Best Year for 2 Liter Engines?

[Jr. Z]

Anybody have any thoughts on better/best years for the 2 liter motors? Any particular year that Alfa made improvements to the basic block/head assembly that would make it worthwhile to look for that year or later? Any year, that from that point on, was stronger or had a problem solved? I'm going to build a warm 2 liter motor for the street with 40 DCOEs, cams, header, porting, etc., nothing too radical. Because of these performance mods., the induction, exhaust, cams, of course won't matter. The local Alfa Guru, Dan Sommers @ Veloce Motors, has literally dozens of 2 liter cores to choose from. No way of knowing any history on any of the cores, so I'm looking for a way to help sort through them & get a good core that will make a good basis for the hot street motor. Thanks, Bruce

[Jim K.]

Look for blocks numbered 01655 (2liter)and for heads, go for the ones with casting numbers over 35 (this number is in the back of rhe head, facing the firewall).
Jim K.

[papajam]

Unfortunately, Alfisti in the US didn't get the 01655 engine.
Of the 2l engines we did get from 1972-1994, the 01500, 01544, 01588, 01615, 01629 & 10684, which would be the best?

[Jim K.]

Oops! You got me there sir! I've never heard of those numbers, we here swear by the 01655 and the 01623 next!
Jim K.