75 HP Bristol engine.

[Geoff Dowdle]

Lewis and others,
It is interesting that this engine is marked 400/75

The 400- 403 Workshop Manual states "Type 85 engine is 75BHP at 4200rpm
fitted with single Solex30 AAPI

85A is 80BHP at 4200 three SU - D2

85C is 85BHP at 4500 three 32 BI

You all would have known this , but there is no mention of a type 75 engine
( it could have been a special engine producing less than 75 BHP )

Of the First series 400's delivered to Australia the BOCA has record of
eight 85 series engines , most have been converted by fitting 3 SU's or 3
Solex
Lewis your 75 series engine is the only one of it's type that I have heard
off . I can only assume it produced lower bhp by lower compression or change
of
camshaft although there is no mention of those parts in the 400 Parts Book .

If you look at Ashley's website www.jel450.com there is a Register I
compiled of all known 400's .
Engine 400/75 #1065 was originally fitted to a first series chassis # 530
which is Car# 266 ( one can assume the 166th type 400 of approx 420
produced ) ,
although the engine I assume was the 65th produced & unlikely to be a
development engine.
Chassis 530 is currently owned by Nick Wood in Perth , W.Australia it would
be interesting to find out what was stamped on the bulkhead ID plate.
BAC did not assemble type 400's , chassis # , engine # or Car # in any
order , its a real jumble , unlike later models .
I believe that the standard Filton bodied 400's were produced in Car#
sequence and Chassis and Engines were just selected from a stock at random.

The Blocks of the early engines were different to later 400 engines . At the
rear of the block there is a screw in welsh plug rather than a bolt on alloy
plate ,
Lewis does you engine have this feature ?
What engine number is stamped on the block near the starter motor mounting
? Does it have a prefix ?

We can all have our theories , but as time passes facts & knowledge pass
with men that produced the cars.
All the inaccuracies printed in the past by so called experts are reprinted
and eventually become fact.

Regards
Geoff Dowdle