IGNITION SYSTEM

CAR IDENTIFICATION MG A

Year	Model	Numbers manufactured
September 1955 to May 1959	MGA 1500cc	10101 to 68,850
September 1958 to June 1960	MGA Twin Cam	501 to 2611
May 1959 to April 1961	MGA 1600cc	68,851 to 100,351
April 1961 to June 1962	MGA 1600cc MkII	100,352 to 109,070

BMC 'B' Series Engine Use(1953 to 1981)

Model	cc	Prefix	BHP/RPM	Torque
M.G. MGA	1489	BP15GB,15GB	68/5200	82
M.G. MGA	1489	15GD	72/5500	85
M.G. MGA 1600	1588	16GA	80/5600	87
MGA Twin Cam	1588	BC16GB	108/6700
M.G. MGA 1600 Mk2	1622	16GC	90/5500 97

MGA Serial Numbers

Engine Number

The engine number is stamped on a plate secured to the righthand side of the cylinder block...or it is stamped on a plate secured to the rear of the engine behind the cylinder block. (Twin Cam)

Car Number

The car number is stamped on a plate secured to the top lefthand side of the dash panel

Gearbox Number

The gearbox number is stamped on the top of the gearbox casing adjacent to the dipstick

Body Number

The body number is stamped on a plate secured to the bulkhead between the righthand bonnet hinge and the fuse block.

Rear Axle Number

The rear axle No is stamped on the front of the axle tube on the LH side next to the spring seat.

Identifying the MGA

There are only five variations of the MGA. The 1500cc, 1600cc, MkII, Twin Cam and 1600cc MkII De luxe. The Coupés were a variation of the Roadster and were not differentiated by the factory numbering system as to body style. The Twin Cam, a major undertaking at the time of its introduction, was identified separately while the De luxe, the most elusive of MGA models, was not distinctly identified. There are reliable production figures for all models except the De luxe.

The three major MGA models may be readily identified by their tail-lamp and grille configurations as well as their engine displacement.

A 1500cc will have the familiar single Lucas tail lamp, the flush style grille and no shroud or boot lid emblems. Four-wheel drum brakes were fitted to this model only.

Very early 1500ccs had different style gauge faces, an example of which can be found in the factory service manual and drivers handbook illustrations. The door rails on the first few cars were entirely of wood as were the cockpit rear corners. There are few of these seen today. The 1500's did not have the starter hump on the passenger toe board or the windscreen mounted hood clamp. The turn indicators were switched through a relay.

1600cc is differentiated by the dual rear lamp with separate turn lamps, larger round parking lamps with flat lenses and a '1600cc' marker on the cowl and rear boot lid. Disc brakes on the front greatly improved stopping power. The starter position was moved with the resulting hump on the passenger toe board.

The 1600cc MkII received the closest thing to a face lift an MGA ever got. The famous flat grille was replaced with the 'pre-crushed' version. The MkI Mini rear lamps appeared horizontally below the boot lid and the vinyl covered dash and cowl and 1600cc MkII badges were added. The chrome trim and dash escutcheon from the Coupé finished off the dash. Seat belt anchors were added to the chassis. 1600cc MkII De luxe cars used the Twin Cam chassis with the push rod 1622cc engine. Check all parts carefully, as MGA's have not always enjoyed the respect they do now, and parts have been freely exchanged with little regard for originality. When re-wiring your car, be sure to order the loom that fits your body type, not engine type.

unillustrated articles

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
NI	1H811	DISTRIBUTOR 25D4	1	1500cc & 1600cc	CHF 168.95
NI	12H822X	DISTRIBUTOR, 45D4, LUCAS NO. 40780, NEW	1	1622cc MkII (Lucas 40780) alternative	CHF 167.05

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
2	GDC102	DISTRIBUTOR CAP 4-CYL. (CONNECTIONS SIDEWAYS)	1		CHF 31.45

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
3	GRA2101	USE GRA2101HQ	1
3	GRA2101HQ	ROTOR ARM 4CYL HIGH QUALITY	1		CHF 23.70

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
4	GSC111	USE GSC111HQ	1
4	GSC111HQ	CONDENSER & LEAD, OE QUALITY 25D	1		CHF 25.50

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
5	GCS107	POINT SET, CONTACT BREAKER	1		CHF 18.05
5	GCS107HQ	POINT SET, CONTACT BREAKERS, HIGH QUALITY	1	high quality	CHF 27.50
5	GCS2101	POINT SET, CONTACT BREAKER	1	one piece type	CHF 11.25

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
6	GCS1001S	SCREW FOR POINTS-25D	1		CHF 3.10

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
7	502283	LT LEAD & BUSH, SCREW POST, DISTRIBUTOR DM2	1	screw connector	CHF 64.35
7	37H2981	CONNECTION DISTRIBUTOR WITH CABLE TO BREAKER , LT LEAD & BUSH, LUCAR TERMINAL	1	Lucar connector	CHF 25.20

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
8	37H5272	SPRING SET NCA	1	original distributors, nos. 40488A & 40510A, B/D & F	availability request

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
9	57H5420	WEIGHT	2	original distributors, nos. 40488A & 40510A, B/D & F	availability request

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
10	515859	VACUUM UNIT	1		CHF 65.90
10	163-738	ADJUSTER KIT VACUUM ADVANCE	1		CHF 32.90

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
14	606895	BEARING BUSH IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR	1		CHF 62.25

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
17	513679A	DIST DRIVE DOG 25D UNDRILLED	1		CHF 24.50

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
18	057992	PIN, ROLL, DRIVE DOG TO SHAFT	1		CHF 1.90

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
20	245015	IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR REP SET	1		availability request

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
21	3H2138	CLAMP PLATE DISTRIBUTOR	1		CHF 38.35

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
24	1H919	VACUUM PIPE MGA	1	as original	CHF 65.05

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
25	6K649	OLIVE VACUUM PIPE	2		CHF 1.55

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
26	6K650	UNION NUT TO VACUUM LINE TO IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR	1		CHF 10.65

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
27	2A459	NUT MALE CARBURETTOR VACUUM	1		CHF 13.70

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
28	12H90	RETAINING CLIP VACUUM LINE	1		CHF 8.65

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
29	12B2062	90° CONNECTION VACUUM PIPE	1	see distributor notes	CHF 3.50

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
30	GCL101	USE GCL101UR	1	original screw-in type
30	GCL101UR	IGNITION COIL 12V NON BALLASTED, SCREW IN TOP	1	screw-in type	CHF 114.00
30	TT2981	IGNITION COIL, SPORTS, 12 VOLT, NON BALLASTED	1	push-in HT connector	CHF 55.35

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
31	105036	CABLE CONNECTION SCREWED TO IGNITION COIL (THREAD LENGTH,Ø13MM)	1	for GCL110B coil only	CHF 4.40

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
32	214279A	CONNECTOR HT LEAD	1	for GCL110B coil only	CHF 1.20

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
33	CRST156	LABEL LUCAS COIL	1		CHF 6.95

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
34	GHT102X	HT LEAD SET OE TYPE	1		CHF 84.30
34	GHT102Z	HT LEAD SET BLK	1	push in HT connector	CHF 22.90
34	AAA5981M	HT LEAD SOLD PER METRE ( 30 MTR ROLL)	a/r	sold per metre	CHF 8.95

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
35	3H1422	PLUG CAP SUPPRESSED	4		CHF 24.70

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
36	1G2673	SPACER HT LEAD	1		CHF 7.45

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
37	CRST255	HT LEAD NUMBERING SET, 4 CYLINDER	1		CHF 12.05

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
38	N5C	SPARK PLUG CHAMPION	4		CHF 14.80

Ill.no.	Partno.	Part	Quantity required	Info	Price
NI	1H811	DISTRIBUTOR 25D4	1	1500cc & 1600cc	CHF 168.95
NI	12H822X	DISTRIBUTOR, 45D4, LUCAS NO. 40780, NEW	1	1622cc MkII (Lucas 40780) alternative	CHF 167.05
2	GDC102	DISTRIBUTOR CAP 4-CYL. (CONNECTIONS SIDEWAYS)	1		CHF 31.45
3	GRA2101	USE GRA2101HQ	1
3	GRA2101HQ	ROTOR ARM 4CYL HIGH QUALITY	1		CHF 23.70
4	GSC111	USE GSC111HQ	1
4	GSC111HQ	CONDENSER & LEAD, OE QUALITY 25D	1		CHF 25.50
5	GCS107	POINT SET, CONTACT BREAKER	1		CHF 18.05
5	GCS107HQ	POINT SET, CONTACT BREAKERS, HIGH QUALITY	1	high quality	CHF 27.50
5	GCS2101	POINT SET, CONTACT BREAKER	1	one piece type	CHF 11.25
6	GCS1001S	SCREW FOR POINTS-25D	1		CHF 3.10
7	502283	LT LEAD & BUSH, SCREW POST, DISTRIBUTOR DM2	1	screw connector	CHF 64.35
7	37H2981	CONNECTION DISTRIBUTOR WITH CABLE TO BREAKER , LT LEAD & BUSH, LUCAR TERMINAL	1	Lucar connector	CHF 25.20
8	37H5272	SPRING SET NCA	1	original distributors, nos. 40488A & 40510A, B/D & F	availability request
9	57H5420	WEIGHT	2	original distributors, nos. 40488A & 40510A, B/D & F	availability request
10	515859	VACUUM UNIT	1		CHF 65.90
10	163-738	ADJUSTER KIT VACUUM ADVANCE	1		CHF 32.90
14	606895	BEARING BUSH IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR	1		CHF 62.25
17	513679A	DIST DRIVE DOG 25D UNDRILLED	1		CHF 24.50
18	057992	PIN, ROLL, DRIVE DOG TO SHAFT	1		CHF 1.90
20	245015	IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR REP SET	1		availability request
21	3H2138	CLAMP PLATE DISTRIBUTOR	1		CHF 38.35
24	1H919	VACUUM PIPE MGA	1	as original	CHF 65.05
25	6K649	OLIVE VACUUM PIPE	2		CHF 1.55
26	6K650	UNION NUT TO VACUUM LINE TO IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR	1		CHF 10.65
27	2A459	NUT MALE CARBURETTOR VACUUM	1		CHF 13.70
28	12H90	RETAINING CLIP VACUUM LINE	1		CHF 8.65
29	12B2062	90° CONNECTION VACUUM PIPE	1	see distributor notes	CHF 3.50
30	GCL101	USE GCL101UR	1	original screw-in type
30	GCL101UR	IGNITION COIL 12V NON BALLASTED, SCREW IN TOP	1	screw-in type	CHF 114.00
30	TT2981	IGNITION COIL, SPORTS, 12 VOLT, NON BALLASTED	1	push-in HT connector	CHF 55.35
31	105036	CABLE CONNECTION SCREWED TO IGNITION COIL (THREAD LENGTH,Ø13MM)	1	for GCL110B coil only	CHF 4.40
32	214279A	CONNECTOR HT LEAD	1	for GCL110B coil only	CHF 1.20
33	CRST156	LABEL LUCAS COIL	1		CHF 6.95
34	GHT102X	HT LEAD SET OE TYPE	1		CHF 84.30
34	GHT102Z	HT LEAD SET BLK	1	push in HT connector	CHF 22.90
34	AAA5981M	HT LEAD SOLD PER METRE ( 30 MTR ROLL)	a/r	sold per metre	CHF 8.95
35	3H1422	PLUG CAP SUPPRESSED	4		CHF 24.70
36	1G2673	SPACER HT LEAD	1		CHF 7.45
37	CRST255	HT LEAD NUMBERING SET, 4 CYLINDER	1		CHF 12.05
38	N5C	SPARK PLUG CHAMPION	4		CHF 14.80