Just spoke to one of my old engine machine shop friends on this issue. His
recollections are now
(like mine) getting a bit dim but he does remember vehicle model types being
painted on cylinder
blocks before they arrived at the factory from Birmid - the Foundry.. They were
then left outside
for up to six months 'to weather.' Basically, this allows the casting to
stabilise, making it easier
to machine and less likely to shatter. I remember these towers of engine blocks
very well. In the
mid-fifties, there were many similar looking blocks that in fact weren't
actually the same - having
subtle differences for TR's, Vanguards and Fergusons. These were identified by
painted marks - viz
TR3, VAN, VDIE (Vanguard disel) and FER, so this painted number would probably
have been applied at
Birmid enabling the truck driver to know where to offload them. Did he care?
After machining, the blocks had a quick blast of black paint - over the rust
and grime! However, any
blocks with i/d marks didn't get painted around the painted number. My old chum
doesn't know why but
said the many that did get overpainted often had the mark replicated in
chinagraph.
So it looks as though those with engine blocks still bearing the original
identity can sleep soundly
knowing the number was painted by the foundry company and not Standard-Triumph.
Would this mean that
the marks are even more *valuable* at concours point-scoring?
Jonmac
----- Original Message -----
From: <CarlSereda@aol.com>
To: <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2008 8:49 AM
Subject: [TR] reCarefully Cleaning a TR3 Engine Block
> There is 'TR4' hand written in orange paint on the original block of my '63
> TR4. I had it 'hot-tanked' back in 1974 when engine bath solutions were still
> strong and yet the handwriting is still 60% intact.
> So far I've only used keroscene this time around.. and a narrow wood chisel
> inside the crusty water jacket. I will thoroughly clean all oilways and
>repaint
> the block around the original ID marks in there is no iron showing.
> I will only need to bring the block to a machine shop for installing cam
> bearings if I can't locate a proper bearing tool for the new Vandervells.
> Regards,
> Carl
> **************
> Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape.
>
> http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489
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