Engine/gearbox combination

[HersnotHis]

I have been doing some research on the history of our Stag and it is apparent that the engine must have been changed at some time previous to 1995.

According to the V5C our Sept 1973 Stag has an engine number 4257501-A which I believe relates to a 76/77 production.

The -A suffix I believe relates to a BW65 fitment. Could this engine have been fitted to the original BW35?

So do I have a BW65 or BW35? Is there an easy way to tell. The only suggestion I found using search was to jack the car up as there is a difference in the inhibitor switch?

The engine number is at present impossible to read so I cannot double check this. I need to get a long wire brush with a small head to clean off what appears to be a thick layer of flaking black paint that is obscuring the number.

Any observations/suggestions gratefully received.

Thanks
H

[Seaking]

Bw65 will have a flange at both ends of propshaft

Cheers Glenn

[simontink]

If it leaks oil everywhere it's a 35!

[Nigel W]

It is always possible that you have a BW65 box, but I doubt it. The later engine number is almost certainly what was available when the original one failed. My 76 car for example has an even later engine fitted, with no suffix, but is mated to a BW65. I suspect that it failed under warranty (like one or two others) and was replaced, like yours with what was available at the time.

[HersnotHis]

Many thanks for suggestions -no it does not leak oil at all.

However the plot thickens.

It has occurred to me that there is no way the V5C can be right as there are too many characters!

I strapped an extension to a small wire brush that i had and have now exposed clearly all but one character of the engine number

It reads L41?06HEA which I believe makes sense. However it still implies that the engine was intended for use with the BW65.

H

[Ziptie_Engineer]

Isn't there a difference in the location of the dipstick between the two models? I vaguely remember there being a good simple description of how to tell them apart in the gearbox section of the Rimmer's Catalogue.

[Kevin Garrod]

Isn't there a difference in the location of the dipstick between the two models? I vaguely remember there being a good simple description of how to tell them apart in the gearbox section of the Rimmer's Catalogue.

Glenn has already described the simplest way to tell.

[HersnotHis]

Glenn has already described the simplest way to tell.

Yes thanks that is in fact also what an old copy of a Rimmers catalogue that came with the car said. Have not got space in garage to jack up car due to work on other car. Tried to take photos under car but view seems to be obscured by cross member? Hopefully weather will be better tomorrow and will get Stag out on drive and jack up.

H