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MG MGA - Engine Rear Engine Plate Possibly Needed

Hi all,

Well, after an alarming loss of oil from the rear of my engine, I have decided to fit a viton seal as outlined at Barney Gaylords site. One of the things I need to do is machine the rear plate to accept the modified seal.

The problem is that no machine shop here wants to touch it. Hey, it's only enlarging a hole but oh well.

I have a shop back home making me some slip rings for the conversion, and I know he can/will machine the plate for me for a nominal fee. Time is an issue here so my plan was to aquire an old rear plate, send it directly to the machine shop, have it machined then sent to me.

If I used the one currently on the car I would be out of a car for at least a month, and the shipping from here to the shop, the machining, then the shipping back here would not make much sense.

Does anyone have an old rear engine plate that is not being used that can be put to good use for a reasonable amount?

Thank you.

Tom
Tom Baker

Tom,
Why are the folks in Japan balking? Do they need a blueprint? I did my own in our model shop. It's as simple a machine job as it gets. One must only take care to insure that the enlarged bore is concentric eith the original through hole. I have the original macking plate from my 1800 conversion which I can accurately measure with micrometers ofer a telescoping bore gage for the seal bore dimension if it'll help.
BOL,
Doug
D Sjostrom

Hi Doug,

They balk because it's different. That's not to say that I can't get it done, there are British specialty shops here, but my friends engine is quoted at, and I am not making this up, over $4000 for a stock rebuild. Of course we don't know what is exactly wrong, but it just seemed tired to me. Another friends Bugeye Sprite needed a rebuild ( or so he thought) and it ended up being just a cracked head. A mere $2500 later and he was on the road.

What did you use to cut the hole? A die grinder? Your message has inspired me a bit. Perhaps I can try to do it myself. I am just a bit sceptical that I can keep to bore cocentric! Perhaps a wood mockup?

Your measurements surely would help.

Thaks,

Tom
Tom Baker

Tom,
It isn't a hand tool job. It needs to be accurately mounted in a rotary table and carefully milled to dimension. It may also be done on a lathe large enough to swing the entire plate. I'll measure and post the exact dimension og the seal bore in my left over 1800 MGB rear plate.
Regards,
Doug
D Sjostrom

You might want to contact Peter Gamble in England who already has the plates made up. You just need to tell him what engine and trans you have. It may be cheaper to buy it and have it shipped in your situation. His company is Hi-Gear that does the 5 speed trans conversion.You should be able to get his name from the archives. Hope this helps as an idea.
Jeff Becker

Tom,
This is Peter Gamble's Company web address.

http://www.hi-gearengineering.co.uk/frames.htm

Regards,
Doug
D Sjostrom

Tom
I have a plate a for you check your email.
Gary
Gary Krukoski

Tom,
The diameter of the bore for the MGB Rear Main Seal is 4.125 inches.
Regards,
Doug
D Sjostrom

He's not talking abour a MGB 5-main engine. He has a 3-main which he wants to adapt a conversion rubber seal.
Barney Gaylord

Barney is correct. My mistake for not clarifying that point. Sorry everyone.

I am in the works with a machine shop here to modify the plate. I think the magical addition was to have the hole modified to 11.02mm instead of 4.92 in. The cost will be around $100. We'll see if that happens or if I am getting the runaround. Steep for sure but what can you do, my engine is worth more.

Barney, I sent you an e-mail offline. Did you happen to see it? Just looking for a bit of advice. The seal seems to be around $60. Wow! Again, better than an engine.

Gary, we'll be in touch. I'll let you know one way or the other.

The saga continues.....
Tom Baker

Sorry Tom, but no message received.
Barney Gaylord

Thanks for the update, Barney. I will drop you another line soon.
Tom Baker

Correction, I mentioned 4.92in as the modified rear plate center hole when the correct measurement should be 4.34in. the 11.02mm is correct, though!

Tom Baker

This thread was discussed between 21/02/2006 and 23/02/2006

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This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.