![decoding willys stamped engine numbers decoding willys stamped engine numbers](https://i.pinimg.com/474x/41/e9/97/41e997bea4830aab890dd384f952e5c2.jpg)
You can see the file marks where the block was filed and smoothed as a rough casting, and you can see the finish marks where the deck surface was ground (in the stamped area.) This is further evidence of originality.The stamped surface is level with the block deck at the edge of the head (top of photo) so we know the stamping is original, and not ground down and re-stamped.The hand stamp character of the number is representative of RR practice of the era.The number 14159 matches the body number of the car this motor came out of in this case a long wheelbase 1972 Shadow.
![decoding willys stamped engine numbers decoding willys stamped engine numbers](https://car-from-uk.com/ebay/carphotos/full/ebay856875.jpg)
These are the significant points to what you see here: That may be the explanation, or it may be part of what "hand built" means, as opposed to coming off a high volume production line. Crewe engine designer Jack Phillips says the engine looks this way because it's cast from LM8 silicon aluminum alloy, which is very difficult to machine. Mercedes or Ford blocks of this vintage are much more precisely and cleanly cast. That really shows what a cottage industry low volume car building was in England 50 years ago. As you can see, the finish of the aluminum engine block casting is surprisingly rough. The later engines (Spur and onward) look a bit more finished, and they have more complex trimmings but they are otherwise the same. A Cloud or S series V8 would look similar. The Bentley version looks exactly the same, with different logo on the valve covers. The photo below shows a rebuilt and detailed engine for a Silver Shadow.
#DECODING WILLYS STAMPED ENGINE NUMBERS HOW TO#
One of the things car collectors often ask is - Does the car have matching numbers? In this essay I'll show you how to check the engine numbers on the Bentley T / Rolls-Royce Shadow series, and how they compare to the chassis numbers shown on the body, the registration, and the certificate of title.