HopefullySoon
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didnt they have to uprated the oil pickup and open out the water ports on the later engines to try to ease the head gasket issues .
Sorry, I jumped in a little strongly there. Thought you might have started referring to some issues when others used the K series and modified it without bothering to ask Rover for help.
It is my understanding that the early failures of head gaskets were due to a poor choice of material on the waterway seals of the head gasket, it has never been clearly identified whether Rover or the gasket manufacture choose the seal material. Add to this that nobody checked fluids like the handbook suggested and it's easy to see where it goes.
The best remedy is a new gasket installed properly.
Any repeat failure on an engine would in my view be down to poor workmanship.
The engine was designed for transverse installation and even when pushed to 200 hp territory the oil pickup is ok.
The mgb engine bay was apparently designed to take a v4 or v6 engine and it's well known the Buick V8 and it's descendants fit.
The problem with a more modern engine is getting the electrickery to work.
Looks like there are heaps of mx5 MGB engine conversions out there...the mx5 engine is also a sweet engine and I'm guessing they would be easy to source as MX5s rot like ripe pears in the sun. The MX5 is rwd too so a lot easier I would imagine to get it to fit.
hhttp://www.frontlinedevelopments.com/vehicle/mg-abingdon-edition/
Bit steep at £90k a pop but looks like they use Mazda engines & gearboxes!
It's grey too....looks fantastic!