Engine number help...

[brogenville]

Right, my cerb has had a new engine fitted to it at some point. Whilst I dont have any documentation for this, its pretty obvious as its a 96 car, and the dip-stick is at the front. Low and behold, the chassis plate says that it should have engine 4200249, but the stamp on the block says 4200817.

So, just for my interest more than anything else, can anyone help me work out how old the "new" engine is by comparing its engine number to the number on one of your cars. i.e. does someone out there have an engine number close to 817 that I can use to date my one?

I read somewhere that 1996 cerbs were made in total, so based on a roughly equal annual production, I guess tht no. 8xx should be about about '99?

Its a bit nerdy I know, but then I know I'm not the only car nerd here by a long shot!

Appreciated as always lads.

[brogenville]

Hmmmm... I'm not sure. If the engines are grouped together, then 817 is probably later than '99. Anyone out there with engine 4500 001?

You can find the engine number on the block by standing at the front off side and peering down below the off-side intake plenum. You'll probably need a torch. Alternatively, the engine number is stamped on the identity plate which (on my car at least) sits next to the near side bonnet hinge.

Edited by brogenville on Thursday 9th August 23:36

[brogenville]

methodwares said:

nope, mine is a 2001 4.2 and the engine number starts with 4500

So whats your no. then?

[brogenville]

It does help from a point of view of working out precicely when an engine was put together, but you have to remember that the VIN number is separate and independant from the engine number, though you find them next to each other in the vehicle ID plate.

[brogenville]

jbvipercerb said:

My car is a 4.2 registered in January 1999, the engine number is 1062, this does'nt seem to help with your dates!

No, its all good info. I suspect that there must have been some overlap period where they were turning out cerbs with both types of block (ie dipstick at the front and at the back). Presumably the dip-stick at the front block came in when the 4.5 block started to get built in greater numbers?

[brogenville]

Seems like a pretty good theory to me Harry. If its true, then I wonder if there was a major difference in the block casting/material/design in 2001 that would have caused them to swich to designating to 4500 by default. If there was a difference, then presumably early 4.5's will differ in some way to late 4.5's?

God knows, maybe the guy that stampted the engines got promoted/fired, and the new guy did things differently for no good reason. Sounds perfectly TVR-esk to me.

Does anyone actually have any technical details about what TVR changed on the cerbera during its production life?