Reproduction Parts for 1916-1964 Chevrolet Passenger Cars & 1918-1987 Chevrolet & GMC Trucks


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In 1950 Chevy had two types of engines, Blue Flame 6 and Thrifemaster. Were both engines installed in passenger cars? Or was the Thriftmaster installed in trucks only? THANKS

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In 1950, Chevrolet did have two engines. There was the 216 cubic inch mated to the standard 3speed transmission, and a 235 cubic inch mated to the new Powerglide automatic. I may be wrong on this part, but it was my understanding that the Thiftmaster name was used on trucks, with their 235 engines, and the Blue Flame name was not used on cars until 1953. It appeared in literature a lot earlier as the type of cylinder head design, but was not written on the motors till 1953.

I'll get corrected in a few minutes if I'm wrong...


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The above is correct.
The 216 truck engine was the Thriftmaster and the name was stenciled on the valve cover.The 2 ton trucks with the 235 engine were the Load Master.
The passenger cars had nothing on the valve cover.
The first engine to have Blue Flame on the valve cover was the 1953 Power Glide which was also the first blue engine.
In 1954 all passenger cars had blue engines with the Blue Flame decal.


Gene Schneider
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Thanks for the info, my 1950 Styleline Deluxe has a grey 216cu. in. engine with Thriftmaster on the value cover. So is this the correct engine for my passenger car, or was a truck engine at some put into my car. Or was an incorrect decal put on the valve cover.

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Thanks for the info, my 1950 Styleline Deluxe has a grey 216cu. in. engine with Thriftmaster on the value cover. So is this the correct engine for my passenger car, or was a truck engine at some put into my car. Or was an incorrect decal put on the valve cover.

It could be any of those. I would guess it was adding the decal to the valve cover. Close inspection of the engine might be able to tell if mounts were altered, which cam was installed, etc. but don't think it really matters much unless you are as detail oriented as a few of us.


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Actually there was no difference between the 216 truck and car engine.
A lot of vendors give the incorrect information about the decals they sell.
If you post the engine number it will tell the truth.
then engine number is stamped into the ledge just behind the distributor.

Last edited by Chev Nut; 01/26/12 02:14 PM.

Gene Schneider
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Thanks for all your help, the engine stamping is HAM469453.I hope this will answer my question. Once again THANKS!

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H = 1950 engine
A = standard 216 passenger car engine
M = made at the Tonawanda, N.Y. plant
engine numbers ranged from 1001 through 1320152 so i would guess the engine would be from a car assembles in about March of 1950. The car serial number would indicate the assembly date.


Gene Schneider
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Thanks again for all your help. I have alot of the documentation for my car. I know the car was purchased in Hickory N.C.. I purchased the car from the second owner, who also was from Hickory and knew the orginal owner. So I am the third owner. I had questions about the engine being orginal, the person I bought the car from told me the complete drive train was orginal. But at a local car show someone told me that the engine had to be a BlueFlame. With your help I now know that person was wrong. THANKS AGAIN


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