22 replies to this topic

[Juju]

Hi Guys,

I may be going to see a slightly suspicious GT which lives just around the corner from me.

It has no documentation, and I'm not yet sure whether the owner can apply for log book/V5 replacement.

Mike at W&P has told me you can ID a genuine GT by its 11 stud head/block thingie, and there are chest plates near the manifold at the back of the block.

Does anybody have any pics that would help me out a bit, please?

Thankies,

Joooooooooooliet.

Edited by Juju, 06 February 2008 - 04:06 PM.

[dklawson]

You really need to do more than an outside exam to be sure. The 11 stud head can be added later so it's not necessarily an indication. You shouldn't need a picture... there will be an extra stud/nut at each end of the rocker cover. One will be near the thermostat housing, the other at the opposite (clutch) end of the engine.

I don't have a picture of the back of an A-series block. However, here's a snap of the back of a similar B-series block.
http://www.mgcars.or...mgbcrank_03.jpg
The red part the guy is taking off with the spanner is similar to what's on the A-series... except the A-series cover is flatter.

The early 1275 engines also had tags on them near the bottom of the block, below the tappet cover shown above. The tag would indicate the displacement.

[Juju]

You really need to do more than an outside exam to be sure. The 11 stud head can be added later so it's not necessarily an indication. You shouldn't need a picture... there will be an extra stud/nut at each end of the rocker cover. One will be near the thermostat housing, the other at the opposite (clutch) end of the engine.

I don't have a picture of the back of an A-series block. However, here's a snap of the back of a similar B-series block.
http://www.mgcars.or...mgbcrank_03.jpg
The red part the guy is taking off with the spanner is similar to what's on the A-series... except the A-series cover is flatter.

The early 1275 engines also had tags on them near the bottom of the block, below the tappet cover shown above. The tag would indicate the displacement.

Cheers Doug! It's making sense now.............

[Guess-Works.com]

Point 1...

The GT NEVER had an 11 Stud head as standard

It was only the Austin 1300GT (and similar AD016 varients) and the Cooper S which ever had an 11 stud head...

Point 2

The GT is a solid walled block, does not have tappet chests, the Cooper S was the only big bore engine with Tappet Chests...

Point 3

If fact, @ GT externally looks like any other A series big bore motor ( even if it came out of an allegro ), and to be honest is not that different internally either... I'm not even sure the GT had double springs. But it did have duplex chain, not like you're going to see that from the outside...

if it's actually an A series bock then you at least have a chance that it's original.... if it's A+ then forget it...

[Jammy]

I don't know if there is anything in the engine number (on the block behind/above the alternator), that says is a true GT, but it might be a good idea to record it and tell us?

[Juju]

I don't know if there is anything in the engine number (on the block behind/above the alternator), that says is a true GT, but it might be a good idea to record it and tell us?

I will see what I can find.
Thanks to Guessworks I am now thoroughly confused.
I spoke with the seller & he recokons he's lost the papers somewhere in his ramshackle house, but when he plugged the reg plate into the DVLA database, all the info was there, so I'm hoping he can just get another loggie & V5.

[dklawson]

Trust Guessworks.

The GT never made it over here and the things I was pointing out were indeed for the 1275 -S engine. I was unaware that the GT did NOT have the tappet chest and as I mentioned, the 11 stud head could be added to almost any 1275 at any time by anyone.

[Jupitus]

Where is this car based Juju? If it's not too far from me I wouldn't mind popping over there to have a gander for you ahead of your visit....

[Juju]

Where is this car based Juju? If it's not too far from me I wouldn't mind popping over there to have a gander for you ahead of your visit....

It's in Leatherhead, two A-Z squares away from W&P. I'm going to see it this morning before I go to the dentist, so I'll see of one on my magnificent-men-with-their-mini-machines can come with me. Ta for the offer though, Jup....



by the way - I posted this on the BMC forum, and they concur with Guessworks. I'm no longer confuzzled. Thanks guys.

[stickycreambun]

Juju...be reeeally careful with the whole 'no logbook' thing..I got badly nasty burnt by that one a few months ago. Fair enough it was my fault and I should have left it, but still. Maybe worth a HPI type check?

[mk3 Cooper S]

Point 1...

The GT NEVER had an 11 Stud head as standard

It was only the Austin 1300GT (and similar AD016 varients) and the Cooper S which ever had an 11 stud head... Riley Kestrel mk2 is another of these versions
Point 2

The GT is a solid walled block, does not have tappet chests, the Cooper S was the only big bore engine with Tappet Chests...

Point 3

If fact, @ GT externally looks like any other A series big bore motor ( even if it came out of an allegro ), and to be honest is not that different internally either... I'm not even sure the GT had double springs. But it did have duplex chain, not like you're going to see that from the outside...

if it's actually an A series bock then you at least have a chance that it's original.... if it's A+ then forget it...

A bit of an anal answer I know!!!

[Juju]

Saw it this morning.
It has been rebored to a 1380.
11 studs, solid block.
But the car looks like it has been painted by a toddler in the dark using a trowel & will require shotblasting inside & out. I can't afford 3 grand just to sort the paint job..........

[Amy]

Bummer.... you're always better off with something original even if it looks a bit untidy, at least you'll know it's History then...

Definitely sounds like you should be avoiding this one to me!

[Ethel]

I thought some GT's did have 11 studs, but none should have tappet covers and as guessworks says they're nothing special really anyway.

[Guess-Works.com]

Point 1...

The GT NEVER had an 11 Stud head as standard

It was only the Austin 1300GT (and similar AD016 varients) and the Cooper S which ever had an 11 stud head... Riley Kestrel mk2 is another of these versions
Point 2

The GT is a solid walled block, does not have tappet chests, the Cooper S was the only big bore engine with Tappet Chests...

Point 3

If fact, @ GT externally looks like any other A series big bore motor ( even if it came out of an allegro ), and to be honest is not that different internally either... I'm not even sure the GT had double springs. But it did have duplex chain, not like you're going to see that from the outside...

if it's actually an A series bock then you at least have a chance that it's original.... if it's A+ then forget it...

A bit of an anal answer I know!!!

Oi... "and similar AD016 varients"