|
Post by mistersocks on Feb 16, 2011 19:29:58 GMT
Hi All, I have a heritage certificate on the way, which may help out but in the mean time I thought I'd run this past you all to see if anyone could shed some light on this. I have the original green log book which lists the engine number as 18H197A 115110. The plate on the front of the engine however says something a little different... Some of the numbers/letters look to be factory stamped, whereas some are hand stamped. Has anyone seen this type of engine numbering before? Perhaps it is for a reconditioned engine or factory repair? The engine itself has clearly been in place for a very long time and been professionally fitted, and its still in its original BMC green. Any suggestions greatfully received! Cheers! Rich
|
|
|
Post by Penguin45 on Feb 16, 2011 19:33:29 GMT
48G521 looks more like a part number - recon of some sort seems a good bet.
Chris.
|
|
|
Post by mistersocks on Feb 16, 2011 22:54:49 GMT
48G521 looks more like a part number - recon of some sort seems a good bet. Chris. Hi Chris, Thats what I was thinking too. Did a bit of research and it seems that gold seal engines were stamped with an 84G prefix. Apparently silver seal engines were offered too, which were a replacement block using the original sump and top end, although I dont know whether these had a 48G prefix. Looks like my crab had a hard time in its 6 years on the road, a replacement block after 60k miles
|
|
|
Post by Penguin45 on Feb 17, 2011 0:57:58 GMT
Now, this is an interesting point. Yours is an early car, yes? Due to a factory cock up, the oil level dipstick was calibrated incorrectly. This led to cars being over-filled with oil, leading to horrible problems with piston rings, exploding piston skirts and other nasty events. I think the sump in our cars is better known as the gearbox...... Number followed by "G" is always a spare as far as I can tell. Chris
|
|
|
Post by threelitre on Feb 17, 2011 9:56:00 GMT
If driven relatively hard (well, like cruising along Germany's motorways at speeds between 80 and 90mph, something the 1800 is perfectly capable of) the soft bearing shells would not last long in combination with the oils available back then. My father needed to have more modern shells fitted (together with a nitrided crankshaft) at mileages much, much lower than 60k miles. Otherwise the engines seem durable. But back then the replacement engines have been rather cheap (through the importer here in Germany at least), so that in many cases a replacement engine would be fitted instead of repairing the one in the car.
Regards,
Alexander
PS: The replacement engine in our 1800 S has a more standard looking engine number, but that was not a reconditioned engine, but a brand new one.
|
|
|
Post by Keef on Feb 17, 2011 10:04:27 GMT
|
|
|
Post by mistersocks on Feb 17, 2011 11:01:03 GMT
Thanks for all the advice guys, its much appreciated So, it would appear that its a gold seal engine, odd that its still wearing BMC green paint, although maybe not all god seal engines were painted gold? It did cross my mind that maybe it was a dipstick related failiure. I didnt know what issues the incorrectly calibrated dipstick caused, I can remember my dad moaning about his mk1 seeming to use lots of oil. Luckily he chopped it in and got a mk2 's'. Thanks again, now all I have to do is get the b****y pistons free, anyone got any tips for that???
|
|
|
Post by kelsham on Feb 17, 2011 16:59:43 GMT
My understanding is the wrongly calibrated dipsticks, caused the crank to churn the oil which allowed air to enter the system and cause lubrication failure. This mainly happened at faster speeds.
As to your stuck pistons I would try heat. Either play a blowlamp on the pistons, or try the hot oil treatment. Maybe both in turn.
Regards Kels.
|
|
|
Post by mistersocks on Feb 17, 2011 21:52:37 GMT
Hi Kels Many thanks for the tips, I'm off to Mole Valley Farmers tomorrow to get a blowlamp to apply some heat to the engine. And the charity shop for a cheap saucepan for heating some oil up. I think mrs socks might be a bit non plussed if i use her best saucepans to try and fix my car
|
|
|
Post by tommydp on Feb 22, 2011 14:16:29 GMT
According to my 1969 BMC/ BL Mechanical parts list for the 1800, 48 G 521 is a genuine high compression replacement engine, complete block and cylinder head. Further, the list states it as a replacement for engine numbers 18 AMW/U/H97274 to 115738 (mk 1 engines)
Strange that your original engine had a number starting with 18 H, that's a mk 2 engine. Mk 1 engines should start with number 18AMW/U/... Is the car a 1968? If so, it could be a mk "one and a half", with mk2 engine originally fitted. Anyway, I believe your engine wouldn't have had a dipstick problem. I believe that was rectified in 65- 66.
I'm not sure about the engine paint, but I don't think replacement engines were painted gold until the seventies, 72 or something, when all engines became black and they quit green paint. Some gold seal engines were black too, only with a golden strip brushed across the block. I had a 1300 with one once:-) Tommy:-)
|
|
|
Post by Keef on Feb 22, 2011 19:00:02 GMT
I have the original green log book which lists the engine number as 18H197A 115110. Does the current log book show a different number? H3169 by any chance?
|
|
|
Post by mistersocks on Feb 22, 2011 23:48:47 GMT
According to my 1969 BMC/ BL Mechanical parts list for the 1800, 48 G 521 is a genuine high compression replacement engine, complete block and cylinder head. Further, the list states it as a replacement for engine numbers 18 AMW/U/H97274 to 115738 (mk 1 engines) Strange that your original engine had a number starting with 18 H, that's a mk 2 engine. Mk 1 engines should start with number 18AMW/U/... Is the car a 1968? If so, it could be a mk "one and a half", with mk2 engine originally fitted. Anyway, I believe your engine wouldn't have had a dipstick problem. I believe that was rectified in 65- 66. I'm not sure about the engine paint, but I don't think replacement engines were painted gold until the seventies, 72 or something, when all engines became black and they quit green paint. Some gold seal engines were black too, only with a golden strip brushed across the block. I had a 1300 with one once:-) Tommy:-) Hi Tommy! Wow, thats some good info It would appear then that my crab had a complete replacement engine fitted, I think it must of had a hard life. It is indeed a 'mark one and a half'. I'm no expert but I was under the impression that Mk1's had leather seats and different door handles amongst other things, whereas my car has vinyl seats and Mk2 onwards door handles and arm rests instead of plastic door pulls like early mini's etc. As I said, I'm no expert and I'm sure someone will put me right. I'm always keen to learn more ;D The car was registered in 1968, and has had 4 previous owners, three of which were garages in the North East so it may of been a courtesy car or hire car (nothing handles like a rental...) I did wonder that as it is a late mk1, it may have been 'cobbled together', perhaps the factory had a few more mk1 bodyshells and fitted them with mk2 engines etc as they were gearing up for mk2 production? Anyway, many thanks indeed for the info, its fascinating to piece together the cars history! Keef, I only have the old style green log book at the moment, and that shows the engine number as 18H so I reckon its the original one ( as Tommy says, a mark one and a half). When the heritage certificate arrives that should clear up any confusion. There is no mention in the log book of a change in engine number for when the recon unit was fitted so i guess i'll never know when that occurred. I do have the three mot certificates though, 71 to 74 when the last tax disc expired, so I'm pretty sure the 60k mileage is genuine! Just got to undo the driveshafts and speedo and the engine will be out. Cant wait to see the horrors that lurk beneath..... Cheers! Rich
|
|
|
Post by Keef on Feb 23, 2011 3:49:14 GMT
I only have the old style green log book at the moment Is it the original or a continuation logbook? I can't remember when, but weren't they buff rather than green at some point?
|
|
|
Post by mistersocks on Feb 23, 2011 21:54:21 GMT
I only have the old style green log book at the moment Is it the original or a continuation logbook? I can't remember when, but weren't they buff rather than green at some point? Hi Keef, This is the logbook that I have, I think its the original not a continuation as the reg number is stamped apart from the numerical part, although i could be wrong! the first three owners were garages, car was reistered on 01-05-68, first change of owner was 07-05-68.... cheers! rich
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Feb 28, 2011 10:44:05 GMT
Yep that looks like the original logbook, buff books were discontinued in favour of green ones about 1968. If the date stamp next to that first dealership (Buckrose Motors Ltd Bridlington) coincides with the original date of registration, that's your supplying dealership! I love history like this.
Interesting about the replacement engine numbers, My Austin Cambridge has an "odd" number like that so I suspect it has a goldseal as well.
|
|