A mate of mine stumbled across an old mini on a farm. Having owned mini's in the past he checked it out, but is a bit rusty with his id skills.

Body was clubman van, motor had this engine number n683245p - had a generator and a plastic fan, and that's all I know at the moment.

Can anyone possibly tell me what it is?

That number is a NSW "Police" number. It is stamped onto an engine that has had the number removed. (sometimes by accident, sometimes deliberate) The n at the start is for NSW. The P on the end is for Police and from what I gather the 68 should refer to the year it was stamped. (but I am probably wrong)

No you are dead right, I have had a few of these.
Back then if you bought a NEW motor from BMC the block was bare, no ##s... you had to go to the fuzz and get it inspected, a number allocated, go where they sent you to get it stamped, then go back so they could check it.
It was/is? a nationwide system- Qld ones had Q prefix, Victoria V, ACT was C or A (can't remember now) etc.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Doc, Mike,

maybe people should realise that when they take your advice about decking a block from time to time....that they need to make sure....

A. they remove the ally engine tag on the back of the block (dissolves in the engine pickling bath)

B. Specifically ask that only the head gasket area be skimmed leaving the engine number area unmolested

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"Show me the Mini!"

I never take the alloy tag off, GR uses a hotwash and it's OK on alloy.

re the engine number pad, I always leave it standing when I deck a block. But lazy buggers at reco shops just whizz it all off.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

On Holden 6's they have two dowels in the top of the block to locate the head. Repco machined them flat on one of my motors instead of pulling them out.

Must be a Repco thing . . they did the same to one of my Stroker Holden 6's . . .

Was a bastard to drill / tap and pull the dowels... they are about a 0.008" interference fit !

Was thinking of taking my Block to Repco to get it bored, but maybe I'll just stick to CCE .......

J

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Thanks guys - I thought it might be a police number. Hmm, so we still don't know what motor it is...

Provided the van is basically unmolested - there are a couple of giveaways for the engine. A 1275 is quite different to a small bore engine and easily recognisable by the space between the rocker cover and the thermostat cover. It may even have an extra head bolt there.

It should be either a 998 or an 1100 motor. Most 998s had a 1 1/4 SU and the 1100s had a 1 1/2 Su. Its not bullet proof but it gives an indication. Failing that, pull off the head and measure the piston travel. 998 are short stroke and 1100 are long troke. Dont have the actual measurements here at the moment !

Its very unlikely to be an 850.
!

Mike,

I asked him all the basic external ID questions, but he was going on his memory so wasn't really sure. The van was literally "back of Bourke" so its unlikely he'll be able to see it again....

I was hoping the shell was in good nick...