The 'E' Type Forum

Hi all
Advice required please
just dismantling my March 1962 RHD 3.8 OTS engine for rebuild
Engine number is hard to make out on block but I read it as R 4095-9 although the 5 is hard to make out clearly! This is what is on the heritage certificate.
The crank has R4096 stamped on one end

I looked at the block and it COULD be 4096 ??

Is it possible that the factory ledger was written incorrectly?? It would seem odd to be the next number along as the engine numbers don’t generally follow in sequence with the cars??

See photos

Any views
Robbie

Hi Robbie....whats number is stamped on the flywheel....Steve

Hi Steve
No number..looks like it’s been replaced a long time ago!
Robbie

Block build date.
Smooth sump
.see photos
Robbie

Hi Robbie...a hand written 5 can easily be mistaken for a 6 or visa virsa.....i think i have seen Heuer (David)...use some photo imaging to enhance numbers that would be good to use on your block....Steve

I wasn't aware that cranks were stamped with the engine number by the factory, and the font of the stamping looks different to normal. I'd wonder if it's been done to identify the crank by a later mechanic.

It's odd that someone has tried to obscure the stamp on the block with chisel marks.

I have an image of the ledger entry for one of my cars; as David says the handwriting can be pretty poor.

Personally I'd ignore the stamping on the crank and go with what the certificate says.

PS to my eye the number on your block is a 6.

Hi Andrew...there are quite a few posts about early cars with the engine number stamped on the crank.....Steve

I didn't know that. Thanks Steve.

Thanks
I’m not sure what the best thing to do is?
Do I contact Jag Heritage and get them to recheck the register to see if perhaps the number was badly written/misread/unclear??
Any views?
Anyone else seen this ?
Robbie

Hi Robbie i mentioned the flywheel.....have you had had a good look and cleaned up the rim where its stamped...i have heard that others thought they didnt have it intill they cleaned it...there are other posts on the forum..not sure where......others bave had similar issues with numbers and how they were hand written in the logs......cant see a problem contacting Heritage....I would also do a bit more identification of the number on tbe block....Andrew has zoomed in well....but think there are other techniques that could highlight it better...Steve

What's the number on the head ?

Head has been replaced in the distant past, no number

What’s on the chassis plate?

Good question...completely disintegrated over time sitting in a barn

Body number tag in place and matching ...corresponding with handwritten number on back of both halves of dashboard.

Original colour correct (OSG)
Original trim correct (Tan)

Gearbox number correct and original and matching

Chassis number good and matching

Just the final numeral on engine/crank That is 6 not 5 !

I think it was a transcription error in the factory register
R

Last year, I managed to obtain both a photo of the Build Ledger entry for my car from Jaguar Heritage to add to the Heritage Certificate that I already had. That will make it far clearer for you as to whether your engine number finished with a 5 or a 6. Even if the entry is clearly a 5, there is still always then the possibility of a transcription error at the point the ledger was updated.

Someone clearly wanted to hide or obscure the identity of the block. Those chisel marks are not accidental!

There are ways of raising the numbers which are used by Police to identify guns but chemicals are involved. One easy to try method is to rub a graphite (lead) pencil over the area and see if it bring the numbers up more clearly.

Yes that’s my impression..but the number does seem to be the same as the crank number!
I’ll try the graphite but maybe contact jag heritage to check the number
I think it’s best to get it sorted and above board as I wouldn’t want to be guilty of having a fraudulent number!

I don’t think the engine not being matching really matters to me ..I’d rather it was just confirmed as being the actual number. After all the heads were often repacked anyway as on mine!

Robbie

Just a few thoughts .
I would guess 5 is correct on the block to match the Jaguar records and the engine was built with the wrong crank .
On the production line as a complete engine/gearbox waiting to be installed to its allocated chassis number all would appear correct and matching.
The chisel marks are odd because although directly on the digits it has not made the number totally unreadable ,there are also lighter chisel marks around the number !
So , could it be someone being very rough has tried removing the seized on cylinder head in situ by hammering a bar in that area whilst hanging all the weight by the head ?, are there any similar marks on the other side of the block ?.
Robbie ,is the chassis number on the picture frame ?, does it look original ?, does the registration number match the Heritage certificate ?.

Hi
Yes the number is not obscured, just the last digit is hard to read
New picture frame..old one v rusted
Lived in a barn for 35 years
No Reg number

Body number and Gear box and car colour unmistakably match and are correct

Robbie

The boys at Butlins classic cars were sure the block number is a 6 not a 5 (without prompting)