NOHOME said:Looking very nice.
Hope to do closer inspection at Bronte this Sept. I snuck the Molvo in last year with no issues.
Pete
Most shows I appear at aren't familiar with the Riley marque and I need to explain it! 
The Molvo has its place in that show. Certainly more exciting than a row of Red or Green colour MGB's.
Bruce
So is this a typical positive ground Lucas system? I've only worked on one MG and that was back in high school. That's all I remember about the car was the positive ground. It was confusing the heck out of my friend as he couldn't wrap his head around it.
brad131a4 (Forum Supporter) said:So is this a typical positive ground Lucas system? I've only worked on one MG and that was back in high school. That's all I remember about the car was the positive ground. It was confusing the heck out of my friend as he couldn't wrap his head around it.
Yup, this is an old school, 2 fuses, cloth covered wires, brass screw terminals on the switches, positive earth system.
the charging system is a dynamo/generator with external 2 bobbin control box and 17 amps output. 
the starter is inertia type
and tends to eat up the ring gear on the flywheel. I just renewed the ring gear a couple of weeks ago for this swap.
I have added supplementary circuits using in line fuses. One thing about Positive earth system is modern radios, sat nav etc. are usually negative earth so ........
I found a rather clever inverter, easy to wire in.
that allows for additional circuits, negative earth for a 12v plug, radio etc.
all the modern comforts.
Either Positive or Negative earth circuits, the electrons still run from power to the earth.
Bruce
I'd never even heard of these until this thread.
Is that a three cylinder inline motor?
Recon1342 said:I'd never even heard of these until this thread.
Is that a three cylinder inline motor?
Or a four cylinder with a siamese ports on the center two cylinders for exhaust, and for intake 1 & 2, 3 & 4?
Mezzanine said:Recon1342 said:I'd never even heard of these until this thread.
Is that a three cylinder inline motor?
Or a four cylinder with a siamese ports on the center two cylinders for exhaust, and for intake 1 & 2, 3 & 4?
Good eye! 
Yes this is a British Motor Corporation 'B' series 4 cylinder motor. These ubiquitous 50's - 70's power unit started out in 1200cc capacity and increased through many iterations to 1800cc. All used the same style cylinder head with Siamese intake ports.
This cylinder head design with heart shape combustion chamber is a Harry Weslake development,
of interest to some that enjoy motorsport history.
This is what this thread is all about, transplanting a 1500cc with a 1800 cc power unit. Lots of fluff to get through first but I am getting much closer to an engine install.
B
This larger capacity power unit transplant is relatively straight forward.
As I mentioned early on in this thread the necessary parts are of a same family and fit together remarkably well.
The engines are easy to identify.
the CC capacity cast into the cylinder block removes doubt. Cylinder heads and compression ratios differed, however an informed 'mix n match' of parts leads to improvements.
To fit this original sports car 1800 in place of the saloon car 1500 requires little head scratching. As we see in the pictures above the block is machined the same and the front engine plate is shared. This makes changing/fitting the appropriate engine mount mega easy, and a simple bolt on.
original mount LH to the desired mount RH. These mounts coupled with the rear engine plate, (LH is installed) swap ensures a fit to the body and gearbox bell housing and starter motor.
The same flywheel and clutch is used and fits together like Mom & Pop.
The front nut for crankshaft lower pulley is swapped, this uses a crank handle if one happens to leave their lamps on too long.
FWIW this should be worth the effort. As documented, the 1500 develops 68HP while the 1800 develops 95HP, with torque values improved.
moving forward ................
Bruce
I had a half day to devote to this Riley engine swap.
With the nice clean engine bay and under body and a clean gearbox I thought these should get married.
So I installed the gearbox and prop shaft.
all went in without drama. I use a length of rope with a hockey stick across the front wings to hold the weight until the engine comes along.
I am beginning to smell victory.
Bruce
I love the subtle nuance-changes between the Riley and MGB parts.
Why does the hockey stick bring flashes of "Red Green" to mind?
Pete
In reply to NOHOME :
Yes the BMC parts bin was big, deep and very wide. Lots of parts to 'mix n match' to find a proper solution.
I have not yet needed to turn to using duct tape, as we know is the handyman's secret weapon, however I do keep a roll close by.
"Keep your stick on the ice"
B
In reply to NOHOME :
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy."
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