re-engining query from down under

[Neilc]

Hi everyone. I live in New Zealand, where only a handful of two-litre Montegos were ever sold. I have just been given a British-imported 1991 Montego estate by a friend who now lives out of town. It has a head-damaged 1.6 litre engine. I expect this will be the only 1.6 in the country. I doubt this engine is repairable because it has been overheated. I can probably get a serviceable two-litre engine from a 1989 car to put in it. My question is simply this: Can this 1991 two-litre be fitted into the 1.6? I understand they are different series engines. Both motors are carburetted. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[E_T_V]

Before you junk the 1.6 it may well be repairable. If its been overheated the head may have been warped (as it is aluminium alloy) but this can be skimmed flat again without too much hassle. What sort of damage has been done?

Also I'd be suprised if you didn't find other cars with the same 1.6 engine in, it was a very popular engine. I'm sure someone will be along shortly to tell you what you may find them in.

Anyway back to your orignal question...

The 2 litre O series can be fitted to the montego but you'd have to transplant the gearbox I believe as it is different along with it and also any engine electricals like auto choke etc. There are a number of other engines that may also fit e.g., the 1.3 A series, the 2.0 turbo diesel perkins prima, and M and T series 2.0 Turbo petrols too should you find any of these lying about.

[MGTurbo]

I must be the only person who doesn't like the S series.. Heavy, not much more powerful than the 1.3 and unrealible.. Best thing to do is put the O series in!

A transplant would involve different engine mounts, driveshafts gearbox etc but wouldnt be hugely involved. The electrics would be easy, carb connections are the same, and all multi-plugs etc would be a straight fit.

Gareth

[G Force]

Hello there, if I have understood correctly you are wanting to fit a 2 litre o series engine from a 1989 Montego into a 1991 Montego with an s series 1.6 litre engine.

No real problem with that if you have the engine and gearbox, driveshafts and engine mountings. You may need other bits like coolant hoses, exhaust pipes and possibly part of the gear linkage. The front brakes on the 2 litre Montego I think all had vented discs where as the 1.6 versions didn't, not essential but if you have a donor car it will be worth looking at.

The thing that you may have to work round is the engine management systems. The 1.6 litre 1991 Montego would have the mems system fitted, this is carburation and ignition controlled by one single control unit under the bonnet. The 1989 2 litre Montego could have this system fitted but it may have the earlier system which is ignition and carburation controlled by two separate ecu' s one under the bonnet and one in the glove compartment. The carburetor for the mems system is slightly different to the earlier carburetor. If the 89 Montego has mems then no problem just swap the 2 litre control unit for the 1.6 unit. If it happens to be the early type then I think the best thing to do is swap the carburetor needle and the dash pot spring from the 2 litre carb onto the 1.6 carb and get hold of a 2 litre mems control unit.

The 1.6 s series engine was fitted to maestro, Montego, early rover 216 and a hand full of maestro 700' s (Van). BTW the 1.6 engine has a cast iron head not aluminium.

Hope that this is of some help. Regards Gary

[BIGLAD]

Hi,
As Gary says the Cylinder head is cast iron. These heads will stand a fair amount of abuse.
If its been overheated, get it skimmed by a local machine shop. Between 10-20 thou should see it flat again.
When you say head damage what exactly do you mean.
Biglad

[E_T_V]

I thought the S series was one of the first alloy engines.. wonder where I've got my wires crossed?? Were any hondas fitted with the S series? (as they are much more likely to be found in Oz than other austin/rovers if he needs a donor engine)

[BIGLAD]

Hi,
None of the Montego/Maestro were fitted with alloy engines. They all have cast iron blocks and heads except for the 2.0 O series and MDi diesel which have alloy heads.
The S series is an "evolution" of the R series, which again is all cast iron.
The only austin/rover to have an all alloy engine from that era is the Rover 213. Honda (ballade-easier to find down under??) based 1300cc 12 valve unit.The gearboxes may be similar shape/pattern to those used in late maestro and Montegos, but i doubt if much else is.
Thanks Biglad.

[BIGLAD]

P.s.
The 1600 "S" series engine is classed as a "safe" engine so if the Cambelt snaps, usually valve damage/to piston contact is unlikely.
Biglad

[Neilc]

Thank you, one and all, for you input on this problem. The car will be delivered home tomorrow afternoon on a car trailer. A couple of things, which I'm sure you've all worked out. It is a 2 litre 1989 engine that I'm considering putting in the 1991 1.6.

The car went into an auction house for sale. Apparently needed its radiator topped up every couple of days, according to my friend who gave it to me. Auction place identified oil leaking from head gasket and arranged for a new one to be fitted. Now... after no sale and quite a few months later, we pick it up and find that the coolant gets forced out the radiator cap like a tap... much worse than when it went in :banghead: Can you believe that? Friend really wants to wash hands of car and isn't interested in pursuing the matter.

I'm assuming at this stage there is a horrendous head leak which is instantly pressurising the system and pumping the water out.
The car had no water in it when we uplifted it which makes me a little worried that even if I can sort the head, there may be some other underlying damage.

Aside from the engine, the car is pretty sound, done just 68,000 miles. I figure if I can get it going for not too much, it could be a reliable runner for a few years.

[E_T_V]

Well my parents S series went on till 160k and 180k respectively. The lack of unleaded petrol killed one burning out a valve but the other was running fine when it was scrapped.

My guess is that they didn't change the head gasket (as they said they did) either that or they bodged the job. Headgaskets are easy to do so I'd take the head off so you can see if there is any other damage. If there isn't, skim the head do the gasket and have miles more motoring :D

Taking the head off isn't much more work than you'll have to do to remove the engine anyway (the fiddly bit is removing the manifolds) so even if it is knackered you'll not have wasted much time at all.

Headgaskets are known to go, as are waterpumps and radiators get blocked. All are easily fixed and may be the cause of a head gasket failure. The easiest way to check is do a compression test and see how that comes out.