Engine numbers

[fussyoldfart]

I have lifted this out of the timing discussion to avoid confusion and keep the thread nicely labelled. The question about stamped numbers on Morris MM engines was posed as part of a different conversation but would be lost there if anyone wanted to search the subject.

Mike Perry says:
"The water pump engine has the number stamped on the face of the block, in front of the head, above the water pump."

As it happens I have 3 such blocks. On one of them the number is exactly where Mike says, easy to see, good!

A second one had the top of the block shaved so the information is gone. But the third one, running now in my car, has only a mysterious "1" appearing in that place as if it were the last digit of a longer number concealed beneath the head. There is no "1" in the number on the brass medallion/serial plate. So far the indelibly stamped number seems to be inconsistently marked. Either it is not always there or it is not always in the same place.

I am still interested to know if earlier non-water pump engines were marked anywhere before the brass plate was attached. The discussion here in North America has come up in relation to attempting a "Numbers Matching" perfect restoration. I said you can move the brass plate to an appropriate replacement block if the original is damaged beyond repair, say cracked. I was challenged on this by another member (different club, I don't know if he's in MMOC too) who says the early engines had the number stamped into the iron where the starter mounts. I have not seen any numbers stamped at this location.

Should this subject be moved to the restoration section?

Darrell McDonald
fussyoldfart
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Joined: Fri May 02, 2008 5:39 pm
Location: Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

[LouiseM]

:Should this subject be moved to the restoration section?

Not really as the restoration forum is for people to post up details of their restorations.

As you have a specific question relating to MM engine numbers I'll move this to the "Series MM" forum, and also change the thread heading to "Engine numbers" so that people will know exactly what the thread is about

[mike.perry]

I only have USHM3 type engines where the number is as stated. My present engine is an ex WD generator engine which has had the face of the block skimmed and lost the stamped number but has various discs and plates listing military numbers and service records. I also have a 1947 Vedette marine engine which should have a number somewhere which I shall look for when I can dig the engine out from under the workbench.

[fussyoldfart]

Thanks Louise for "putting me in my place" and thanks Mike for the attention I know you will give this academic question.

I am going to have to "retire" for a couple of weeks of long delayed vacation so you may not hear much from me until nearly the end of September.