Question for the British guys

[Rusty Marina]

Anyone on here familiar with the BMC B series 1.8 diesel ?

From my research it was commonly found in Serpa trucks/vans.

I'd like to put one in my old Marina, but they don't have them over here

[focus1.6uk]

Hi
I think the B series diesel was phased out before I was born so i dont know much about it to be honest, and i think all the sherpa vans will have been scrapped because of rust by now.

Though, according to wikipedia the diesel is still used in canal boats so the best places to look would probably be marina/ sherpa forums or search forums for canal boaters maybe.

hope this is of some help anyway



just had a look on ebay, found these
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMC-1-8-MARINE...item2a1068a215

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMC-Engine-150...item3cb7c12b38

so the engines are out there still, at least! have you considered the replacement foe the b series diesel, the perkins prima (2 litre i think)? may be suitable fit.

[Rusty Marina]

Thanks; that price is pretty cheap. Im tempted, gotta check shipping !

[Arragonis]

As Focus taps the Prima may be a better bet.

Some history - the B-series was developed into the O-series 1.7 and 2.0 OHC petrol engines used in the later Marina (not imported to the US) and the follow up Ital models. Basically the O-series is a B with moved bore centres and an OHC conversion.

Just think how lucky you were to miss the Ital, with its sophisticated italian styling update of the classic Marina...



...or maybe not.

The 2 litre O-series was used as the basis of the Perkins Prima MDi diesel unit used in the Sherpa, LDV200 and Maestro Vans and cars as well as the Montego and Maestro Turbo Diesel cars.

I had a last of the line Maestro in 1993 with the Prima turbo engine (88hp) which was faster 0-60 and had better FE than the equivalent VW Golf TDI of the time. Lovely engine. - Me earlier...



The later L-series is a development of the Prima used in the Rover cars - 90bhp and 105 bhp versions with an intercooler.

I also had a Rover 220 SDi with the 105 motor. Again, superb engine.



This may be a reasonably easy fit based on the following - this gets complicated so my apologies.

At the same time as the Diesels were developed so where the Rover Mi16 and T16 petrol engines - basically these are DOHC 16V versions of the O-series - which is in turn a B-series - the difference is the cylinder heads. The T16 is basically a Mi16 with a turbo. It was used in the Rover 'Tomcat' Coupe.



(why yes, it really is a rebadged Honda with a less reliable engine but a much better interior...)

People looking to make their Rover 200/25 go faster can do so by fitting the T16. To do this they get the subframe from a Diesel model which uses the L-series engine. The T16 bolts straight into that subframe which then fits into the car.

As the L-series is a developed Prima, which in turn is a Dieselised O-series which in turn is a development of the B-series - it may just about fit in your Marina.

Maybe

I have an MGB with a knackered engine and would like to try this but I think time and money will run out on me.

At least if you try this route you are more likely to be able to get parts, or one of these :

[robchalmers]

I used to use to drive A Maestro TD and a Motego estate TD - amazing un-killable engines, ran the maestro on used engine oil by adjusting the pump timing!

the late primas in the 220D bubbles were surprisingly smooth and refined

as for the the old B Diesel.... I only have vague memories of zero power and lots of noise while siting in the back of a sherpa holding onto my dads race engine coming up the M6

[Arragonis]

PS - had a thought, Malta.

Went there 2-3 years ago and there were literally tens of Marina Diesels there whereas I have never seen one in the UK at all. Malta is civilised so they drive on the left (so the car will be RHD), but you may find something - either a complete car or an engine/gearbox there.

Rust isn't an issue there as it is just north east of Libya in the Med - it doesn't snow or freeze so they never use salt on the roads. There is sea spray but the stock of 1950s-1990s European tin (mostly British and Italian) is massive.

Its also a decent place to source weird Japanese tin if you wish too. In Japan older cars cost more to tax so some 2-3 year old cars are imported direct to Malta including some unusual Kei cars and those Micro Vans / pickups you mentioned in the other thread.

[focus1.6uk]

Some info that might be useful to the OP, mostly from Wikipedia so may not be perfect

Perkins Prima MDI 1994cc
1990-1992 Maestro D 62 hp
1988-1994 Montego TD 81 hp/ 116 lb ft- no intercooler, EGR
1992-1994 Maestro TD 81 hp/ 4500 rpm, 116 lb ft/ 2500 rpm- no intercooler, EGR

L series TDI 1994cc 1995 onwards

Fitted in the following models in various states of tune:
1995-1999 Rover 220/ 420 D (Turbo) 86 hp/ 125 lb ft non-intercooled
1995-1999 Rover 220/ 420/ 620 DI (Turbo) 105 hp/ 155 lb ft

[Following are all intercooled]
2000-2005 Rover 25 and 45 TD 101 hp/177 lb ft, 113 hp/ 192 lb ft
2003-2005 MG ZS and ZR TD 101 hp/ 177 lb ft, 113 hp/ 192 lb ft

2002 MG ZS TDI 100 hp/ 180 lb ft, 117 hp/ 192 lb ft
2001-2002 MG ZR TDI 100 hp/ 180 lb ft, 117 hp/ 192 lb ft

No idea what the difference was between the TDI/ TD models to give the slightly different figures- could just be Wikipedia haha.

I would go for the most modern engine you can get as they are more economical, have lower emissions, have a lot more torque and are smoother and quieter, though of course the electronics etc will be more complex the more modern the engine.

The cheapest/ most available second hand engine would probably be a Rover 220/ 420 engine; the electronics probably wouldn’t be too sophisticated either. Would hopefully fit the Marina with some work to change the engine from a transverse set up and being distantly related to the O series, it should have the same bolt pattern for the gearbox, possibly. If you fitted the intercooled 105 hp/ 155 lb ft engine the marina would probably have a reasonable turn of speed, or forget the fuel economy and get a 2 litre petrol T16 turbo

Also a period review of the maestro TD
http://www.theaa.com/staticdocs/pdf/...SEL_R9334A.PDF

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by focus1.6uk

No idea what the difference was between the TDI/ TD models to give the slightly different figures- could just be Wikipedia haha.

The 'I' models had an intercooller and higher boost levels I believe. When I got my 220 SDi the dealer tried to sneak me into a SD instead, but it wasn't anything like as nice.

Originally Posted by focus1.6uk

Also a period review of the maestro TD
http://www.theaa.com/staticdocs/pdf/...SEL_R9334A.PDF

Ahh, the memories...

[robchalmers]

Originally Posted by Arragonis

Ahh, the memories...

likewise

" rural driving .......67mpg"!