Like most, I have a near 40 year old car that has done probably countless miles. My car no longer has the genuine engine block and no doubt it would be impossible to find. I have been told engine block re stamping (numbers ) is perfectly legal and I was wondering if this is a common practise. I'm too honest for my own good. I'm a bit mad when it comes to restoration and I like everything matching, I get so sick of pointing out the minor parts to prove it is genuine when all I have to do is point to the ID plate and tell them to F--Koff.
The engine I have is genuine for that make of car and engine blocks don't last forever. My Id plate has never been removed and I am certain it is that make. I don't plan to ever sell the car, my kids are next in line, but I'd be interested to see peoples opinions on block re stamping.
Where can restamping be done ?

Cheers
Brendan

i have access to stamping numbers maybe i'll check

If the car is currently registered with the second motor recorded, then you would need to notify the authorities of the changed number.

Engine reconditioners can re stamp blocks if they accidently/purposely remove the the original numbers.

Why is it that important to you to have "matching numbers"...

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"Show me the Mini!"

Cops used to take a dim view of numbers being altered to different. AFAIK they still do.

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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.

The car has been registered over a number of years with that engine block. My main concern with the matching numbers, is the car is a Cooper S. Every man and his dog believes the car isn't genuine if all numbers don't match. You know what it's like when you spend a heap of money, the D--kheads get to you after a while. If it's legal, it is pretty tempting.

Do you have the original motor?

If the answer is no then someone else may have it. And you will get in trouble if two of them end up on a database.

I have rego papers, roadworthy's etc etc over a 10 year period that I would always keep and hand over if I wanted to sell. ( all with current engine number ) The car will never be sold, it's collectable and I want it kept original. It doesn't seem right to have it stamped, but I was interested if it was common practise. I can see it will be more common as cars get older, value wise, because the blocks will not last forever.

I have heard you enquire with the RTA first to see if that number is in use, because it is legal.

If you buy a bare block from a manufacturer (eg. Ford) it will not have a number. You just stamp the number off your motor onto the new block and then you destroy the old block and scrap it.

So what happened to the original motor out of your car? Where is it now?

But what if the number is not "in use" but is sitting in my shed.

You have to own the original engine to own the number.

I am just trying to get a clear picture on engine stamping. I was quite shocked to find it legal in the first place and I wondered on how many types of cars that re stamping was done to. You must admit how many collector cars out there have matching numbers ? GTHO, XU-1, GTR, A9X, RT-49 etc etc

True, I don't know where you would stand if that was the case. Legally................I'm too pretty for Goal.

I think I'll pass, legal or not. Thanks for the info.

I guess that does happen, but-
There is actually a Police engine number system that is designed for this purpose. I've used it several times for new BMC blocks.
The cops allocate you a number- for example N(state)66(year)1771(number allocated)P(fuzz). You then go where they tell you to get it stamped, take it back for checking, then go to RTA and get your records updated.
Last one I had personally was dated `89' but I've seen later numbers so I guess it's still in use.

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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.

I don't know where the original block is. I went back 2 previous owners and about 15 years without any luck. I believe the car is ex police so I would imagine it would have been high mileage and given a hard life. More than likely the block was stuffed, as this block has been in the car for sometime. Interested to hear from anyne who has a MK1 block in the 51000' s.