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MG MGB Technical - Engine Number

I am just building another engine with a strange number.

18S-V847- H645

On a proper reverse stamped plate.

Any ideas??

Colin
Colin Parkinson

That's interesting-
When I first saw it I thought maybe an i800S engine but the rest of the numbers don't tally up for that

18V847H***---would normally be
1800cc
Vertical-inline(rear wheel drive)
847----Alternator
Pre-engaged starter motor
Meets 75(non US)emission requirements
Centre gearchange
H-high compression

The S in your number---maybe a service engine-??

Just out of interest, does it have dish type or cup type welsch plugs, it appears that some, or more service engines had the welsch plug holes machined right through with cup type plugs fitted

Cheers
willy
William Revit

Clausager writes that a number of 18S engines have been found in very early North American cars and BMC records indicate they were 'general service replacement' engines, a theory being they were used after problems with pistons.

He also mentions one later UK 'mystery' engine that was 18SV followed by the normal numbers and letters for that era, but offers no more info.

Someone on the MGOC forum mentioned an 18GS engine in his 1971 car.

My Gold Seal engine has cup-type core plugs, Peter Burgess has said that it was normal to fit those in place of he dished type. I had to replace one and I'm pretty sure it was only bored deep enough to be flush with the outer surface, as the rest are, however others show them going deeper, and one still has dished.
paulh4

Hi Willy, it has dish type core plugs.

Paul not sure where the engine came from, so may have come back from the US.

It is an 18V type engine.

Colin
Colin Parkinson

How long have you owned the car? It may be the one Clausuager is referring to, or you may have found another one!

The 18S engines Clausager mentions would have been early 18G and presumably would have got to America from the UK in the first place. They would need stocks of spares rather than waiting for a replacement to be shipped out from the UK. If the same piston problems were discovered in the UK I can imagine a replacement would have been plucked out of the store of ones waiting to go into new cars, we wouldn't need a separate stock of engines with special numbers here.

paulh4

Paul, it didnt come in a car, came in a job lot!
Colin Parkinson

Yeah, it's not a US motor as it doesn't have a US emissions number


18V847H***---would normally be
1800cc
Vertical-inline(rear wheel drive)
847----Alternator
Pre-engaged starter motor
Meets 75(non US)emission requirements
Centre gearchange
H-high compression
William Revit

18v847 was used for all RB production for UK and RHD export.
paulh4

This thread was discussed between 17/08/2022 and 22/08/2022

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