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Early Austin Engine?

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PAUL161

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Trying to help a lady in Zimababwe on identifying this engine. Buried for many years along with the car, she's hoping to find out why it was buried. I first thought it was from an Austin 7, but the head is wrong and the 7 had a aluminum crank case. Any clues? PJ



 
JPSmit

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Absolutely no idea but I know there is a story here - details please (and does it involve your banking information?) :devilgrin:
 
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PAUL161

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JPSmit said:
(and does it involve your banking information?) :devilgrin:
Click to expand...

No I don't think so! (Grin). Seems like the lady is on a historical venture and trying to identify the vehicle in hopes of finding out what happened to it.
 
Roger

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At first glance I thought it was an Austin Big Seven engine, but they didn't have a water pump as far as I remember, unless this was an export special option.
Thing is, I don't know another monobloc Austin engine with the distributor that far back. The others like the 10 and 12 just don't look like that, neither does the 8 for that matter.
 
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PAUL161

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What threw me off was the size and position of the water jacket on the head. I'm wondering if it was military? Don't know about the British, but vehicles made here for the military have their own specifications, even though they look similar to a commercial unit. PJ
 
aeronca65t

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I have no idea, but I posed the question ~HERE~

Seems like one of the guys thinks it may be a 12/4 engine. They may add more ideas as time goes on.

By the way, I found this engine listed as an Austin 12/4 engine. Looks somewhat similar.

12-4%20harley%20014_6154.jpg
 
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PAUL161

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Nial, The real kicker seems to be the front mounted water pump. Some have it and some don't. Her engine has one. The mystery continues, but getting closer to a solution. The head in your photo of the 12/4 certainly looks very close. The other site you posted on could be a winner! Seems to be a larger group of knowledgeable Austin people on that forum. Good move Nial! PJ
 
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PAUL161

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The rest of the remains are being unearthed as we speak. A chassis and other bits have been found. Here are some numbers that have been found;

IH497 MC2

IH496-MO 18743

Block number-TH60558
Not sure if another number on the end is missing due to rust.
Here's another photo;


More photos will be coming. PJ
 
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PAUL161

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Nial, Would you be kind enough to post these numbers in the last post on Austin forum you belong to? I tried but I'm not a member. No rush, if you have the time. PJ
 
DrEntropy

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Egad! Aluminum eating TERMITES in Zimababwe?!? :frown:
 
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DrEntropy said:
Egad! Aluminum eating TERMITES in Zimababwe?!? :frown:
Click to expand...

No Doc....an EXTRAUBER rare transparent aluminium case!
grin.gif
 
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PAUL161

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Nial, Thanks for posting on the Austin forum! You have more people interested. PJ
 
Roger

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Nial, I wondered about a 10 too, but as I remember them the distributor (on the side we can't see) is much closer to the front than on the unearthed block. You can just about make out where the distributor is on another picture on the same page.
For some reason I'm inclined to think this might be a post-WW2 engine, and maybe they're a bit different, but I'm really not familiar with Austins that modern!
 
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PAUL161

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The for and aft position of the water jacket on the head is an issue, as I've seen no other heads with this exact position. Seems like the Austin crowd posts a lot of photos of completed cars, but very few restoration or engine photos.
 
Roger

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I found a picture of a 1947 Austin 10 here. If you scroll down there's a picture of the engine with the distributor close to the back of the block.
The water offtake on the head is different, but I think we're getting warm!
 
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PAUL161

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I'm curious as to how water was circulated through the system without a pump. Did they use a convection system similar to the model T Ford, which really wasn't worth a hoot? I haven't seen one with the water outlet on the head in the same position and don't forget the water pump on hers. Like the Coventry, which I understand was used on everything from fire trucks to big generators, Austins were used about the same. I wonder if this is from something commercial, like a small truck? Never thought this would be so tough. PJ
 
Roger

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Paul, the "Coventry" to which you refer is properly called the Coventry Climax, and yes, Austin engines were used in other guises.
The pre-war Austins did indeed use thermosyphon cooling - I really am not sure about the post-war cars. I do know that both the 8 and 10 were used in Military applications, particularly the 8, and there were small trucks on the same chassis. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find that those for Africa had water pumps.
 
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The lady sent me an email after a fellow on another forum supposedly got upset that she didn't thank him for the info he put on that site and asked me if I would extend her apologies. She has problems with the server in her area and sometimes gets no service at all, this also includes her email.

Here is her email to me and the message;
<span style="color: #000099">Dear Paul,

Thank you very much for your interest. I’m unable to log back onto MG web site, this morning I received a comment about my English writing skills on my posts and one saying I never said thank you for all the help that I received on this ca. Please may you extend my apologies for the lack of my English grammar and pass my sincere gratitude onto all the gentlemen that kindly gave their thoughts and valuable comments, and also advise them I’m a woman not a man – I did mention in an early post that I do not know my way around the site and apologized ahead for any errors I may make.
Thank you once again, really appreciated!
Have a good day!

Coreen Kooy
</span>
 
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