420 SEAC engine

[The Hatter]

Right peeps,
Can't sleep... can't imagine why.

How does one tell if a non-running engine sitting in a SEAC shell is actually a 420 SEAC engine? What's the external signs? Pics of 420 SEAC engines would be great...

Some SEACs seem to have carbs, should the engine be fuel injected or Carbs?

I have an '86 350i with a standard engine for reference, what differences should I look for?

Thanks all!

[JR]

The Hatter said:

I have an '86 350i with a standard engine for reference, what differences should I look for?

None that I can think of so you're down to checking engine numbers.

[mikeb]

Assume its not running and offer him £50 instead of £75! then buy another one and bung it in!

BUY IT IMMEDIATELY ;-)

On subject though I would have thought it would have had a really low number stamped someplace.

It completely baffles me though as to why somebody would pay an abso-bloody-lute fortune for one of these back in the day and then effectively dump it in a field someplace. Even if the engine is fuked then its still not an excuse.

After you have bought it off the dude punch him in the face and then explain why!

MikeyB

[mrzigazaga]

Ill come with ya..i got a shaved head ,A long goatee and im 5ft 10 by 3ft wide and i can stand there looking really menacing...Especially with me black suit and sunglasses.know what i mean harry.

[cuneus]

Plenty of pics here http://www.theseacpages.co.uk

Difficult question - one possible sign is the use of a Jag AFM

Engine number can be very useful it's going to be a long jumbly number for the first few or an NCK

[aderut]

I'm fairly confident that Carbs were retro-fitted, either by the factory or by dealers. The view was that if the Tuscan racers were on carbs then SEACs might be fun with them too. TVR centre were very keen on the airboxs.

Edited by aderut on Sunday 6th March 16:14

[mrzigazaga]

Come on then wheres the pics of the state of the engine..You obviously twisted his arm enough for him to let it go..and it sounds like you are already starting to restore it and have it ready for the BBWF...Hopefully you have had no mouse or Rat damage and theres no wasps nest hidden in the engine bay..

[rev-erend]

All SEAC's had injection as standard.

[aderut]

There's a question then.
If it's got carbs is it a SEAC engine?
Is it really if the body is a SEAC body then the engine, provided it's a RV8, over 4.2/4.5 litres, then it's a SEAC engine?
Since every engine was different to start with what is a SEAC engine?

[c pryor]

Just possible that it might have either NCK (as mentioned), J.E, or A.R.E TVR markings on the engine block if its the genuine article. Search carefully !!!

[JR]

aderut said:

There's a question then.
If it's got carbs is it a SE AC engine?

You can't tell. Someone could well have fitted carbs, a la racer style.

aderut said:

Is it really if the body is a SEAC body

That's it by defualt for SE AC definition. It's a SE AC if the factory sold it as such and all the SE ACs had the same body shape.

aderut said:

Is it really if the body is a SE AC body then the engine, provided it's a RV8, over 4.2/4.5 litres, then it's a SE AC engine?

No because someone could have lifted out the original engine and dropped another in, eg a RR 4.6.

aderut said:

Since every engine was different to start with what is a SE AC engine?

Very difficult. More or less something special compared to a 390 engine but then some 390s had 4.2s...

[cuneus]

c pryor said:

Just possible that it might have either NCK (as mentioned), J.E, or A.R.E TVR markings on the engine block if its the genuine article. Search carefully !!!

J.E. did not build any SEAC engines (according to Chris Schirle)

Just had a quick look at the database and the only numbers in there are for factory engines or NCK

[aderut]

I guess that there is an easy answer to the SEAC engine issue, and that's if it's the original engine, fitted by the factory, in it's original specification, then it's a SEAC engine. However....
How many original engines are there still out there?
I see JR's point that just dropping a bog standard RR lump in stops it being a SEAC, but does the same hold true if the engine has been upgraded from the original spec??
The same must also be true for bodies. You do get to a point were a car can be like grandad's old axe (three new heads and five new shafts).
I guess that provided the car was a SEAC from it's construction in Bristol Avenue then it's still a SEAC.
As with old racers it's the continuation of the history of the car that's the thing.

Edited by aderut on Monday 7th March 19:56

[The Hatter]

I went back today for a closer look. The chassis plate on the inner wing says NCK16, but the engine number stamped on the block doesn't say NCK or 16. Looks like it's lost it's engine for a pretender.

[aderut]

Just pulled the V5 for my car and the engine no is/was NCK22. not sure if the NCK engine numbers were actually put onto the blocks.

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

aderut said:

Just pulled the V5 for my car and the engine no is/was NCK22. not sure if the NCK engine numbers were actually put onto the blocks.

NCK # should be all the engine, induction and AFM etc.

[carob]

TVRleigh_BBWR said:

aderut said:

Just pulled the V5 for my car and the engine no is/was NCK22. not sure if the NCK engine numbers were actually put onto the blocks.

NCK # should be all the engine, induction and AFM etc.

Mine is on everything i.e AFM and what have you NCK200

Rob

[aderut]

Will have to stick me head under the bonnet to find the writing on the oily bits. Not sure how many of the original bits are still there. Ho-Hum.