I have recently purchased a V8 engine with the following serial number.

S17D00354

I can find no mention online on sites like rimmerbros where V8 serial numbers are listed showing along side the vehicle they were fitted to.

I have just called RPi engineering and the told me that the S was used by the military to signify it was rebuilt by them or for them by LR.

Can anyone confirm this or put me right on what it means.

Many thanks, Karl.

Hi Karl,
I have a 200Tdi in my 101 which we fitted in around 1996. This also has an S prefix (S11L...) and I spent hours trying to find the reason. I was living in Solihull at the time and when I bought the engine I was told that it came directly from LR and had been used by them as a test bed engine.
I was also told at the time by a contact at the factory that the S could indicate a factory rebuild, although I never did confirm this. All I can add was that the motor was immaculate and looked like it had never been fitted into a vehicle before.
Would be very interested if you find out more as the S has always intrigued me!
Tim

_________________
101 GS 200Tdi, PAS, coils, was LHD now RHD, just fitted ZF4HP22 auto box...
101 GS LHD water bowser

101 GS LHD x1 - FOR SALE
101 GS RHD x4 - FOR SALE

'62 Series 2A 88" Rover Rhodesia build
'06 Disco 3 TdV6
'58 Series 1 109 Ex-Bechuanaland Police

Thanks for the reply Tim, at least your story matches mine which is a good thing.

Spoke to Automotive Component Remanufacturing Ltd. in Flintshire and they confirmed that the S means it was a Service Replacement Engine, it doesn't mean it was fitted by LR but was probably replaced under warranty etc.