numbers

[dreamin']

Just about finished unbuilding my 86 - very slow progress

When looking for replacement engine parts, I sometimes need to refer to engine number, but the number stamped on the head near manifold is difficult to read. Can I use any other numbers to work it out?

Attached pictures may not be clear, but show the following numbers:

chassis/vehicle number: 57661371
casting on engine block, right side, below inlet manifold: 19 4 55
gearbox number: 57111405

The partially obscured engine number is ( )7( )601063

It is a 2L spread bore

Any help with this greatly appreciated

D

[wrinklearthur]

Hi

To clean the serial number up, I have heard but never been shown, that some type of acids, will remove the scratch marks enough to allow you to read the spoilt digits.

Good luck and Cheers Arthur

[101RRS]

When looking for replacement engine parts, I sometimes need to refer to engine number, but the number stamped on the head near manifold is difficult to read.

Do you realise the engine number is in two places - just in front of the exhaust manifold and at the rear of the exhaust manifold - have you checked both places.

Garry

[B.S.F.]

If the original engine is still fitted ,most likely the number is 173601063.
W.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

That is someone's very nasty attempt to obliterate a number.

The sequence for the original engine should have been eight digits something like 57111***

(e.g. Chassis 57661308 had engine 57111137 - 10/8/55
...... Chassis 57661399 had engine 57111635 - 27/7/55)

Later 1956 86" spread bore engines had a nine digit sequence 1706*****
(e.g. chassis 177600116 had engine 170601059 - 24/2/56)

So yours is likely a 1956 spread bore 1997cc engine "170601063"

BTW the other number "19 4 55" is the casting date of the block.

Diana

Do you realise the engine number is in two places - just in front of the exhaust manifold and at the rear of the exhaust manifold - have you checked both places.

Garry¿que?

I have never known that before!
If the original engine is still fitted ,most likely the number is 173601063.
W.The prefix 173 is for export LHD models and I doubt many (if any) of those engines ever arrived arrived in Oz.

[101RRS]

¿que?

I have never known that before!

Back of engine
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e334/gazzz21/Forum%20Posts%20Album/BackofEngine.jpg

Front of engine
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e334/gazzz21/Forum%20Posts%20Album/FrontofEngine.jpg

[Lotz-A-Landies]

I don't doubt you had a basis for it, just have never seen or heard of the number in that location before.

Do you know if it is all the S1 engines or only particular models?

[101RRS]

Do you know if it is all the S1 engines or only particular models?

Certainly the two 2Litre spread bores that I have, have them on both ends. The siamese bore I have has a bit of crude that will not come off at the back but it does not look as if there is an engine number on it at the back (has one at the front though).


Garry

[dreamin']

The sequence for the original engine should have been eight digits something like 57111***


Later 1956 86" spread bore engines had a nine digit sequence 1706*****

So yours is likely a 1956 spread bore 1997cc engine "170601063"

BTW the other number "19 4 55" is the casting date of the block.

.

Thanks for all your responses - I think the 1706 number looks right.

So, is this likely to be the original engine? Chassis is '55, engine block is '55, but engine number is '56. I've never understood LR 'production years', but could an engine built in calendar year '55 be stamped production year '56?

Also, I looked for the second engine stamp on mine but couldn't see anything, except for a patch that looked like it had been filed smooth, just above the rectangular cover plate, exactly where the same mark is on garrycol's 'back of engine' pic.

Hmm

D

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Thanks for all your responses - I think the 1706 number looks right.

So, is this likely to be the original engine? Chassis is '55, engine block is '55, but engine number is '56. I've never understood LR 'production years', but could an engine built in calendar year '55 be stamped production year '56?

<snip>

DNo it is not likely to be the original engine.

Your original engine number will have a similar sequence to the chassis number, with the proviso that the engines in RHD vehicles had the same sequence as the "home market" vehicles even though they may have been "export" or "CKD".

Chassis 57661371 decodes: 57 = 1955 86" ; 66 = RHD Export CKD ; serial no. = 1371. It will have a "RHD home market" engine = 571, given the late production year date there will be more than 9,999 engines before it so the engine prefix will be 5711????.

The numbers I listed above came from the Grenville Motors allocations books for 1955 and 1956 86" vehicles sold in NSW and if you notice, are on either side of your 1955 vehicle. (Your vehicle is not listed in the Grenville books, so was likely an A&T Qld, Regent Vic & Tas, Champion's SA & NT or Faull's WA distributed vehicle.)

As for the engine casting date, remember that the blocks were cast by other companies as sub-contractors to the Rover Co Ltd. Rover Co then built up the engines to the current specification and stamped the number. You will always find that the date stamps on the components, like windscreen glass, electrical, carbuettor, fuel pump and radiator are earlier than the assembly date of the vehicle.

Rover Co changed over to the next production year in August and at that time they were making better than one thousand vehicles per month. Your 170601063 engine was likely made in the first month of 1956 production so likely August 1955 leaving only 4 months for the block to be cast, cured and machined before being assembled into a 1956 engine.

The 1956 engine however is the same specification as the original engine for your 1955 vehicle. In fact the vehicle and engine were likely assembled within a couple of months of each other, but on other sides of the World.

Hope this helps.
Diana

[dreamin']

Hope this helps.
Diana

That is far more information than I expected. Astonishing. Thank you.

A bit sad this is not the original engine, but glad it is the right type.

What's harder to know is why the original was replaced, and when.

Thanks again

D

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Certainly the two 2Litre spread bores that I have, have them on both ends. The siamese bore I have has a bit of crude that will not come off at the back but it does not look as if there is an engine number on it at the back (has one at the front though).

GarryGarry

I have been following up on this piece of information, it seems that the double number only occurred in 1957 and not on all 1957 engines. Perhaps it was a new employee on the engine line or was a change in the practice maybe easier to identify an engine when sitting in the rack. Who know's?

Would love to hear of others with the double number issue.
<snip>
A bit sad this is not the original engine, but glad it is the right type.

What's harder to know is why the original was replaced, and when.

Thanks again

DEngines in the 1950's had a hard life, machining was not as good as today and the lubricants, similarly of poorer quality.

Perhaps your engine was a reconditioned exchange engine. In the 1950's and early 1960's Replacement Parts Co (we now know as REPCO) had reconditioned Land Rover engines for exchange. Another possibility is a replacement engine after the warranty period expired (enchange in warranty got the same engine number). The most likely possibility is a second hand engine from a donor 1956 Land Rover.

Diana

[series1buff]

Before the 1960's it was not uncommon for a engine to require a rebore and/or full rebuild after only 30k miles. I put it down to the crude oils more than anything (a pun in there somewhere !) . But regarding Land Rovers - farmers and routine maintenance just didn't and still don't go together either.