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MG MGB Technical - Triumph slant four

You remember the old Triumph slant four?

The 8 valver that was used in the TR7, and the 16 valver in the Dolly Sprint. The engine that SAAB used up until the early to mid Nineties.

Did anyone ever stick one in the B?

JH Gillson

The one with the cross-angled head studs that meant you can't remove the head when they rust into the block? I've never seen a B with that motor in.

You could be the first :o)
--
Olly
Oliver Stephenson

Those engines are total crap. The only thing worse is a Stag engine 'cause it has TWO of those stupid, stupid heads.
David
David

I would have to agree with David, they gave a "lot" of trouble. Denis
DENIS

Cut my teeth tuning SU Carbs on an 1850 Dolly back in the 70's tghe rest of the guys are right the engine is best avoided but keep the carbs!
C J Bryan

http://www.dodgyroger.com/cars/#MGs

This man did one...

The engine is not awful. As a Dolomite Sprint owner, I have come to appreciate the benefits of getting to 60 in 2/3rds of the time it takes an MGB. Cruising at 100mph at 4500 is also nice.

You 'B guys are spoiled for reliability with the B series engine. Properly cared for (oil changes and proper coolant) the Triumph slant 4 OHC engine should last just fine. Mine has 96,000 on the original and unrebuilt engine, and it is still better on oil than most MGs I have driven. Granted it needs more regular attention than the B-series, but most people here wouldn't go for tens of thousands of miles between oil and coolant changes anyway.

The engine offers much better driveability (smoother torque curve) 35mpg on a run, and 150bhp is possible from the standard 16 valve lump, without any modifications, other than carb fettling and ignition fiddling.

It's also lighter and lower than a B-series.

It can also be mated to the LT-77 with no difficulty (5 speed as fitted to the TR7)
Dave Pothecary

hello JH Gillson,


Fantastic hazard, today we imagined, a friend and I to put one of them in a B to get more fun! As far as I can remind, this 16 valved engine won all tourists class
races 1978, even fighting against BMW320 and 323 ! But that is dating back to 20th century... a long time ago.
Please keep us informed if you go that way.
Best regards .
Renou

'tis a good and efficient design and Saab MODIFIED it big time to create their B Type 2.0L engine which was/is indestructable...BUT those cylinder head studs are an absolute bear to get out and overheat this engine ONCE...and you are done...BUT...great gas milage and the 16 valve was clever in using 1 camshaft and efficient once again. If you get a good 1709 or 1854cc 8 valve into a B I'd like to see pics...
P J KELLY

These engines did go well but gave trouble from new. I think you would get good performance but it would not be the best motor of choice and would cost just as much to do. Denis
DENIS

But it does have a certain pedigree. Don't forget that The Factory did just the same to the midget in 1974.

Mike
Mike Standring

Yes and that was a crap engine as well.
Iain MacKintosh

LOL
P J KELLY

This thread was discussed between 04/07/2004 and 06/07/2004

MG MGB Technical index

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