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I was wondering if there is anyway of differentiating a pre war 4-4 from a post war 4-4 with out knowing the history of individual vehicles ?

Thanking you in anticipation,

Cheers

Art Tidesco

http://psychoontyres.blogspot.com/

I think there was an engine change from Coventry Climax to a Standard Special in July 1939. I am not sure how many Standard Special engined cars were produced before WW II.

The question about post war Morgans is very difficult since the wars lasted much longer than we normally think.
Formally World War I ended in 1958 and World War II in 1990: Peace Treaties.

Harald

Dave Sapp is the font of knowledge on these cars. He's just restored a Standard engined 4/4. The engine is causing major problems for Dave, and he deserves many medals for persisting with it. Dave can be reached via Mogtalk.

I should have clarified external differences ! My bad as they say in the US of A :-)

Harald I was thinking 1939 - 1945 but thanks for pointing out that the politicians, diplomats and legal beagles took a little longer to conclude matters regarding WW2 'officially' :-)

Thanks for the pointer DaveW, I imagine procuring spare parts for an engine of that age must be a bit like searching for hens teeth ?

I'm no expert but on all the information I can find, production figures for the 4-4(1936-1939) and 4/4 (1946-50) models were: a total of 1428 ( 1307 standard cars, 113 Rolling chassis for specials, 8 le Mans and TT Replicas)
The original Coventry Climax engines ( The Triumph 'Gloria' engine) were of 1122cc but from March 1939 a smaller, 1098 cc engine was offered as an option. The Standard Special engine was offered as an option from May 1939

As John Worrall says, there were a number of external differences- such as some cars running on 16" wheels and some on 17" butI think with anything short of a very close inspection of an individual car it would be difficult to identify general differences

One general point which CAN be used to tell Climax and Standard Special cars apart is that on the Climax cars the tail pipe exits on the left hand ( near) side but on the S/Special cars it is on the right ( offside)
HTH

g

Here's the thread with a link to Dave's resto.

http://www.talkmorgan.com/ubbthreads.php...orati#Post49758

I believe that the Standard engine in that spec was Morgan only. so much rarer than hens teeth. Cylinder heads are prone to cracking and so most if not all are repaired. Dave hasn't yet managed to keep the coolant in the water jacket, and I believe it's been out at least three times since completion. He's very good humoured about it so far though.

That's my understanding as well. It was an incredibly long stroke engine (100mm with a bore of only 63.5mm) Famous I believe, as being the only engine ever to have " Morgan" actually cast into the rocker cover

Cheers,
G

If you have access to a copy of MORGAN First and Last of the Real Sports Cars by Gregory Houston Bowden the Chapter entitled " The Coming of Four Wheels 1935 -1950" I believe holds some of the answers you are seeking. A plethora of original engines were fitted as documented let alone the many "breathed on specials" so I think you will almost certainly have to lift the bonnet in all cases for proof of provenance.

Good Luck and enjoy your New Year drives.

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/889/03image1450sc.jpg

Thanks for the further tips, FGW 415 pictured above in the Morgan factory car park definitely has a N/S exhaust so is possibly Climax powered.

Hope Dave Sapp's patience with his block pays off :-)