Engine number Location

[Robert777]

I have what is likely to be a late 4.2 6-cylinder XK Engine. I am trying to locate the engine number. There is a number stamped on the flange abutting the gearbox casing on the left hand side of the engine to the rear of the dip stick. I have also seen photo's from other engines showing it in this location. However the number stamped there makes no sense and does not match the 7s/7l/8l formats. Am I looking in the right place?

[abowie]

Over the oil filter housing.

[christopher storey]

Robert : the later engines such as XJ6 certainly were stamped on the LH bellhousing flange. When you say makes no sense, what does it actually say, and have you thoroughly cleaned it before reading it, because they get badly impregnated with dirt in that area

[Robert777]

The stamped number is actually very clear. I suspect the engine may be surplus supply at the time the XJ6 run came to an end. All I know from the previous owner is that it was supplied brand new ready assembled in a crate from Jaguar as they were selling them at the time. I don't know the date of this.

The format of the engine number is 2S64 6ER TC and then a 4 digit number

[christopher storey]

Robert : that number I agree matches no known original engine number. If the block is an 8L type easily recognisable from the stiffening ridges running vertically down each side of the core plugs, then it may have been a military engine

[Robert777]

It has two shallow stiffening ribs above the core plugs which join a stiffening ring around the core plug itself and then continue on below this. Is this what you mean?

Are they any other visual clues to a very late 8L engine? I was keen to know if it is one that the cracking problems have been resolved on.

The cylinder head is an FX series. Does this help to date the engine?

[christopher storey]

If the block has the stiffening ribs it is an 8L , and it should indeed have the milled slots which minimised the chances of inter bore cracking. I don't know what an FX head is - it is probably just a foundry number - but it is the block number which dates the engine, not a head number . The clue to the military surplus engines, by the way, is that they were painted a bright eggshell blue/green colour

[Robert777]

thanks for your help, I think I'm a bit further with it. The block colour is black.