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MG MGA - Engine Number

Can anyone help me to identify an engine I have recently acquired for spare parts to build a new engine for my 1959 MGA? It is a 'B' series 3 bearing engine, allegedly a new 'short' motor and fitted with low compression pistons and painted in the normal khaki green. It has '1622' cast on the block and has a 6 bolt crank with a starter handle adaptor. It's number, stamped on a plate in the normal way is:-
16P-A-L 117. I have looked up all the references I have and the 'P' is a real puzzle
Geoff McGladdery

I have never come across any numbering like that. Makes me wonder if it was supplied as 'spares support' to the military. The RAF certainly ran a number of BMC vehicles with the B-Series engine and I suspect the Army did likewise. The military would keep their coding simple, so the P could have stood for Petrol. The colour would certainly be in keeping!

Steve
Steve Gyles

Hi, before you go any further, has the block the hole for the rev counter drive ? B series 1622 were painted green as fitted in A60's etc
Terry Drinkwater

I looked at Neil Cairn's excellent book on the B series engine - nothing. He's still the most likely source to tell you what it is.
dominic clancy

I have contacted Neil Cairns and he is also baffled by the 'P'. He suggests that it is one of a limited series, probably for a small company who used BMC engines. The military connection could be a possibility as the section on engine numbers at the front of the MGA workshop manual seems to suggest that the 'P' may stand for 1/2 ton truck
Geoff McGladdery

Nash metropolitians had green B series engines.
w.g cook

The only reference I've found is in Neil Csirn's listing of BMC Numbering Codes where the "Ancillary P" designates "Police" and the A & L would be Automatic and Low Compression respectively.
FWIW,
Doug
D Sjostrom

This thread was discussed between 24/04/2005 and 25/04/2005

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