How important are engine numbers?
Discussion
Hi all, I'd be grateful for the opinion of PHers on the following:-
I'm currently working for a garage and I'm mostly building engines of one particular type for one specific make of car. We currently rebuild the engine which belongs to the customer rather than fitting a replacement which we've built previously. We do this chiefly because of the issue of engine numbers which appear on the cars log book and for which the dvla should be notified of any changes, etc etc.
However, the numbers of these particular engines *cannot* (I stress) be seen when the engine is in the car. If the engine is mounted on an engine stand I would have to point to where the number is before anyone would be likely to see it. Even then, the number is all but illegible, and even after a good scrub with a wire brush etc, *still* the number is very hard to see. I like to keep records of the work I do, and very often the only way I can make the engine number out is after a good scrub of the area where the number is, I take a photo of it with my digicam using the flash and then enlarge the number on the screen of the camera.
The number is simply etched (I think) into the alloy of the block, I don't think it is stamped in, it appears to be machine etched (Or I wonder if it is pressed in as part of the casting process) but whatever, the numbers are very lightly created and are imprinted very shallowly and are very, very difficult to see.
So, I'm thinking what would the consequences be if we were to replace an engine (of the same spec of course) and engrave a whole new number for it - what I mean is, I take a block off the shelf and engrave (in the area of the block where the number should appear) the correct engine number for the car. (We have access to manufacturer records which gives this info).
Even if i were to do this, the number would never be of any use whilst the engine is in the car, it can not be seen from any angle due to its location and the ton of gubbins that sits on top of it - even without the gubbins though it wouldn't be visible at all.
If we were to do this, then when an engine is removed from a car (to be replaced by another) then I would obliterate that engine's number, ready to be given a new number.
Indeed the engine block wouldn't be the only item to receive this process - when we fit pistons we fit OE items, which come from agents of the manufacturer of the pistons who supply the car manufacturer - but the logo of the car manufacturer is ground off the pistons, for whatever reason. This is done no matter which agent of the piston manufacturer is used and i've seen in photographs that this happens in other country's too. So therefore, the blocks that we fit wouldn't be the only item to receive some grinding, as it were.
I have misgivings about doing this, but also am struggling to see any real harm done. What does the PH panel think?
I'm currently working for a garage and I'm mostly building engines of one particular type for one specific make of car. We currently rebuild the engine which belongs to the customer rather than fitting a replacement which we've built previously. We do this chiefly because of the issue of engine numbers which appear on the cars log book and for which the dvla should be notified of any changes, etc etc.
However, the numbers of these particular engines *cannot* (I stress) be seen when the engine is in the car. If the engine is mounted on an engine stand I would have to point to where the number is before anyone would be likely to see it. Even then, the number is all but illegible, and even after a good scrub with a wire brush etc, *still* the number is very hard to see. I like to keep records of the work I do, and very often the only way I can make the engine number out is after a good scrub of the area where the number is, I take a photo of it with my digicam using the flash and then enlarge the number on the screen of the camera.
The number is simply etched (I think) into the alloy of the block, I don't think it is stamped in, it appears to be machine etched (Or I wonder if it is pressed in as part of the casting process) but whatever, the numbers are very lightly created and are imprinted very shallowly and are very, very difficult to see.
So, I'm thinking what would the consequences be if we were to replace an engine (of the same spec of course) and engrave a whole new number for it - what I mean is, I take a block off the shelf and engrave (in the area of the block where the number should appear) the correct engine number for the car. (We have access to manufacturer records which gives this info).
Even if i were to do this, the number would never be of any use whilst the engine is in the car, it can not be seen from any angle due to its location and the ton of gubbins that sits on top of it - even without the gubbins though it wouldn't be visible at all.
If we were to do this, then when an engine is removed from a car (to be replaced by another) then I would obliterate that engine's number, ready to be given a new number.
Indeed the engine block wouldn't be the only item to receive this process - when we fit pistons we fit OE items, which come from agents of the manufacturer of the pistons who supply the car manufacturer - but the logo of the car manufacturer is ground off the pistons, for whatever reason. This is done no matter which agent of the piston manufacturer is used and i've seen in photographs that this happens in other country's too. So therefore, the blocks that we fit wouldn't be the only item to receive some grinding, as it were.
I have misgivings about doing this, but also am struggling to see any real harm done. What does the PH panel think?
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