How do you know if your Mk2 has the original numbered engine?

No records generally exist, but through a bit of detective work the engine can be dated by a couple of people on this forum pretty close to the month of manufacture given the engine number and the body number.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

I get a chuckle when people say a Mk2 S has matching numbers- unless they have the original handbook- the engine number is not recorded anywhere else.

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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 engine numbers were a bit all over the place. (the last Mk1 has a number 400 higher than the first Mk2) but the Mk2s should all be within the 51373 to 56258 range. (That is 2419 cars with a range of nearly 6000 engine numbers!)

However,

If you email or PM me the engine number I can give you rough guide, within a few months, of when the engine should have been fitted to the car.

Compare that with the date on the compliance plate (which is the delivery date to the dealership, not the manufacture date) and you should get a close idea of if the engine is likely to be the original.

Do you like how vague this all is?

That's the nature of the beast, I'm afraid.

As the Doc said, unless you have the original handbook or sales docket the engine number is not likely to be recorded anywhere else.

If you also send me the details of your car (no personal information required) I can add it to the growing database that I am creating.

All I am after is production information - chassis number, body number (around 500 less than chassis number) original colour/s, trim colour, original registration (if known) and of course engine number.

Cheers,
Watto.
The Mini Experience