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Rover Engine Codes


Al Milton

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As far as I know nobody has got to the bottom of this, even the rover dealers could not help, all that is clear is they were a mix of engines from the 820 420 220 and turbo vairiants, purchased by robin hood circa 1995.

In one old threads even research in the old rover records brought up nothing?

 

Steve

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try contacting PTP ltd, they are performance engine builders who used to do the batches for powertrain (rover engine department)

Its a while since I've dealt with them but they know their stuff.

they now deal with Mazda engines but still do rover stuff.

click the link below for contact details.

 

PTP Ltd

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Hi All,

 

Quick question surounding the Rover engine code. As stated in the description.

 

Engine code is:

20T (engine type?)

4HH (haven't got a clue)

96 (poss year of manufacture?)

6 digit engine number (sequential number?)

 

Many thanks

Al

 

 

Look back on the threads 3 years ago ?

 

I spent over 6 months trying to get details... They were lost at Longbridge when they went bust no one has any direct info.

 

My engine had a build label and from that it was possible via Gaydon records to identify it was an export spaye probably for an 820 but with regards to age no idea.

 

20T = Engine block type = T series rather than later K series

 

5HH96 = block cast revision no details found on what variants this equals although did find this was a late revision so late build of engine type.

The 6 digit laser etched is the unique identifier.

 

It would have been good to get the details so the MEMS ECU variant problems could have been overcome.

Also get year and my SVA emissions test would have been easier..

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Had a reply from PTP. They just suggested engine was a from a 2litre 220, or 420 (1990-1995), or 620 or 820.

 

Looking at back a few older threads, there is a suggestion that there is also a year stamped/etched into the thermostat housing.

 

Will have a good root around this at sometime in the near future - once we get the sodin garage roof repaired :(

 

Thanks again all.

 

Al

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  • 7 years later...

To resurrect an old post, and answer some long standing questions on the forum concerning the Rover T-series (T16) engines as used in the Superspecs, Al Richey and I have been investigating what the engine number means, when the engines were built, and what cars they were destined for.

In comparing the engines in our Superspecs, we noticed we had differences in the water pump and alternator layout, alloy vs pressed steel sumps, and our engine number codes were different. From an academic interest we wanted to understand why they were different, and find more about the origins and changes to the engines.

We've gleaned a lot of information from the Rimmer Bros website, who supply supply Rover parts, as well as from Rover workshop manuals, forums and other Rover parts suppliers. We thought it would be useful to capture and summarise all these details, so other Superspec owners can refer to it. This also corrects some of the incomplete information in the earlier posts above in this thread.

Rover engine numbers are stamped on a machined face on the engine block under the exhaust ports. The numbers take the form:

20T4H H96 123456 (without the spaces)

This decodes as follows
20 = engine size (20=2000cc)
T = engine series (T, K, L etc)
4 = valves per cylinder (2 or 4)
H = fuel injection type (H=long track multiport injection Normally Aspirated, G=long track multiport injection Turbocharged, F=multiport injection, D=throttle body injection)
H96 = prefix code group indicating the vehicle, gearbox and ancillaries. Codes are listed at the end of this post
6 digit = engine number

Rover first produced the T-series engine in 1992. It was updated in 1994/95 (appears to be from engine number 101828) to reduce tolerances, stop carbon buildup causing sticking valves, and prevent oil leaks from the head.

1. Waisted carbon break valves were fitted
2. Shorter valve guides were fitted
3. Shorter black valve stem oil seals were fitted (older engines have longer green oil seals).

From engine number 128817 the composite head gasket with black sealant was replaced with an MLS head gasket (and the oil restictor was removed from the block as it was now built into the MLS gasket).

The engine was updated again for the 1996 model year (from engine number 135751). The distributor was removed and replaced with wasted spark dual coils, and MEMS was updated to 1.9. We don't believe any of these engines were fitted to Superspecs.

Incidentally, Rover 220 and 820 had pressed steel sumps, whereas Rover 420 and 620 had alloy sumps.

 

From analysis of the engine numbers and codes provided by current Superspec owners, we have determined that:

1. The engines are typically from the 1994 1/2 model year, so appear to have been built in 1995 (or between late 1994 and early 1996 towards the end of the MEMS 1.6 / distributor era.)
2. The engines are all nominally different and seem to have been built for a variety of different Rover cars - 220, 420, 620 and 820
3. Some would have had aircon; removing the aircon pump accounts for the different layout of the water pump and alternator ancillary drive
4. They should all be fitted with the shorter valve guides and black oil seals.
5. They should all be fitted with the MLS head gasket.

If you have your engine number, get the 3 digit prefix group after 20T4H, and look it up in the following list. This will indicate the car the engine was originally intended for, and the variant of injection, gearbox, air conditioning, etc. fitted. (Note only 2.0 litre T-series engines are listed):

Rover 200-400 to 1995
G22 - normally aspirated, K4BS gearbox
G23 - turbo, K7BX gearbox
G24 - turbo, aircon, K7BX gearbox
G25 - normally aspirated, aircon, K4BS gearbox
G62 - normally aspirated, K6BS gearbox
G74 - normally aspirated, aircon, K6BS gearbox
G75 - normally aspirated, aircon, K4BX gearbox
H35 to H38 - stripped engine
H50 to H51 - part engine
H79 - normally aspirated, 1994.5 model year, immobilisation, K4BS gearbox
H80 - turbo, 1994.5 model year, immobilisation, K7BX gearbox
H81 - turbo, aircon, 1994.5 model year, immobilisation, K4BX gearbox
H82 - normally aspirated, aircon, 1994.5 model year, immobilisation, K4BS gearbox
H83 - normally aspirated, 1994.5 model year, immobilisation, K6BS gearbox
H84 - normally aspirated, aircon, 1994.5 model year, immobilisation, K6BS gearbox
H85 - normally aspirated, 1994.5 model year, immobilisation, K4BX gearbox
H86 - normally aspirated, aircon, 1994.5 model year, immobilisation, K4BX gearbox

Rover 600
H65 - turbo, standard, manual gearbox
H66 - turbo, aircon, manual gearbox
J93 - turbo, standard, manual gearbox, 1996 model year
J94 - turbo, aircon, manual gearbox, 1996 model year

Rover 800 to Jan 1996
H16 - MPI Lucas injectors, aircon, auto gearbox
H20 - MPI Lucas injectors, auto gearbox
H33 - MPI Lucas injectors, turbo, W4DTUT manual gearbox
H34 - MPI Lucas injectors, turbo, aircon, W4DTUT manual gearbox
H39 to H42 - stripped engine
H50 to H51 - part engine
H93 - MPI Lucas injectors, aircon, 1994.5 model year, immobilisation, R4DT manual gearbox
H94 - MPI Lucas injectors, aircon, 1994.5 model year, immobilisation, V4DT manual gearbox
H95 - MPI Lucas injectors, turbo, aircon, 1994.5 model year, immobilisation, W4DT manual gearbox
H96 - MPI Lucas injectors, 1994.5 model year, immobilisation, R4DT manual gearbox
H97 - MPI Lucas injectors, 1994.5 model year, immobilisation, V4DT manual gearbox
H98 - MPI Lucas injectors, turbo, 1994.5 model year, immobilisation, W4DT manual gearbox
F82 - MPI, R4DT manual gearbox
F84 - MPI, aircon, R4DT manual gearbox
F86 - MPI, auto gearbox
F88 - MPI, aircon, auto gearbox
G10 - MPI, turbo, W4DT manual gearbox
G11 - MPI, turbo, aircon, W4DT manual gearbox
G26 - MPI, V4DT manual gearbox
G27 - MPI, aircon, V4DT manual gearbox
G69 - MPI Lucas injectors, aircon, R4DT manual gearbox
G70 - MPI Lucas injectors, aircon, V4DT manual gearbox
G71 - MPI Lucas injectors, aircon, auto gearbox
G72 - MPI Lucas injectors, turbo, aircon, W4DT manual gearbox
G78 - MPI Lucas injectors, R4DT manual gearbox
G79 - MPI Lucas injectors, V4DT manual gearbox
G80 - MPI Lucas injectors, auto gearbox
G81 - MPI Lucas injectors, turbo, W4DT manual gearbox
H04 - MPI Lucas injectors, turbo, W4DTUT manual gearbox
H05 - MPI Lucas injectors, turbo, aircon, W4DTUT manual gearbox

Edited by AndyW
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Useful research. After all these years I now know my engine was built in 1995 and is actually one of the youngest we have in the club, one of the last off the line before they took away the dizzy and went for wasted spark. (Probably how Richard Stewart got them cheap, the ultimate 'bin-end' :))

 

And it was originally destined for a Rover 220, fitted with an air conditioner. Which explains the Heath Robinson way the alternator is mounted, the original builder has put it on the mounting brackets for the aircon compressor unit.

 

Happy bunny. Makes searching for spares SO much easier.

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  • 2 months later...

This research really helped me out on friday. Wanted to get timing belt finally replaced as its either 23 years old (engine age from manufacture) or 7 years old (from first registration) so over due really dispite embarrassingly low milleage (4000).

 

Garage was reluctant to do work, and we agreed on an hourly rate. Told them mine is a rover 220 and they ordered that timing belt kit.

 

Fitted without incident and cost me £200 all in. Very pleased (oh and passed mot too!)

 

thanks all, really helpful.

 

ed

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