1275 block rebuild potential...
Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2020 9:49 pm
Hi all,
Hope everyone in well in these testing times...
It's taken me a while to get round to this as on my way back from buying the engine block in question, a man in a van backed into the side of my morris, so I've had more pressing things to think about...anyway, here we are!
I bought a 1275 midget bare engine block on ebay back in 2018 for just £42. Seemed like a bargain at the time...
Upon arrival it appeared I'd purchased it from a historic racing company called CCK historic. I took the block, without close inspection as I didn't know much about looking at bare blocks. I planned to use it for my first engine rebuild.
It has a thin flange where the sump bolts on, which I am led to believe points to an early midget 1275 block, and as it is solid above the main bearing cap with no 'casting window', I am led to believe this is CC block. The engine plate has been removed at some point (i guess for a skim) but the block is stamped as in the picture attached "12...4JY57". Can anyone shed any light on this?
Basically, I'm looking for a decent base for a rebuild for road use only, with a "sporty" setup, nothing mad. And I want to know If people think this block is a good candidate. I'm aware I bought it from a race company and this may be well used, but the guy didn't have anything to say for the block, and it was only described on ebay as per the brown paper tag shown in the photos " STD 1275 midget with liners...end date 18/7/18" .
I have tried to take good photos of said Liners, as i wonder whether someone can determine if these are factory or aftermarket liners. I've read that factory liners can only be over-bored to 40 thou (fine by my requirements) as they were only used by BMC to account for poor original boring and so the need for a liner (please correct if i'm wrong...). The liner of cylinder 1 will need replacing , as it would appear by the the markings on the deck of the block that a head gasket failure led to a waterway leaking into cylinder no.1 and over time eroding the first liner. The others appear ok, and at 70.6mm diameter, this matches the standard 1275 bore size, so my thought is that I could get liner 1 replaced, and leave the others in place for a rebore of +20 or +40 thou...or do they all need to come out?
There are several markings stamped into the block, on the bearing caps as shown in pictures "151" and next to them on the block also "151".
On the "deck" of the block next to each cylinder reads what appears to be a "2" inside a diamond with a x through it...any ideas? factory markings or not? Please refer to images. Also LB is found stamped into the top face, as shown. Could The letter D can be found on the bottom face of the block where the sump bolts on in a couple of spots.
I'm aware that I could contact CCK and ask them directly, but I purchased this two years ago without asking any questions due to inexperience, and I wouldn't think they'd remember much as they have a lot going on, and a couple of blocks were for sale.
And light shed, and advice on whether to ditch it and get another base to start on or use it, would be much appreciated !
Jamie
Hope everyone in well in these testing times...
It's taken me a while to get round to this as on my way back from buying the engine block in question, a man in a van backed into the side of my morris, so I've had more pressing things to think about...anyway, here we are!
I bought a 1275 midget bare engine block on ebay back in 2018 for just £42. Seemed like a bargain at the time...
Upon arrival it appeared I'd purchased it from a historic racing company called CCK historic. I took the block, without close inspection as I didn't know much about looking at bare blocks. I planned to use it for my first engine rebuild.
It has a thin flange where the sump bolts on, which I am led to believe points to an early midget 1275 block, and as it is solid above the main bearing cap with no 'casting window', I am led to believe this is CC block. The engine plate has been removed at some point (i guess for a skim) but the block is stamped as in the picture attached "12...4JY57". Can anyone shed any light on this?
Basically, I'm looking for a decent base for a rebuild for road use only, with a "sporty" setup, nothing mad. And I want to know If people think this block is a good candidate. I'm aware I bought it from a race company and this may be well used, but the guy didn't have anything to say for the block, and it was only described on ebay as per the brown paper tag shown in the photos " STD 1275 midget with liners...end date 18/7/18" .
I have tried to take good photos of said Liners, as i wonder whether someone can determine if these are factory or aftermarket liners. I've read that factory liners can only be over-bored to 40 thou (fine by my requirements) as they were only used by BMC to account for poor original boring and so the need for a liner (please correct if i'm wrong...). The liner of cylinder 1 will need replacing , as it would appear by the the markings on the deck of the block that a head gasket failure led to a waterway leaking into cylinder no.1 and over time eroding the first liner. The others appear ok, and at 70.6mm diameter, this matches the standard 1275 bore size, so my thought is that I could get liner 1 replaced, and leave the others in place for a rebore of +20 or +40 thou...or do they all need to come out?
There are several markings stamped into the block, on the bearing caps as shown in pictures "151" and next to them on the block also "151".
On the "deck" of the block next to each cylinder reads what appears to be a "2" inside a diamond with a x through it...any ideas? factory markings or not? Please refer to images. Also LB is found stamped into the top face, as shown. Could The letter D can be found on the bottom face of the block where the sump bolts on in a couple of spots.
I'm aware that I could contact CCK and ask them directly, but I purchased this two years ago without asking any questions due to inexperience, and I wouldn't think they'd remember much as they have a lot going on, and a couple of blocks were for sale.
And light shed, and advice on whether to ditch it and get another base to start on or use it, would be much appreciated !
Jamie