A+ engine identification

[DavidL]

Is there a way of telling whether an A+ engine is a genuine MG one?

Can you interpret anything meaningful about an engine's origin from the engine number?

Failing that, I'd assume that the engine number would at least give you an idea of its age. If it does, I'd guess that it's not a straightforward "89" in the code to represent 1989. Can anyone throw any light on this?

Sadly, my engine (no sign of red paint on the block) is missing the engine number plaque, which seems to be all too common.

[Hans Efde]

I recall it is mentioned in the Haynes manual. Else several websites give detailed info:
http://www.calverst.com/articles/Eng-En ... n_data.htm

[Stuart]

Guessworks has an engine decoder on his website

http://www.guess-works.com/Tech/engine.htm

another list here http://www.calverst.com/articles/Eng-en ... n_data.htm

and some pointers here for engines without a number http://new.minimania.com/article/1801/M ... Power_Unit

edit. Hans beat me to it

[DavidL]

Thanks both. A lot of useful info there!

(edit) It appears that my engine block actually is an A+, despite my misgivings - no bridging plate for the alternator mount, and I think there's only one bolt on the distributor clamp. Odd that, I thought all the 1275cc A+ blocks were red, but this one also has a blue painted cylinder head. Maybe the engine builder thought the red block would clash with the blue head.