I am listing my Sprint (KLK 303N) on an internet auction site Here in the USA. I finally was able to read the engine number, and it doesn’t match the BMHIT certificate indicating the engine was swapped at some point?
However the number stamped on the engine block isn’t like any I’ve come across. VA173ESS
Does anyone know what the ESS would mean?
Any help would be appreciated. !
BMHIT CERT lists engine nbr as VA/10310-HEA, and came from factory as an automatic. Could it have been changed for auto to 4speed prior to first being sold?
Need help to decode a Sprint engine number
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triumphdolomiteuk
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Re: Need help to decode a Sprint engine number
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Carledo
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Re: Need help to decode a Sprint engine number
ESS denotes a factory replacement engine, nothing too unusual about it apart from the very low number. They were fitted by main dealers as a matter of course, sort of like "gold seal" engines in BMC cars.
There's no effective difference between a manual engine and one destined for an automatic car. I think the HEA designation on the engine number was to give the line workers the clue on whether to fit the spacer and drive plate for the auto, or a flywheel and clutch for a manual. There's no such thing as a "numbers matching car" in American terms, the chassis and engine numbers are usually close, within a few to a couple hundred, at least on series 1 cars (up to VA15000) and between 3000 and 6000 different (lower engine number) on later series models.
It's unlikely the car would have been converted to manual before sale. Auto cars were in a distinct minority in production terms, something like 1700 autos produced out of 23,000+ Sprints. No one would have ordered an automatic car, then said "Oh by the way, can you make it manual" A manual model would have been on show in any dealers showroom and available without a wait.
A much more likely explanation is that the first owner ordered and ran the car as an auto. Then at sale time, the less well regarded auto would have been cheaper than an identical manual, someone bought a bargain and converted it. Again, a not unusual state of affairs, out of maybe 60 surviving Sprint autos, at least a dozen now sport manual gearboxes.
Steve
There's no effective difference between a manual engine and one destined for an automatic car. I think the HEA designation on the engine number was to give the line workers the clue on whether to fit the spacer and drive plate for the auto, or a flywheel and clutch for a manual. There's no such thing as a "numbers matching car" in American terms, the chassis and engine numbers are usually close, within a few to a couple hundred, at least on series 1 cars (up to VA15000) and between 3000 and 6000 different (lower engine number) on later series models.
It's unlikely the car would have been converted to manual before sale. Auto cars were in a distinct minority in production terms, something like 1700 autos produced out of 23,000+ Sprints. No one would have ordered an automatic car, then said "Oh by the way, can you make it manual" A manual model would have been on show in any dealers showroom and available without a wait.
A much more likely explanation is that the first owner ordered and ran the car as an auto. Then at sale time, the less well regarded auto would have been cheaper than an identical manual, someone bought a bargain and converted it. Again, a not unusual state of affairs, out of maybe 60 surviving Sprint autos, at least a dozen now sport manual gearboxes.
Steve
'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!
Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!
Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.
Re: Need help to decode a Sprint engine number
Carledo………Thank you very much for the explanation, that’s exactly what I needed. It may never come up during the auction, but now I have the necessary information if it does.
Regards,
Harry
Regards,
Harry
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MIG Wielder
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Re: Need help to decode a Sprint engine number
As Steve says, the "SS" part of the engine number means it's a "Service Spare".
I have one of these in my 1850 with a lot of B.L. history behind it. There is no engine number in the usual place on the cylinder block ledge and I only found mine when I had the cylinder head off about 7 years ago.
And there it was, stamped into the block face, at the front. It is in the low 5,000 engine numbers so there are probably another 4,999, at least, out there somewhere. All I can say is that this engine still shows little sign of wear and it is now above 90,000 miles so the recon; was good. It is on + 10thou pistons but I don't know what the bearings are.
I have read that 1850s are sleeved Sprint cylinder blocks, but I couldn't see the sleeves fitted when I looked.
A mystery !
HTH,
Tony.
I have one of these in my 1850 with a lot of B.L. history behind it. There is no engine number in the usual place on the cylinder block ledge and I only found mine when I had the cylinder head off about 7 years ago.
And there it was, stamped into the block face, at the front. It is in the low 5,000 engine numbers so there are probably another 4,999, at least, out there somewhere. All I can say is that this engine still shows little sign of wear and it is now above 90,000 miles so the recon; was good. It is on + 10thou pistons but I don't know what the bearings are.
I have read that 1850s are sleeved Sprint cylinder blocks, but I couldn't see the sleeves fitted when I looked.
A mystery !
HTH,
Tony.