VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Engine Clatter 216 engine

If it starts with a K it is a much newer engine. The 1938 engine numbers were numbers only, no letter. The 1952 engines began with a K. They had the 10 37/64" long push rods for the 216. The 235 had the 11 1/4" push rods....and the low 6 1/2" push rod cover.

JYD-Yup, I meant the push rods....too much Turkey

Actually the K designation for 1/2 truck engines began in 1933. Don't know how many years it was used. The T designation for 1 or 1 1/2 ton truck engines began in the 20s. Again not sure how long it was used either.

Chipper is correct and I was looking in the passengr car area. The 1937 truck engines had the K prefix for 1/2 ton, T for 3/4 ton and 1 ton, SB and SD for 1 1/2 ton,
The seadn delivery, which is really a passenger car had no letter and that is what I first saw.
1938 and 1939 also used the K for the 1/2 ton.
1941 began the the AE and AD for 1/2 ton, with AE made in Flint and AD made in Tonawanda.

This is the stamped seriel # found just left of the distributor on my 38 PU. KI3472II, that is right I's, not 1's. Is it an original 38 truck engine?

Yes, the 1938 1/2 ton truck engines ran from K 1187822 Through 1914446....and the I is actually a !, even though it looks like an I

So Gene are you telling me the number is actually K1347211, and it would be a 38 truck block? Those capital I's were really plain and clear?

Here is another quirk. The Push rods are not the 12-47/64 rods the are close to 12-15/16 long.

What gives here? I have no idea what kind or push rods these are. Any help would be appreciated

YES - some times they used I in place of 1's.

There are no 12 15/16" push rods listed in the parts book. The longest for a 216-235 are the 1937-39's at 12 47/64". Everything else later are under 12". The 1934-36 were 13 11/64.

In this case the I is not an I but a 1. That was done to make sure that people did not confuse a 1 with a 7 in stamped numbers. Now it is confusing to all of us. Just check your automotive stamp number sets and you will find a I and then 2, 3, 4 etc.