FX (48-215) motor on ebay. checkout the engine number

[Sheriff]

Is this the oldest living grey motor around?  check the engine no.   Mike
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/HOLDEN-FX-EJ-MOTOR-GEARBOX-12-VOLT-STARTER-GENERATOR_W0QQitemZ180276730162QQihZ008QQcategoryZ6763QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[RET]

I'd imagine Charlie McCarron's '48 probably has the earliest grey engine number around*. The "L" (and "U") prefixes were introduced with the FE (and FJ Ute/Van follow-on). 48 and FJ engine numbers have no prefix at all.

So I'm suspecting this is an FC series engine of December 1958 vintage, with the number L514nnn, and the seller has deliberately obscured the exact engine number in the ad as "L514>>>".

The motor does appear to have a 48/FJ series sideplate, but they're pretty ordinary photos to glean much detail from. Or am I missing something obvious?

cheers
RET

* The original Essington Lewis car would have an even lower number if it still has its original engine. I'm not sure if it does or not.

[Johns]

Unfortunately it was so dark at Charlie McCarrons place that I couldn't see the engine number much less read it. But since RET raised it here are a couple of photos I took.

There are some glaring differences to the engines we are familiar with, note the intake manifold, the routing of the vacuum line for the wipers, the bottom radiator hose and of course the GMH casting on the block. I've never seen such neat vacuum lines either.





Cheers
John