com/mgtech/engine/cs110.htm cover everything?
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

Mike - You need to get Neil Cairns booklet Engines for MGs, Their Story after 1935. This book covers the XPAG (TD and TFs), BMC A series and BMC B series. It used to be carried by BritBooks, but you may have to go to a used book web site to find it (or contact Neil Cairns directly at neil.cairns@virgin.net Cheers - Dave
D W DuBois

Thanks David,
I found a copy on my old computer back up. I will peruse.
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

My PO substituted an Austin A60 engine, presumably he wrecked the original.
Its a 1622. Crank was perfect, just put new shells in. Changed the cam for std. MGA.
But no mechanical tach of course.
Art Pearse

on 3 bearing engines it is easy to drill the block for the mechanical tacho, removing the backplate gives access to be able to fit the gear, which is such a tight fit that you normally don't need to fix it in place other than with the interference onto the camshaft. AFAIK the 1622 and 3 bearing 1800 cranks are the same.
dominic clancy

Basically, the 1500/1600 cranks are weak, but gives decent service in normal street driving. In racing it is often another story.

The 1622 crank is much improved with thicker cheeks and it stands up to more punishment.

The Twin Cam used a different crank (you need the long nose to fit the additional cam and distributor drives at the front) and was also reputed to be made of stronger material although I haven't seen verification of that.

The 3 main MGB uses larger diameter mains but the same rod throws and is best of all in terms of durability.

Bill Spohn

This thread was discussed on 17/09/2014

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