Can't find the engine number.

[Aaron IIA]

I have just acquired a 1949 Land Rover. I am trying to locate the engine number, but can't seem to find it. I have looked in the usual places. I have included a picture showing the location were I thought that it should be.
Aaron.

[JDNSW]

I can't remember where it is - but I'm pretty sure it has been mentioned by someone before in this section. I just did a search but could not find it quickly though.

John

[Aaron IIA]

In all the other engines that I have seen, the number is in the location in the picture that I have shown. But not in my engine.
Aaron.

[series1buff]

Looks like its been ground down. This was done when an engine swap happened . Technically , or legally , you are supposed to notify the relevant RTA authorities when you swap an engine over , but sometimes people would just grind the number off and say its a ' new ' block ' from the factory .

Mike

[Lotz-A-Landies]

I am trying to locate the engine number, but can't
Aaron

You seem to be looking in the correct location - get a wire brush on the area indicated and see if you can bring up the number.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/769.jpg

It is unlikely that someone would machine the face for the exhaust manifold but is possible.

Another possibility is that replacement blocks were available which didn't have the engine number stamped. Some actually some came to light in the UK recently.

These blocks were usually for warranty claims or cracked blocks and the policy was that the original number would be stamped at the dealers workshop when the original block was removed and destroyed.

Yours could be a replacement block where the number was never stamped.

Diana

[Aaron IIA]

The area that you circled is the exact area that I paid close attention to with the wire brush. No numbers. In the area that I have circled in red, there is one letter followed by one number. I have also heard that it might be a factory replacement block. Must have been quite early as it is still a 1600. I am guessing that it is a 1600 by the threaded aluminium oil filler tube and the welsch plug on the exhaust manifold face.
Aaron.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Aaron

Highly likely a replacement block but given that it has been completely dissassembled to change the block determining what the capacity it is by the rocker cover is less than 100% accurate.

The numbers you mention are probably only casting or batch numbers and of no real help in your quest.

I seem to remember that all the IOE engines have a solid core plug in the location you mention, these are usually screwed into position and then machined off.

Given that the 1600 continues from 1948 to the end of 1951 it is still likely that it is a 1595 cc. For your 1949 it would be good if it was an early side plate block rather than the later Welsh plug, but chances of a replacement block being that type is low.

By the way what is the chassis number? (You don't have to give me all numbers just the thousands and hundreds (after 866) would be of interest.

We wait with interest to see the progress.

Cheers
Diana

[Aaron IIA]

The car number picture.
You are quite right about figuring out the real capacity of the engine. If the engine was replaced whole, it is most likely a 1600. If only the block (and pistons) were replaced using the original bolt on pieces, it could be either capacity. Seeing as it runs quite well, we will have to find out at a later date.
Aaron.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

The car number picture.
You are quite right about figuring out the real capacity of the engine. If the engine was replaced whole, it is most likely a 1600. If only the block (and pistons) were replaced using the original bolt on pieces, it could be either capacity. Seeing as it runs quite well, we will have to find out at a later date.
Aaron.
Aaron

That's a fairly early 1949, as you know the 1949 production actually started at 8663001 (although the manuals suggest they started at 8660001) . With production running about 1000 per month and with the last of the 1948s were still being assembled in the 1949 calendar year, I would think that yours would have been assembled around April 1949. Do you have any clues to the date? There are dates on wheel rims, radiators and electrical components etc.

Cheers
Diana

[Aaron IIA]

Since I bought the vehicle (as is, not neccessarily running) all I have done to it is put water into the radiator, fuel into the tank, and add a battery. I started up straight away. I then took it for a few laps around the paddock. No brakes yet. I haven't had a chance to pull parts off of it yet to look for dates. The radiator does have the soldered on tag of "4 49" so your April guess would be quite accurate. The vehicle is shedded about 70km from me. I hope to get to work on the brakes next weekend.
Aaron.

[Aaron IIA]

I thought before that I had removed all the dirt, but I re-visited the issue yesterday. It seems that what I was looking at before was a smooth, hard layer of dirt. I persevered with a scraper and then a wire brush, and the number became evident. It is 31 units before the body number. This would most likely make it the factory engine. The chasis number also matches the body number. So I will now repair the chasis rather than use a donor chasis.
Aaron.

[Bent Series]

Hi aron 11a great news on finding an early 80. The fact it runs is a great bonus. As for the engine number I had a very early 061 chassis vehicle and it had a 1.6 engine with no number stamped on the block. It was a 10 /49 car.
How bout some photos when u get some time.
Cheers.