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Cooper S block & main bearing cap markings

Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2017 2:44 pm
by Andrew1967
I have just brought home an S block without main bearing caps BUT I have also found a set of matching stamping caps.

Is the block stamped anywhere to correspond (hopefully) with the cap stampings ?

Cheers

Andrew

Re: Cooper S block & main bearing cap markings

Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2017 3:09 pm
by Peter Laidler
I'm not sure I really understand Andy. If you brought this block from someone in, say Leeds and you have have a set of caps in your garage in Dorset, then the chances that they are a matched block/caps pair are so remote as to be........... well.... Do you do the lottery often?

I could have got this wrong or mis-read it but caps and blocks are machined/matched sets

Re: Cooper S block & main bearing cap markings

Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2017 3:27 pm
by Andrew1967
They came from the same place/person Peter but the block was here and the caps were there, if you get my meaning.

I was under the impression (maybe incorrectly) that the block is stamped somewhere with the same number as the caps to ensure they are matched.

Re: Cooper S block & main bearing cap markings

Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2017 3:33 pm
by smithyrc30
The block is stamped by the water pump at the tappet chest side near the head face, so if you are looking directly at the timing gear face of the block, it is stamped in the upper right corner on a small machined area. Well it is on the two S blocks in the garage...

Re: Cooper S block & main bearing cap markings

Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2017 3:42 pm
by Andrew1967
Thanks Simon, I'll check it out :)

Re: Cooper S block & main bearing cap markings

Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2017 4:25 pm
by Cammsjb
IMG_2995.JPG
Similar to this?

Re: Cooper S block & main bearing cap markings

Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2017 4:26 pm
by Andrew1967
Struggling to find anything :(

Re: Cooper S block & main bearing cap markings

Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2017 4:53 pm
by Andrew1967
Found it....stamped on the face that would be the mounting face for a manual fuel pump.

Best thing.... the number matches the caps 8-) 8-)

Re: Cooper S block & main bearing cap markings

Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2017 5:47 pm
by 251 ENG
Does the number start with 1P ? :ugeek:

Re: Cooper S block & main bearing cap markings

Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2017 6:14 pm
by Andrew1967
Yes it does Simon...... does that signify anything :?

Re: Cooper S block & main bearing cap markings

Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2017 8:06 pm
by rich@minispares.com
its what simon would pay for it..... :lol:


I think for safety's sake I would get it checked / line bored if required


what sort of idiot looses the caps of a perfectly good s block... :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:

Re: Cooper S block & main bearing cap markings

Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2017 8:34 pm
by Andrew1967
rich@minispares.com wrote:its what simon would pay for it..... :lol:


I think for safety's sake I would get it checked / line bored if required


what sort of idiot looses the caps of a perfectly good s block... :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Re: Cooper S block & main bearing cap markings

Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2017 4:57 pm
by 251 ENG
Always room for one more :lol:

Re: Cooper S block & main bearing cap markings

Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2017 5:03 pm
by Andrew1967
Now now, that's greedy :lol: :lol:

So is there any significance in the '1P' Simon apart from its value :?

Re: Cooper S block & main bearing cap markings

Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2017 5:57 pm
by 251 ENG
What's the full number might be able to give you a rough date :ugeek:

Re: Cooper S block & main bearing cap markings

Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2017 7:05 pm
by Andrew1967
I was wondering if they could be dated by the numbers Simon 8-)

1P 3473

Re: Cooper S block & main bearing cap markings

Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2017 7:41 pm
by 251 ENG
Somewhere between august 66 and April 67 .

I would estimate about October 66

Re: Cooper S block & main bearing cap markings

Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2017 7:58 pm
by Andrew1967
Thanks Simon :)

When I take the engine off the box of the unit I got with he car, I'll let you know those numbers ;)

Cheers

Andrew

Re: Cooper S block & main bearing cap markings

Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 2:04 pm
by CooperTune
The one I have here at the house is marked P 5209 with the matching caps thin flange. It has always seemed to me the S blocks were line bored at the factory and left with the machining marks unlike the A+ blocks which appear to have been finished with a hone. I know some shops offer align honing, I have always worried about stone and shoe wear. Due to the length of the mandrels the small areas to be honed and spacing the operator has to be really good and the mandrel dressed properly. Steve (CTR)

Can you date this one?

Re: Cooper S block & main bearing cap markings

Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 7:47 pm
by 251 ENG
P5209 , would say car build date early 1965