Mystery boat engine, possibly 1960s Ford Anglia ?
Discussion
Can anyone identify this engine? It's in a boat in the USA. Owner thought A series (which it isn't) but he is sure it's British. Looks very like a pre crossflow Kent Anglia but distributor wrong place? Size guessing about 1200cc but no idea. Only significant name on it is Qualcast who were a foundry of course, not just mowers. 
mikdys said:
WE HAVE A WINNER! Well done, hadn't though of Hillman but of course they did export and that is definitely it.
The collective brain of Pistonheads is incredible at this stuff. Thanks to all.
Its a 1496cc Rootes engine with a cast iron head with the rounded rocker cover, as per the OP`s image. Fitted to Hillman Minx`s, Sunbeam Arrow, Singer Gazelle etc.
|https://thumbsnap.com/nFPfxFSn[/url]
The Hunter`s, Singer Vogue`s etc had the 1725cc engine with an ally head and a square shaped rocker cover.
|https://thumbsnap.com/nFPfxFSn[/url]The Hunter`s, Singer Vogue`s etc had the 1725cc engine with an ally head and a square shaped rocker cover.
Edited by Old Merc on Friday 16th April 12:51
DippedHeadlights said:
WE HAVE A WINNER!
Well done, hadn't though of Hillman but of course they did export and that is definitely it.
The collective brain of Pistonheads is incredible at this stuff. Thanks to all.
What's the prize?!Well done, hadn't though of Hillman but of course they did export and that is definitely it.
The collective brain of Pistonheads is incredible at this stuff. Thanks to all.
Seriously, I'm pleased to help - I recognised the tappet chest cover (I used to work on these engines many years ago).
Unusual choice of boat engine, why an Arrow motor if you could use a Morris Marina engine (ho, ho).
Seriously though, if you went hydroplane racing in the late 60s/early 70s you would have very likely used a 998cc Imp engine. Andy Chesman was the man to go to, revving to 10,000RPM, no problems..
Seriously though, if you went hydroplane racing in the late 60s/early 70s you would have very likely used a 998cc Imp engine. Andy Chesman was the man to go to, revving to 10,000RPM, no problems..
Old Merc said:
Its a 1496cc Rootes engine with a cast iron head with the rounded rocker cover, as per the OP`s image. Fitted to Hillman Minx`s, Sunbeam Arrow, Singer Gazelle etc.
|https://thumbsnap.com/nFPfxFSn[/url]
The Hunter`s, Singer Vogue`s etc had the 1725cc engine with an ally head and a square shaped rocker cover.
Have to disagree with this. I have no idea what it is but based on the pics there are no breather pipes from the rocker cover on "your" engine and the rocker cover itself is higher on one side than the other. Yours isn't. I'm not saying you're wrong but the pictures do not support your suggestion.|https://thumbsnap.com/nFPfxFSn[/url]The Hunter`s, Singer Vogue`s etc had the 1725cc engine with an ally head and a square shaped rocker cover.
Edited by Old Merc on Friday 16th April 12:51
Another thing, that red Arrow, its left hand drive but appears to wear period UK plate.
Johnspex said:
Another thing, that red Arrow, its left hand drive but appears to wear period UK plate.
In USA a lot of states don't require front plates, so with imported vehicles they will have a period plate for looks. Often also seen is a UK/European plate left on with the US plate stuck to it. Frequently with BMW's, I've noticed.
Johnspex said:
Have to disagree with this. I have no idea what it is but based on the pics there are no breather pipes from the rocker cover on "your" engine and the rocker cover itself is higher on one side than the other. Yours isn't. I'm not saying you're wrong but the pictures do not support your suggestion.
Another thing, that red Arrow, its left hand drive but appears to wear period UK plate.
I'd agree the pic's posted later in the thread don't correlate exactly but it is a Rootes engine, as fitted to the smaller (iron head 1,500cc) engine Hunter in the late 70's and early 80's (long after Rootes became Chrysler UK). I couldn't find a pic' of the exact engine but I found one of the bigger 1,725 alloy head units in the eBay ad' I linked to. The blocks were very similar and if you look closely you can see that the oil pressure light sender, the distributor, the dip stick, the oil filter and the fuel pump (blanked off in the OP's pic') are identically positioned and angled. (Not to mention the distinctive tappet chest cover which is what helped me to make the connection.) This engine was quite a reliable unit (the Lucas distributor not quite so good!). Concerning the Stromberg carburettor it's a good idea to regularly replace the diaphragm BTW.Another thing, that red Arrow, its left hand drive but appears to wear period UK plate.
Edited by mikdys on Saturday 17th April 09:40
Edited by mikdys on Saturday 17th April 09:40
Edited by mikdys on Saturday 17th April 09:42
Johnspex said:
Old Merc said:
Its a 1496cc Rootes engine with a cast iron head with the rounded rocker cover, as per the OP`s image. Fitted to Hillman Minx`s, Sunbeam Arrow, Singer Gazelle etc.
|https://thumbsnap.com/nFPfxFSn[/url]
The Hunter`s, Singer Vogue`s etc had the 1725cc engine with an ally head and a square shaped rocker cover.
Have to disagree with this. I have no idea what it is but based on the pics there are no breather pipes from the rocker cover on "your" engine and the rocker cover itself is higher on one side than the other. Yours isn't. I'm not saying you're wrong but the pictures do not support your suggestion.|https://thumbsnap.com/nFPfxFSn[/url]The Hunter`s, Singer Vogue`s etc had the 1725cc engine with an ally head and a square shaped rocker cover.
Edited by Old Merc on Friday 16th April 12:51
Another thing, that red Arrow, its left hand drive but appears to wear period UK plate.
Its definitely a Rootes 1496cc cast iron head engine, with possible mods to live in a boat. By the way, I was a Rootes apprentice in 1963/4.
As for the USA spec` red arrow, its taxed and registered and lives in the UK, so has UK plates, whats odd about that?.
This is getting tedious johnspex, what are you getting at? all cars in the USA are LHD.
As the OP was in the USA I just used this car as an example of where the engine came from.. This particular car was completely restored by the dear departed friend of mine Gordon Jarvis. Gordon was very well known in all Rootes car clubs, as well as owning a fleet of restored Rootes models, he was the founder and a trusty of The Rootes Archive Centre. Shame he is not around anymore as I`m sure he would have posted a complete history of that engine.
https://www.rootesarchive.org/gordon-jarvis-1945-2...
As the OP was in the USA I just used this car as an example of where the engine came from.. This particular car was completely restored by the dear departed friend of mine Gordon Jarvis. Gordon was very well known in all Rootes car clubs, as well as owning a fleet of restored Rootes models, he was the founder and a trusty of The Rootes Archive Centre. Shame he is not around anymore as I`m sure he would have posted a complete history of that engine.
https://www.rootesarchive.org/gordon-jarvis-1945-2...
Edited by Old Merc on Sunday 18th April 11:34
Oldmerc; it seems we have a history on common!
Having built quite a few of said engines on the line in the 85 shop, we are of common accord.
I was a Humber apprentice at the same time as your good self.
The tappet cover was a legacy of the side valve block and I could never understand why that feature was carried across with the ohv cylinder block, being very different in other respects.
Happy days.
Having built quite a few of said engines on the line in the 85 shop, we are of common accord.
I was a Humber apprentice at the same time as your good self.
The tappet cover was a legacy of the side valve block and I could never understand why that feature was carried across with the ohv cylinder block, being very different in other respects.
Happy days.
sjwb said:
Oldmerc; it seems we have a history on common!
Having built quite a few of said engines on the line in the 85 shop, we are of common accord.
I was a Humber apprentice at the same time as your good self.
The tappet cover was a legacy of the side valve block and I could never understand why that feature was carried across with the ohv cylinder block, being very different in other respects.
Happy days.
Hi sjwb, Ha Ha, we have more in common than you think. Check out that Prostate thread you posted on.Having built quite a few of said engines on the line in the 85 shop, we are of common accord.
I was a Humber apprentice at the same time as your good self.
The tappet cover was a legacy of the side valve block and I could never understand why that feature was carried across with the ohv cylinder block, being very different in other respects.
Happy days.
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