Rover V8 Identification

[Marty V6]

Hi there.

This is my first post and already I'm in trouble!! Good start eh?

I am just getting started with a Cobra project. The first piece of which I aquired today. Its a Rover V8, and it came semi built, complete with starter motor, carbs, manifolds(in and out), dizzy, two spare heads with valves and rocker gear etc.

My problem with the engine is that once I have had a closer look at it at home, I realised that the piece of the block that had the engine number on it has been partially ground off. I can only assume that this has been done for clearance purposes and not to disguise a stolen engine, as the top third of the engine no is still readable. To my mind if it was something dodgy, a better way to disguise this would have been to grind the engine number off the top flat area where it is situated and re-stamp another on, rather than just reduce the width of the block in this location.

Looking at whats left of the number would indicate that the first three markings are 10A which identifies it as a 1976 year onwards, SD1 carb fed engine, which tallies with what I was told about the motor. There are two other numbers on the opposite side of the block wall to the engine number, which I think might just be casting numbers. The first is 613769H and the one below it is C2562.

I would be very grateful if anyone could tell me if these cast in numbers relate to the age of the block, and if they can be related to an engine number?

Failing that, whats my course of action? Do I have to scrap the block as I cannot read the whole of the number? I presume that I have no chance of getting an MOT without an engine number. Can anyone help me please??

[kdavies3]

You could put a plate on engine carrying a new engine no.
glued on or stuck on as long as you have the no. on the V5 it shouldn't be a problem.

[Marty V6]

Trouble is that I dont have the V5 for the car that the engine came out of. I just got it on its own.

Do you know anything about the cast in numbers on the other side of the block?

[STEVE G]

Marty
Do what Kev says.Completely remove number from pad by dip-stick and re-stamp on the raised pad behind the passenger side head.Dont think the casting numbers will help with identification tho.
Steve G {-}
GE427-Rover 281ci.

[kdavies3]

Add whatever engine no. you give the engine to the V5 that you are using as your Donor.
:tu

[kdavies3]

Add whatever engine no. you give the engine to the V5 that you are using as your Donor.
:tu

[Marty V6]

And I just make up a sensible number starting with the 10A part of the existing number? Or do I try to figure out what I think the remainder of the number is?

Will this be okay for period dating for the SVA test? The last thing I want is to have it classified as new or requiring cats emissions testing.