VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 Engine Identification:

My 51 has the following #'s next to the dist.JAM68678.I had purchased tune-up parts for 51 ,but they do not fit.Can anyone help to identify the correct year.It has a std trans.

Sounds as if you have a 1951 engine.You will need to be more specific as to what tune-up patrs you purchased and why they don't fit.The points and condenser will fit from 1933 thru 1962 except the '41 thru early '48 had a slightly different set of points.The constact support-the "lower half" has a bend in it.A distributor from a 1937 thru 1962 will fit your engine.To determine year of dist. give number stamped in plate next to points.Yours will be 1112362 if original.The 1953 and up dist. will fit but uses a larger dist. cap and rotor.f some kind of 235 engine has been installed the push rod cover will only be 6" high and will end below the spark plugs.(the 235 engine will still use the same tune-up parts as a 216).My guess is that you have a newer distributor.The points and condenser should fit but not the cap and rotor.

Steve, The prefix JAM shows to be a 1951 216 engine, for a 1951 with 3 speed manual shift. What parts did you receive that won't fit?

THE DIST CAP AND ROTOR WERE MATCHED TO '53 APPLICATION.I AM NOW CHANGING THE CARB BAKELITE SPACER AND THE ONE I GOT FOR A '51 IS TOO SMALL.I HAVEN'T TAKEN NUMBERS OFF THE TAGS YET BUT WILL SHORTLY.THE GUY I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM HAS HAD 53 & 54'S SO I'M HOPING ONLY THESE ITEMS HAVE BEEN CHANGED.

I Checked the side cover and it does extend over the spark plugs to the rocker cover base.The carb is off so I measured the throttle body and it is 1-9/16.My motors manual list this for a 235.I could not find any tag or numbers on the carb other than its a rochester and the letters RP.Thanks for the info .I plan on restoring the car and feel better knowing its got the right{major} components.

The dist. cap and rotor will need to be for a 1951 if the car has the original distributor.....All 216 engines from 1937-53 use the small Baklite spacer.It is for studs that are 2 11/16" apart-center to center.All 235 engines from 1950 and up have the wider stud spacing-2 15/16" center.The 216 carb. has a 1 1/2" throat.The casting number on a 216 intake manifold is 3835395--a 235 is 3835590.They really don't interchange due to the 235 having larger ports and manifold to head guide rings.(I didn't say it can't be done)--it just is very incorrect.Something is very strange here :confused:

Yes, it is apparent that the manifold is not the original one, I may have one from a 216 in my junk pile that would work. I don't know if the 216 truck engine had the larger bolt spread at the carb mount port or not. My 51 cars had two different distributor caps, one was a short version and the other one had the long version, (also one had a 53 235 engine in it and the other had the original 216 engine. if you have a tall cap you will need a tall rotor and visa-versa, I tried a short rotor and a tall cap and it would not fire a lick, if you go with a tall rotor and a short cap it will break the cap and the rotor, If you force the cap on.

Check the number on the pan flange just above the starter, you may have to remove the starter to read. There will be a letter, A for Jan. B for Feb, the next 1 or 2 numbers will be the day of manufacture and the last number will be the last digit of the year of manufacture.

Oh missa Mack you no know about the casting # by the starter ??? this # will tell you the day, month & year the block was cast & in some cases it will even tell ya which shift was on duty when the block was cast. Email me for more info. on decoding cast date codes.

Yep, MT, I have that info. same place I got the prefixs for engine serial numbers.

OK so we agree on something.

Ye, We do...

Its amazing the amount of info that can be gathered in so short a time.Well,the manifold is a 3835590 and the spacing is the larger of the two.235 confirmed.As
I was able to match the cap etc, at the local parts store they are now on the car and it runs fine.Its still a daily driver but will keep the information learned for future reference.

Is looks as if you have a 216 engine with a 235 intake and exhaust manifold.Thr 235 also had a slightly larger exhaust flange.The complete assembly will work as long as there is no leakage between the head and intake manifold.Your 92 H.P. 216 now has 94 H.P. due to the larger carb. and manifolds.Don't let it get away from you

Hello Gents, I thought Just a little bit of trivia for you (I post so little). IN Canada if you had GM replace your 50 engine at a dealer there is a chance you would get a cross of the 216 and 235 engine. I know I have one. It has the same bore/stroke and internals as the 216 but it also has the short side cover. Do to this It also uses the old style 216 head gasket. THe 235 gasket unit will not work. Also the 235 side cover gasket need'd to be modified from a standard 235 side gasket by adding two extra holes for the fasners. The engine installed by the assembly line would have beed cast at McKinnon industries(GM Canada's main engine subsiduary at the time). MY hybred engine was cast at Dominion Forge and Stamp. THey did a lot of the internal parts castings for GM engines. THey also manufactured the GM factory replacement engines for GM parts. I've always wonderd if my GM replacement engine was a transition design from the old stove bolt to the "modern 235" used in 51 autos. ONe more bit a trivia You coldn't "slip and slide with a powerglide" in Canada till 1951.

This was discussed last fall when old 216 was rebuilding the engine in is 1951 GMC truck.If I remember correctly this low side cover 216 engine came out in 1951.I'm sure that he used a 235 head gasket in his as it had the the 1950-52 US 235 head bolt pattern.