Fast Marina Magazine

Been meaning to do this for a while...

Bought a TC engine for the estate about 18 months back, and I was wondering what age roughly it was. Anyone any ideas? It's original car is long gone- it was extracted from a rotten car for a kit car project that never happened.

The engine number is 18V E-180850



Be interesting to compare to what other folks have & see if we can vaguely date it. I suspect it's relatively early, as it had an inertia- type starter, but I've no idea when that changed.

OK anorak time, your engine number is actually

18V 408E - H180850

18V = 1800cc Verticle (in line)

408 =
Lucas 16ACR or 17ACR alternator with negative earth
Mechanical fuel pump
Pre-engaged starter motor!!!!!
Centre change gearbox

E = Carb crankcase ventilation

H = High compression

Engine numbers started at 101

I can't tell when the starter motor was switched over.

No comment

Cheers Chris, that's great

Quite surprised there's nothing to denote it as a twin carb motor... or was it not originally?

Interesting on the starter motor dont take anything for granted on a 40yr old engine...

There is a twin carb indicator in the chassis number. TCs have a "T" in the code .

Ahh. Wondered if the engine would have one too...

Chassis number is another matter entirely... Is body type (Coupe/ saloon) covered in the chassis number? Guess it must be.

Would still be interested in where other folks' TC engine numbers are relative to this one, so I can get a very rough date (don't want to know your actual numbers, just "mine is about 2000 less and is 1974" would be ace ).

Chassis nos.

TC Saloon = MH/4S9T - xxxxxx
TC Coupe = MH/2S9T -xxxxxx

4 = 4 doors (Saloon)
2 = 2 doors (Coupe)

Cheers Chris. Now to see if I can get a chassis number...

The 408E part engine number suggests a single carb engine.

Twin carbs should have a C, F, T, W, X, Y, Z as part of the engine code.

That makes a bit more sense, I thought that there should be an identifier in there somewhere. Doesn't bother me either way, it's got the right carbs & manifold at least (and is a high comp, big valve head engine)- just interesting.

Going for anorak Gold star now. If you come across an engine with codes 641E or 642E then you've got a Police spec engine.

You are a very useful person to know Chris, but you do need to get out more

What was different about the police spec engine Chris?

Let me muddy the waters...

Looking through the rego data I have for NZ 1800s, I have :-

Engine No. Chassis No. First Reg
18VEH127356 SB28W0169422 23/4/74 (convertible)
18VEH182657 MH45GT81861M 31/5/72
18V247E40668 MH499109807M 7/7/72
18VEH45798 MH4S9S126983M 26/7/72
18VEH48899 MH45912009M 11/7/72
18V247EH9495 MH45927436M 19/4/72

Can't really tell as none of the engine internals seem to be different, however two other items do. A rear mounted oil filter (not sure what that means) and a heavy duty clutch pack.

18V F - H13524 was my original TC engine August 1972 (Engine long gone)

Brian