A different sort of block

[Forumadmin]

See pictures here of as block I bought from the late Derek Hawkins. It does not have a number on the plinth but H21 stamped on the water jacket and LH RO cast in the side.

[vicboddy]

I find this rather interesting, I guess somebody knows what it is. I have seen several blocks with the plynths unstamped, and with no engine number on the blocks (in the E2PD range for example) but these always have the casting numbers on each block. I understand that Jowett issued unstamped blocks to garages under warrenty claims but again seems odd no casting number. Do these look like series1/2/3 blocks? Could they be from the very last series of sandcast blocks? Regards Vic

[Keith Clements]

They are certainly not 'normal' blocks as the finish is 'sandy'. As you see from the pictures the casting does have ribs and thus could be considered series 3. I suspect it is one cast by Jowett Engineering in the early 60's

[jowettgeoff]

Perhaps an early sand cast block Keith? or maybe one of the engines that were made from non-matching blocks. As you probably know, these were line-bored oversize, and need a camshaft with oversize journals, and special crank shaft bearings.

[Keith Clements]

I also have some non matching blocks, same number - different construction. When I get the engine production line started, the first thing to do is find sets of good blocks and so all this information pouring in will be part of the process.

[vicboddy]

I am pretty sure these are not early sandcast blocks: I do have a (good) set of these, they do have a casting number, and they are rather different because they have a flange at sump section. This indeed may be one reason why these blocks seem to have been prized by the experts, in that this flange must add strength, much as our friends down south achieve when they add a steel flange between the blocks and the sump. Best regards Vic

[jowettgeoff]

Talking of strange aluminium things - I got to wondering about the finned ali sump that was recently advertised on Ebay. (I put in a small unsuccessful bid) Wonder if this was made for R1 or R4? Or even perhaps the 1949 Spa Javelin. It looked a bit battered, so had obviously had a hard life.