Help! - Engine Number

[benventura]

I'm confused! (OK - situation normal!)

Does anyone know where the engine number is stamped on the block itself? I recently changed the car's reg and the new docs came back from the DVLC with a caution to check all the numbers. When I went to check them what puzzled me was that the vin plate engine number is one digit different from the one on the registration document (it's the first digit that's different - all the docs show it beginning 47 but the vin plate shows it beginning 37).

I'd never noticed this before, so I cross checked it with the original handbook and the engine number written there matches the one on the registration document not the vin plate. The vin no itself is identical.

Should I be worried? Should I do anything?

[spend]

Restamping of blocks at TVR IIRC, nothing to worry about (as long as its only the first 2 letters - they just denote engine size/compression/gearbox). The engine no is stamped just below the manifolds where the block pokes out past the cylinder heads between 3 & 5 pots (behind the oil dipstick).

Dave

[Paul M]

The VIN (plate and stamped in number which is found on the front offside chassis cross member) is different from the engine number. I mention this not to be a smartar5e but you mentioned the "vin engine number" My VIN has been misread on MOT certificates and even on HPI but checks out with the actual plate and stamped in number and in my service book so no big deal. Registration certificates can be certainly wrong especially if someone has recorded a wriong number in the first place. I can't recall exactly where the engine number is stamped into the block.

If you look at your VIN plate you will see that it appears to be hand engraved which it probably is as TVR were a low volume vehicle manufacturer and not machine produced as with most major car manufacturers.Does it look like it has been tampered with? i.e not sitting correctly or rivets look different? If you are worried about your vehicles identity then there are a number of other ways that I am sure many more members on here much more experienced in TVR ownership on this forum than I am can assist you with in verifying the ID of your car. If I can help I used to be a Vehicle Examiner (Identification of vehicles not the mechanical sort that is) I am of the opinion that its more than likely a "clerical" error rather than anything sinister

[bigdods]

Paul M said:

If you look at your VIN plate you will see that it appears to be hand engraved which it probably is as TVR were a low volume vehicle manufacturer and not machine produced as with most major car manufacturers.

Or in my case hand written in permanent marker on a plate riveted to the wing !

[Paul M]

bigdods said:

Paul M said:

If you look at your VIN plate you will see that it appears to be hand engraved which it probably is as TVR were a low volume vehicle manufacturer and not machine produced as with most major car manufacturers.

Or in my case hand written in permanent marker on a plate riveted to the wing !

Yes that sounds right too. Probably in the earlier days of TVR because they were a low volume car manufacturer they did not conform to the "rules" of VIN , i.e 17 characters long, plate/stamped number usually placed on offside of vehicle. Suppose they just did there own thing until they conformed.

[benventura]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the replies. Looks like the hand engraved vin plate has a clerical error on it - I'll stop panicking!

Regards,
Neville

[Paul M]

benventura said:

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the replies. Looks like the hand engraved vin plate has a clerical error on it - I'll stop panicking!

Regards,
Neville

Yep errors happen with VIN numbers. I visited Ford's Dagenham plany years ago as part of VE training. They used an automated machine (programmed by a human)to stamp the VIN's. When they got it wrong they simply stamped over the part of the VIN that was wrong with "X"'s and then re-stamped it with the correct number.