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Engine ID

Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2017 10:11 pm
by Ian
I would appreciate somebody IDing this motor for me. I believe it to be a Singer. it is 4 cylinder, open valve gear and pushrods. The casting number on the engine is SM20784A and the engine no. is 54481 with a small J above and between the 5 and the 4. The radiator is badged Marston Excelsoir Ltd Wolverhampton MKV11 Radiator block no 26820. The Magneto with it is a Lucas with a chain drive but just viewing from the outside the original may be gear drive.
Thanks.
Ian
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not sure how the pics work.

Re: Engine ID

Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 1:15 am
by mikeyr
it it is a Singer, its not one that I have ever seen...looks COOL though :)

Other more knowledgeable people will let you know.

Re: Engine ID

Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2018 6:19 pm
by DavidS
Radiator is pretty much a standard item fitted to many UK cars with thermo siphon cooling up until the 1950s
The engine however started life a long way from Coventry, almost all gasoline engines used a side valve arrangement and I have only seen OHV open valve gear on stationary engines, they had an open crank too.
I assumed it was pre 1920 and an hour of web search solved the mystery, there was one manufacturer who pioneered the OHV principle and obtained a patent in 1904. It is interesting to see the evolution over just 5 yrs
from 1913 we have
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Another from 1915
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Lastly a 6 cyl from 1918
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There must have been a lot of hot oil evaporating from the cylinder head and they probably introduced a rocker cover fairly soon afterwards, nearly forgot maker was Buick.