Stamping engine numbers on a new block

[sidecar]

Hi Guys,

I am in the process of building a RV8 around a brand new block which therefore does not have an engine number.

I have been told that I can just stamp a number on to the block but it must be unique.

My question is what characters can I use or more precisely what ones can I not use?

Also how many characters should there be?

Thanks in advance,

Pete

[katanaman]

It can be anything you want, its just a code that will identify your engine should it get stolen. You don't even have to put a code on it if you don't want to.

[sidecar]

It can be anything you want, its just a code that will identify your engine should it get stolen. You don't even have to put a code on it if you don't want to.

Hi Katanaman,

Thanks for your reply.

I was aware that I did not have to stamp a number on the engine but just thought that if it had a number there would be less awkward questions from Mr 'Plod' if I was ever stopped at the side of the road.

I believe that there are some letters that you're not allowed to use when making a chassis number for a kit car and wondered if the same rules apply for an engine. (I don't know what the letters are!)

Pete

[katanaman]

chassis numbers are a different thing and are the identity of the vehicle which is why you can change reg plates but not chassis numbers. So far as I know engine numbers are whatever you want. I would doubt many police officers would actually know where an engine number was anyway lol. Most modern engine numbers cant be seen at all without taking the car apart.

[mgbv8]

Why not just copy an engine number that relates to the type and size of engine from the engine numbers section. Or make up your own for insurance purposes so you can register it with your insurers?

[sidecar]

Thanks for the replies guys,

I think that I'll just make one up from my DOB or something like that.

Pete

[katanaman]

DOB is a common choice so probably wont be that original but add your postcode to it and I doubt there will be another serial the same.

[Ian Anderson]

If you are putting it in a kit car it may be worth while copying the Rover type of lettering and numbering. (Suffix numbers to make it unique) At SVA time you can point them to the Rover info and say it is a 1070 engine - only smoke test required.

Did I just say that? Heaven forbid you do something dishonest

Ian

[katanaman]

Don't you have to prove its age? surely it cant be a simple as stamping a new 4.6 up as a 30 year old 3.5 and they will accept it?

[sidecar]

Hi Ian,

The car has already been SVA'ed with an 84 block in it but that engine was not in very good condition.

The 4.6 lump is the replacement and the car will still have the same emissions rating as the 84 block.

Cheers for the reply

Pete

[Ian Anderson]

The men in white coats will probably want to see proof of engine age. If not the general rule is it is based on the age of the car or age of the engine whivhever is the oldest.

So you have a 2002 (say) kit car and currently have a '84 engine it is tested as '84, then when you install the new engine they will want to know the year etc. so they record on your V5 what emissions it has to pass.

Always need to prove or the DVLA etc. will default to current yrear emissions. (Cats etc - not nice)

Ian

[sidecar]

The men in white coats will probably want to see proof of engine age. If not the general rule is it is based on the age of the car or age of the engine whivhever is the oldest.

So you have a 2002 (say) kit car and currently have a '84 engine it is tested as '84, then when you install the new engine they will want to know the year etc. so they record on your V5 what emissions it has to pass.

Always need to prove or the DVLA etc. will default to current yrear emissions. (Cats etc - not nice)

Ian

Hi Ian,

I've been told by several people that once your car has been given an emssions rating you can then swap the engine out as many times as you like and it will still have to only pass the rating that it was given at the time of the SVA!! This sounds daft but I'm not complaining!

In fact Holley at RPI said that you could pass the SVA with a 1930's block then whilst in the SVA carpark pull the engine out and stick a nice new one in but without the emssions junk and there would be f-all that the men in whitecoats could do about it!

This better had be the case or I'm up s-creak!

Pete

[russell_ram]

pete,

I am totally in line with your understanding as it is the way mine is tested. My motor is tested as visible smoke only as that is the classification I got when first tested with it's original engine. I don't understand you reluctance to use your original engine number though - you are replacing an original component (the block) with new. You are not ringing a hookey motor, trying to disguise it's age, or doing anything dodgy at all. However, as has been said many times already, you can make up any number you want and it will be fine. When LR sell it's 'scrap' engines for remanufacture, they are re-numbered by the re-cycling company before sale using their own codes which bear no resemblance to the LR numbers.

Russ

[sidecar]

pete,

I am totally in line with your understanding as it is the way mine is tested. My motor is tested as visible smoke only as that is the classification I got when first tested with it's original engine. I don't understand you reluctance to use your original engine number though - you are replacing an original component (the block) with new. You are not ringing a hookey motor, trying to disguise it's age, or doing anything dodgy at all. However, as has been said many times already, you can make up any number you want and it will be fine. When LR sell it's 'scrap' engines for remanufacture, they are re-numbered by the re-cycling company before sale using their own codes which bear no resemblance to the LR numbers.

Russ

Hi Russ,


I only wanted to use new numbers because someone told me that I could not use the numbers on my old block. It might have been Holley from RPI but , I'm not sure. I guess that my old block might be of some use to someone as well.

However I do have another P5 block that is total scrap, if you guys reckon that it is OK to use that number even though its a thin ribbed, none cross drilled 3.5 then I'll use it.

Do I basically stamp the numbers on and tell the DVLA that its a recon engine that is also now a 4.6? (and make sure that the scrap block remains under my bench).


Pete

[HairbearTE]

Stamp 'JE special' into it. They'll be queing up on ebay to pay twice what it's worth if you ever sell it!