Classic/Antique Car Repair: engine swap, mg td, easy job

Question
Mr. Fitzcharles
I have a 1950 MG (TD)with a 1968 1600cc. Ford cortina engine. I find it difficult to find parts for the engine. I plan on keeping the car and passing it to kids when they get older. should i keep the engine or swap it for a different one which parts will be easily found 10 or 20 years down the road? and can you tell me what engine will fit or how i find out what engine fits under the hood? the car is a driver and I'm not concerned about keeping the car original. Thanks alan

Answer
Hi Alan,
I would think that Ford Cortina parts are available by searching the Internet. But if you want another engine type, I think just about any "In Line" four cylinder engine will fit under the hood but would require the same type of modifications that were done to get the Cortina engine in. Over the years I have seen several with MGB engine and complete drive train in them. I don't think any will be a "Bolt-In" but would require engine mounts to be fabricated and depending on what transmission is used you will need an adapter plate if a trans of a different car is used and probably a driveshaft made and I would not want the TD rear end so all of that needs to be adapted plus the pluming of hoses, clutch and exhaust system. Unless you have fabricating skills and equipment and tools it would not be an easy job.
The only engine I would think that parts will still be available 10 years down the road would be an MGB with all the drive line.
Howard