MG Car Repair: mg midget engine id., cylinder problem, engine id

Question
I recently purchased an mg midget, manufacture date 12/1977.  It has a distributor with points, but I am told it should have an electronic distributor. The vehicle starts but is only running on a couple of cylinders. the engine ID # is:  FP51324UE.  The distributor cap looks like a 1974 model.

Answer
Hi Gibbs,
Many MG owners switched back to a pointed distributor because the electronic ignition had such a high failure rate. The Pros and Cons of kettering ignition vs electronic ignition is a matter of what you want from your car. Both have advantages and both have disadvantages. The 77 Midget is a 1500 Triumph Spitfire engine and many went to the older spitfire to get a pointed distributor. the same with the Austin engine in the MG up to 74.

If the engine only runs on two cylinders you need to test the plug wires with a timing light to see if it is an ignition failure or a cylinder problem first to know what to do. Don't replace anything until you know what has failed.
Howard