Last time I looked the 1500 had 3 main bearings. As to the cam, it actually
has 4 bearing surfaces as opposed to the "A" series which only had 3. The
lack of cam bearings generally didn't pose a problem. The weakness of the
1500 had more to do with the insufficient crankshaft thrust washers. Those
who liked to keep their foot on the clutch at stoplights eventually found
the little buggers sitting at the bottom of the oil pan while the crank
chewed up the block in an expensive way.
As to tuning, the long stroke of the 1500 and the weak material of the crank
made it difficult to make more than minor performance modifications without
putting the whole package at risk.
Tom Speed
Retired MG Racer
'76 MG Midget (Project car for my son)
Charlotte, North Carolina
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-mgs@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-mgs@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of
Max Heim
Sent: Friday, January 07, 2000 7:41 PM
To: MG List
Subject: Re: Midgets and Sprites
>The later 1500cc engine has a little more HP
>(in original spec.) but the A series engine is preferred because it seems
to
>be a tighter or crisper engine.
>
Not only that, but the (originally Triumph) 1500 has only 2 main bearings
and no cam bearings (hard to believe, eh? what were they thinking?), so
is not at all recommended for serious tweaking. Cheaper to rebuild,
though, one would think... (which is good, as it probably requires it
frequently -- at least the only one I know personally did).
--
Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the red one with the silver bootlid.
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