- BMC B-Series engine
Infobox Automobile engine
name = B-Series
manufacturer = BMC
type = in line 4
production = 1954–80
predecessor =
successor =
bore =
stroke =
displacement = 1.2 – 2.4 litres
length =
width =
height =
weight =
block = cast iron
head = cast iron
valvetrain = pushrod or overhead cam
fuelsystem =
fueltype =petrol &diesel versions
oilsystem =
coolingsystem = water
power =
torque =
compression =
fuelcon =
specfuelcon =
oilcon =
similar = The BMC B-series was astraight-4 internal combustion engine family, mostly used in motor cars, created by British company theBritish Motor Corporation (BMC), as a larger alternative to its A-series. Displacements ranged widely from 1.2 litres to 2.4 litres, the latter being an experimental six-cylinder variant. 1.5 litre and 1.8 litre displacements were most common.Petrol versions were produced in the greatest numbers, butdiesel versions exist for both cars and marine applications.The engine was of conventional construction with a one piece
crankcase andcylinder block in cast iron withcylinder head also usually incast iron . Thesump was made from pressedsteel . Early engines used a three-bearing crankshaft but later engines used five bearings. On all except the rare twin overhead camshaft variant thecamshaft , which was chain driven and mounted low in the block, operated the overhead valves via pushrods and rocker arms. The twoinlet port s in the non-crossflow cylinder head were shared between cylinders 1 + 2 and 3 + 4 and the threeexhaust port s between cylinder 1, 2 + 3 and 4.Valve clearance was adjustable by screws on therocker arm s with access to thetappet s by two side covers on the engine block, this feature being a hang over from side valve engine design.Fact|date=June 2008Engine numbering
There were two series of engine numbers used; BMC changed the system at the end of 1956.
Early numbering system
Numbers were of the style "BP15GB" followed by a serial number, where:
* B = B series engine
* P = Pushrod
* 15 = capacity
* G = MG (for full list see Later numbering system below)
* The final letter is the version of the engine.1957–70 numbering system
Numbers were of the style "15GB-U-H" plus a serial number, where:
* 15 = capacity
* G = MG (other letters were: A = Austin, B = Industrial, H = Miscellaneous, J = Commercial, M = Morris, R = Riley, V = Vanden Plas and W = Wolseley )
* B = B series engine
* U = Central gear change (other letters were: A = Automatic, M = Manumatic clutch, N = Column change, O = Overdrive and P = Police)
* H = High compression (alternatively L = Low compression)1970 onwards numbering system
Numbers were simplified to "16 V" plus a serial number, where 16 represents the capacity and V = vertical, "i.e." longitudinal (in-line, not vee-arranged) engine with
rear-wheel drive , and H = Horizontal, "i.e." transverse engine withfront-wheel drive .Fact|date=June 2008There was sometimes a country indicator after the first part of the code, "e.g." "18V-Z" was use for some
United States (exceptCalifornia )MG MGB engines.Engine Types
1.2 litre engines
The 1200 cc was the first version of the engine and appeared in the 1954
Austin A40 Cambridge and the 1954Morris Cowley . The bore was 65.5 mm and the stroke 89 mm. The maximum power output was convert|40|bhp|abbr=on at 4300 rpm for the Austin and convert|42|bhp|abbr=on at 4500 rpm for the Morris.* 1954–56
Morris Cowley
* 1954–56 Austin A40 Cambridge
* 1954–55Nash Metropolitan 1200
*Massey-Harris Combine Harvester1.5 litre engines
The 1.5 L (1489 cc) version was first used in 1953 in the
MG Magnette ZA in twin carburettor version and in 1954 in theMorris Oxford andAustin Cambridge . In 1957 it was used in the original MGA. Output in twincarburettor form was 68 to 72 bhp (51 to 54 kW) and convert|55|bhp|abbr=on with a single carburettor. Bore was 73.025 mm (2.9 in) and stroke was 89 mm (3.5 in).There was also a diesel version of this engine size. Power output was convert|40|bhp|abbr=on at 4,000 rpm and
torque 64 lbf·ft at 1,900 rpm.Applications:
* 1954–61Morris Oxford Marks II, III, IV, & V
* 1956–59Morris Cowley
* 1956–62Nash Metropolitan 1500
* 1955–58 MGA
* 1953–61MG Magnette ZA, ZB, & Mark III
* 1956–58 Austin A50 Cambridge
* 1958–61 Austin A55 Cambridge
* 1956–58Wolseley 15/50
* 1957–65Wolseley 1500
* 1958–61Wolseley 15/60
* 1957–61Morris Commercial J-type
* 1957–65Riley 1.5
* 1959–61Riley 4/68
* 1959–65Rochdale Olympic
* 1956–61Austin 152 &Morris J2 1/2-ton vans
* 1958–62Morris Major Series I & II andAustin Lancer Series I & II
* 1957–63Tempo Matador
*Hindustan Ambassador
*International Harvester "Metro-Mite" delivery truck
* Navigator 1500marine engine
* 1958–60TVR Grantura Mark I
* 1960–62TVR Grantura Mark II & IIA
*Elva Courier Twin-Cam engines
A special Twin-Cam (
DOHC ) version of the 1588 cc B-series engine was produced for the MGA. Output was 108 bhp (82 kW) at 6700 rpm in the high compression (9.9:1) version and 100 bhp (75 kW) in the optional low compression (8.3:1) version. The engine block was cast iron but the crossflow eight port cylinder head was ofaluminium alloy. Drive to the twin camshafts was by chain from a gear driven half speed shaft running in the space that would have been occupied by the conventional camshaft. This engine gained a reputation for being unreliable in service, especially in the high compression version which needed highoctane fuel, but this has now been largely overcome. The piston burning habits thought to be the result of ignition timing was later discovered to be due to a vibration induced lean burn situation involving the float bowls, easily correctable by flexibly mounting the carburettors.A total of 2,111 cars were built, in both coupé and roadster versions.
A very few engines with the special displacement of 1762 cc were produced for racing purposes.
Applications:
* 1958–60 MGA Twin-Cam1.6 litre engines
The engine was enlarged to 1.6 L (1588 cc) in 1958 by increasing the bore to 75.41 mm (3 in).
Applications:
* 1959–61 MGA 1600
* 1960–62TVR Grantura Mark II, IIA
*Elva Courier Mark II1.6 litre Mark II engines
The engine was enlarged to 1622 cc in 1961 with another bore increase, this time to 76.2 mm (3 in).
Applications:
* 1961–62 MGA Mark II
* 1961–69 Austin Cambridge A60
* 1961–71Morris Oxford VI
* 1961–71 Wolseley 16/60
* 1961–69 Riley 4/72
* 1961–68 MG Magnette Mark IV
* 1961–67Austin 152 &Morris J2 1/2-ton van
* 1974–78 Sherpa van
* 1962–64Morris Major Elite
* 1963–66Tempo Matador
* 1966–67Hanomag Matador
* 1967–73Hanomag F20 ,Hanomag F25 ,Hanomag F30 ,Hanomag F35
* 1970–73Mercedes Benz L206 ,Mercedes Benz L306
* Navigator 1600 marine engine
* 1962–64TVR Grantura Mark III1.8 litre engines
The engine was enlarged again to 1.8 L (1789 cc) in 1962. Bore was 80.26 mm (3.2 in) and stroke was 88.90 mm (3.5 in). The engine at first had a 3 bearing crankshaft with a 5 bearing version appearing in 1964.
There was also a diesel version of this capacity, used in the
Leyland Sherpa van, and built under license inTurkey for many years.Applications:
* 1962–80 MGB
* 1964–75BMC ADO17 ("Landcrab") Austin 1800
* 1967–72BMC ADO17 ("Landcrab") Wolseley 18/85
* 1966–75BMC ADO17 ("Landcrab") Morris 1800
* 1975–78 Princess 1.8
* 1971–78Morris Marina 1.8
* 1964–67TVR Grantura Mark III and IV
* 1974–78Leyland Sherpa van
* 1973–75Hanomag F20 ,Hanomag F25 ,Hanomag F30 ,Hanomag F35
* 1973–77Mercedes Benz L207
* 1973–78Mercedes Benz L307 2.4 litre engines
There was a 2433 cc six-cylinder unit, named "Blue Streak", which was used in the Australian
Austin Freeway andWolseley 24/80 .External links
* [http://www.co-oc.org/ Owners' club]
* [http://www.mgcars.org.uk/mgccz/technic/codeseng.pdf Full list of engine codes]
* [http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/index.htm?enginebseriesf.htm B series engine description at "the unofficial Austin Rover resource"]
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