Engine number location help

Thanks for your unattended help Geroge. I recently purchased a dissembled 1971 XKE
and have been trying to find the engine number above the oil filter. Cleaned all the old
paint off, wire brushed the entire righr side of the engine, no number. I read your post
suggestion about later XKE's, looked where you indicated on the block flange, and low
and behold, there was the engine number in plain site. I had already verified the vin
and transmission number, and found the body number tag behind the license plate.
Thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge.
I have owned two XK120's one 140, one 150, one Mark II and a XJ6C, restored several
of them but never tried to restore an XKE. I will probably need a lot of advice in the
future. Hope to see you at one of the Carolina events in the future.
Dale Conrad - Wilmington, N.C. 910-762-4251 dalels.net

Well sounds like the data plate is missing. The engine number should be on the block above the oil filter canister. You may need to look at the engine block flange that abuts the bell housing on the drivers side (LHD) if it is a very late car or the engine has been changed. The Chassis number is stamped on the frame above the R/H shock (front) and the body number can be found under the rear trim panels behind the lic. plate. As far as the gear box the number is on the top cover and on the casting for the box. Tough to do but you may see it with an inspection mirror or remove the center console and tunnel cover (lot of messy work). Good luck!