Moss Motors, Ltd

I am contemplating an engine rebuild for my 1973 MGB (Noth American Spec). The engine serial number is "18GH - RWE - H38831". According to my limited research the motor ssems to be a 1969 (18GH) high compression unit (H) which originally came with O/D (RWE). I have owned the car (non O/D) since 1983 so somewhere in it's early history it appears to have had an engine transplant. Anyone who can confirm this would be appreciated.

Thanks

Consider it confirmed. The engine in a 1973 (NA) would have been an 18V low compression unit. Your best bet would be to tear the engine down before ordering replacement parts, just to make sure of what is inside of it. The early engine would have slant cut connecting rods, high compression (slight depression on top) pistons and a twin row timing gear set. The two engines are externally interchangable for your application so unless you are a stickler for "correctness" (gad's I hope not) then the existing engine is a good basis for a rebuild. The 18V motor was a bit cheaper and the updates not something you would want to retrofit to the earlier engine.

Hope this helps 

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Kelvin Dodd
Global Sourcing Engineer
Moss Motors, Ltd.
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Thanks Kelvin. Most helpful. Your suggestion to wait until the engine is out and disassembled before ordering parts is most sensible.