[TR] reCarefully Cleaning a TR3 Engine Block

[John Macartney]

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 at aol.com>
To: <triumphs at 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
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