Apologies if this is too basic a question from someone who has dabbled in old Ferrari's for a while, but can someone clear this up for me... As I understand it, the engine number of a classic Ferrari is stamped into a neat machined area of an engine block and matches the chassis number of a given car. The numero interno (Ferrari's 'internal' numbering system) is stamped into a rougher unmachined area of an engine block somewhere near the engine number stamping. Here is the question: is the numero interno absolutely specific to a particular chassis number or does/can the same numero interno number apply to several cars/chassis? Basically can a numero interno be used to identify a specific individual engine block to a chassis number if the engine number has been erased or changed? David
Hi, Numero Interno is the engine number. The chassisnumber on the block is just the chassis number and so easy to fake... You can identify via the numero interno, if it is the right engine for a particular chassis number. So never trust the chassisnumber on the block alone!
Thanks, that's what I thought. I read elsewhere that numero interno identifies a 'type' or batch of engine/s rather than a specific individual engine. It didn't make any sense to me so needed confirmation. David
I believe that the numero interno refers to a batch of engines of a specific type. Early 275 GTB and GTS used the same type 213 engine and so there is no distinction made in the numero interno;they were both marked xxxx/64. When GTB went to 2 mount torque-tube configuration the engine type became 213/66; GTB's had numero interno xxxx/66 and GTS still used the xxxx/64 numbering.
I believe all the GTB's have suffix xxxx/64, not xxxx/66. I have seen a number of torque-tube two-mount 2-cam GTB blocks and each was numbered xxxx/64.
The numero interno is just what he's supposing: it identifies a particular block which matches to a specific chassis in the original build, while also including the motor type it was cast for, but in the factory's "shorthand". The number is stamped into the rough sand cast surface of the block skirt just below the flat-machined spot where the chassis numer is stamped.
Ferrari changed their system during the Daytona build, early cars had matching chassis and engine numbers, later cars had a totally different engine number, and where only fitted roughly in order of chassis numbers. Here are some Daytona chassis numbers with their engine numbers which start with a B. 16915 is B 2754 16611 is B 2374 16531 is B 2321 15671 is B 1642 14539 is B 1246 14383 is B 1174 They do seem to go very roughly in order [ very, very roughly though]. Daytona engines are stamped "FERRARI 251" which is the engine type.
So what we are saying is that the numero interno is a unique identification number that Ferrari applied to each individual engine block and in their factory records the numero interno matches the specific chassis number the block was originally installed in. So yes the numero interno should be a reliable way of matching an original engine block to an original chassis number assuming one has access to the factory records? David
That's right even when the Foglio Montaggio shows the xxxx/66. On the 275 engines the numero interno is stamped into the rough cast surface close to the flywheel inspection hole on top of the bell housing. Matthias
Yes Matthias, thank you, I have encountered just that, a factory assembly sheet typed xxxx/66, but the actual original block stamping is xxxx/64.
