19 replies to this topic

[John.Wilkinson]

Hi all

I found a number stamped (looked like individual numbers/letters on a series of punches had been used) into the engine block of my car, viz: 8AMUH82041

Does anyone recognise such a number?

It was on the side of the block immediately under the extension to the head that holds the thermostat housing.

[Spider]

It sounds very much like an 850 Engine that was fitted to an Aust bulit 850 Saloon or Van, with the 'pudding stirrer' type gearshifter.

 

8AMUH82041

 

8AM     850 saloon / van engine

U          Central type Gear Shift

H          coff coff High Compression (a whooping 8.3:1!!)

82041  individual no.

Edited by Moke Spider, 15 December 2015 - 09:22 PM.

[crazicarl]

It seems that some features on South African minis and Australian minis were quite similar, my engine number is not too dissimilar, except that its a 998, not an 850.

[cal844]

High compression.... I'd like to see a low compression equivalent!

[crazicarl]

What would 9AKUH... be?

I know the 9 = 998

U = as you say magic wand gear lever, but I think mine has been changed at some point to remote box.

H = high compression

AK = ????

[Spider]

That one appears to be a UK engine, I wouldn't take this a gospel, but the best I have;-

 

9AKUH

 

9 = 998  (this would be pre approx 71 to 73 when they went to the 99)

A = Auto

K = Positive Crankcase Ventilation to the Inlet Manifold (PCV System in normal speak - this also lines up the '9' instead of the '99')

U = Central Shift (OK, maybe they called it that?)

H = high compression

 

It also doesn't 'look' right to me, but then again,,,,,,

 

 

High compression.... I'd like to see a low compression equivalent!

 

Hold on to yr jocks,,,,,,,,,  7.8:1 - it's a wonder they could run!

Edited by Moke Spider, 16 December 2015 - 02:11 AM.

[Spider]

It seems that some features on South African minis and Australian minis were quite similar, my engine number is not too dissimilar, except that its a 998, not an 850.

 

I know for a while we did export some parts to SA, doors for one item.

 

The 850 engines, while being stamped here with a local number, were in fact fully imported here as a complete more or less ready to fit power unit, they cut off the engine tag and then stamped the blocks to comply with local laws. When they developed our Mini Deluxe, they started doing our own engines here.

[Guess-Works.com]

That one appears to be a UK engine, I wouldn't take this a gospel, but the best I have;-

 

9AKUH

 

9 = 998  (this would be pre approx 71 to 73 when they went to the 99)

A = Auto

K = Positive Crankcase Ventilation to the Inlet Manifold (PCV System in normal speak - this also lines up the '9' instead of the '99')

U = Central Shift (OK, maybe they called it that?)

H = high compression

 

It also doesn't 'look' right to me, but then again,,,,,,

 

 

High compression.... I'd like to see a low compression equivalent!

 

Hold on to yr jocks,,,,,,,,,  7.8:1 - it's a wonder they could run!

 

 

The "A" is a hangover from when Austin and Morris were separate... so 8A* and 9A* were Austin engines and 8M and 9M were Morris, then 8AM, 9AM when they joined... and later the M was changed depending upon the specification of the engine... which is where the 9AK comes from...

A is not AUTO, but a 9AH or 8AH engine is an auto... (the H is the key letter)

However, this is for UK built units, what they were stamped as in ZA and AU can be different.

In 1969/70 the more familiar 8H, 99H, 10H and 12H prefixes were introduced.

[Spider]

 

That one appears to be a UK engine, I wouldn't take this a gospel, but the best I have;-

 

9AKUH

 

9 = 998  (this would be pre approx 71 to 73 when they went to the 99)

A = Auto

K = Positive Crankcase Ventilation to the Inlet Manifold (PCV System in normal speak - this also lines up the '9' instead of the '99')

U = Central Shift (OK, maybe they called it that?)

H = high compression

 

It also doesn't 'look' right to me, but then again,,,,,,

 

 

High compression.... I'd like to see a low compression equivalent!

 

Hold on to yr jocks,,,,,,,,,  7.8:1 - it's a wonder they could run!

 

 

The "A" is a hangover from when Austin and Morris were separate... so 8A* and 9A* were Austin engines and 8M and 9M were Morris, then 8AM, 9AM when they joined... and later the M was changed depending upon the specification of the engine... which is where the 9AK comes from...

A is not AUTO, but a 9AH or 8AH engine is an auto... (the H is the key letter)

However, this is for UK built units, what they were stamped as in ZA and AU can be different.

In 1969/70 the more familiar 8H, 99H, 10H and 12H prefixes were introduced.

 

 

 

Yes, in the UK number system, MA was Austin / Morris, but Minis were ONLY ever sold here under the Morris Badge and the system is slightly different

 

 

Thanks for the clarification on the 'AK', all auto engines / gearboxes were fully imported complete units out here, I was working from that list above, and this UK listing here (sorry for the quality of it)

 

 

but, as I said in my earlier post, it didn't look right. Cheers.

Edited by Moke Spider, 16 December 2015 - 07:42 PM.

[crazicarl]

Just came across this from a South African mini website.

"9AK

South African manufactured block"

So that answers that question.

[Spider]

Just came across this from a South African mini website.

"9AK

South African manufactured block"

So that answers that question.

 

Well, there you go.

 

I don't have any South African Info, but there's a BIG story to be told there. Come to think of it, I think there was a book published a few years back.

[crazicarl]

Yup, I bought a copy. It doesn't have too much info on the pick-up, but has some other useful info. I think it was called the South African mini story by Ryno Verster.

[iMini1000]

So what conclusion can be drawn from an engine with s/n : 99H353E-Hxxxxx (5x is I presume the individual number) ?

Could be deduced the year of make?

[Spider]

So what conclusion can be drawn from an engine with s/n : 99H353E-Hxxxxx (5x is I presume the individual number) ?

Could be deduced the year of make?

 

998, with a negative earth Dynamo and a Rod Shift Gearbox so I guess from those ancillaries, the year could be narrowed down.

[peterh2]

To high jack the thread slightly

 

The engine number tag on mine is so corroded I can't read anything. The V5 lists the engine number as -359554.

 

The car is 998cc . First reg. 02/03/1979 in UK.

 

How can I find the correct number?      Heritage Centre - Gaydon ?