The basic question is, can I swap a 1976 MG Midget engine into a 1978
Triumph Spitfire? To make matters worse I'm in California with all the
smog requirements, fortunately both cars are already California cars
from the factory.

The longer story is a did a very clean rebuild of the MG engine (about
$2,500) then ran into smog pump problems and sort of lost interest in
the car. Body is a bit worn and the interior trashed anyway.

Just picked up the Spitfire which has a decent body and mediocre engine.


I would love to see that engine run that I worked over, if it fits the
Triumph that would be great.

An alternative is to complete the MG and get what I can sell it for.
I'm too tall for the MG but fit the Triumph so the MG has to go.

Thanks in advance for comments/opinions.

Rick

Rick wrote in message
...
The basic question is, can I swap a 1976 MG Midget engine into a 1978
Triumph Spitfire? To make matters worse I'm in California with all the
smog requirements, fortunately both cars are already California cars
from the factory.

Hi Rick,
I can't pretend to be an expert on the US spec engines, but the engine
in the UK versions is essentially the same between the two cars. The Midget
was modifed to take the Triumph 1500 engine from around 1975 as that engine
had already been modifed to meet US emissions standards. As such, I would
expect most of the plumbing to be similar - the basic engines should be
identical by year, though there may be slight anomalies because of changes
made between 1976 and 1978.
Hope that helps,
Cheers,
Bill.

--
Rarebits4classics
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PO Box 1232
Calne
Wiltshire
SN11 8WA
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http://www.rarebits4classics.co.uk

Rick wrote in message
...
The basic question is, can I swap a 1976 MG Midget engine into a 1978
Triumph Spitfire? To make matters worse I'm in California with all the
smog requirements, fortunately both cars are already California cars
from the factory.

The short answer is yes. On UK cars the only difference AFAIK is the exhaust
manifold (header to you). The engine mountings may be different but they
should just bolt on. Not too sure about all the emmissions crap you get in
Cali...but hey you can always move states...Engine and box are the
same....maybe just valve and cam diffrences oh and they have different makes
of clutch slave too but they are interchangeable.
Jonners