Preserving engine numbers.

[Allan]

In a recent post on engine numbers, various suggestions about stamping numbers and retaining the original number were canvassed.

I had a legitimate reason to adopt the following preservation method.

I removed the side water outlet from the engine and made an accurate tracing of the outlet hole and the engine number boss.This was transferred to a brass sheet and the sheet was cut to the pattern. I stamped the required number onto the brass sheet and then dressed the sheet back to a nice flat finish, the stamping having dished it somewhat. Then a heavy coat of RTV was applied to the engine side of the sheet, and the plate was fitted next to the block and held in place by he usual gasket/sealant/outlet and bolts. A quick wipe off of the excess sealant squeezed out around the plate disguised the fact that it was even there. A handful of red rust coloured dirt in the uncured RTV made mine look quite at home. A coat of paint on a restored car would do the same.

This technique would allow you to use a donor engine while rebuilding/preserving your original. It might also allow you to match an existing replacement engine to the number shown on a title. The beauty of it is it is completely reversible if and when circumstances demand.

Sorry about you unfortunates with early cars with engine numbers elsewhere on the block.

Allan from down under.

[Hudson29]

Allan that's a great idea! Can you post a picture or two of how it looks in the end?